Mycobacterium leprae

Mycobacterium leprae is a bacteria. It causes the disease, leprosy, also known as the Hanson's Disease. 

Discovery

The bacterium was discovered in 1873 by a Norwegian doctor named Gerhard Armauer Hansen. M. leprae is a gram-positive, aerobic rod surrounded by the characteristic waxy coating unique to Mycobacteria. 

Features

In size and shape, it closely resembles  M. tuberculosis. Due to its thick, waxy coating, stains with carbol-fuchsin are used, rather than with the traditional Gram staining method.

Category:Gram-positive bacteria