The most important causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis, together with M. bovis, M. africanum and M. microti, form the ‘M. tuberculosis complex’, which is a group within the genus Mycobacterium. This genus also includes many different nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), of which M. leprae and M. avium are best known.

Read more about TB in the factsheet for professionals