What genus of bacteria causes tuberculosis?

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Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria in the genus Mycobacterium, with Mycobacterium tuberculosis being the primary human pathogen. This genus has a distinctive waxy cell wall rich in mycolic acids, which makes the bacteria acid-fast and hard to stain, contributing to their persistence and slow growth. Because they replicate slowly, TB infections can smolder for long periods and require prolonged, multi-drug treatment. The disease characteristically forms granulomas in the lungs, called tubercles, as the immune system walls off the bacteria. The other bacteria listed cause different infections—Streptococcus pneumoniae typically causes pneumococcal pneumonia and meningitis; Staphylococcus aureus causes skin infections and various other diseases; Escherichia coli often causes gastrointestinal issues and urinary tract infections.