Growth Temperature, Trehalose, and Susceptibility to Heat in Mycobacterium avium

Mycobacterium aviumis capable of an adaptive, reversible response to high-temperature survival depending on its growth temperature. Trehalose concentrations ofM. aviumcells grown at 42 degrees C were significantly higher compared to those of cells grown at 25 degrees C. Further, the survival of cells ofM. aviumgrown at 42 degrees C and exposed to 65 degrees C were significantly higher than the survival of cells grown at 25 degrees C. This adaptive response to growth temperature may play a role in the persistence ofM. aviumin premise plumbing.