Physiological characteristics of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-M. bovis group of organisms with particular reference to heterogeneity within M. bovis.

By examining the abilities of mycobacterial strains to remove amino acids from solution, differences were found between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other closely related taxa. Heterogeneity was observed in most taxa. Strains of M. bovis were examined in greater detail. By using the amino acid typing method in combination with tests routinely used for differentiating mycobacterial species, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of whole cell soluble proteins, a great degree of heterogeneity was observed in this taxon.