The surface properties of cells of Mycobacterium BCG.

The surface properties of cells of Mycobacterium BCG, M. phlei, M. Smegmatis and M. microti are identical, irrespective of the growth medium, the age of the cells, and the colonial morphology, and after various vigorous chemical treatments. The negative surface charge for cells of all these species arises from the phosphate groups of phosphodiester linkages between the peptidoglycan and the arabinogalactan of the basic cell wall structure which is common to all species of Mycobacteria.