Mycobacterium avium is a slow-growing, pathogenic mycobacterium. He is responsible for Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease (NTM-PD) of the upper respiratory tractus, formerly called “Lady Windermere syndrome”1,2. He is often found in water, especially water distribution systems 3.
Probably the most outgoing mycobacterium, he is very well liked for being so pleasant to talk to, though he’s known for being uptight about manners and politeness. He hates dirtying himself needlessly, which is why he’s an opportunistic pathogen before all. An older brother to other mycobacteria, he will often take that role to heart with just about anyone. Like other pathogenic mycobacteria, he has access to mycobacterial Type 7 Secretion Systems, the ESX secretion systems.
Similarly to his little brother, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Avium also exists as a complex known as MAC (Mycobacterium avium complex) 4,5.
Background
overall still a WIP…
avium raised tuberculosis alongside smegmatis, while trying to mitigate tensions with abscessus.
he probably had a disagreement with tuberculosis at some point? younger tuberculosis was like, full of energy and wanted to explore and finding news tricks in infecting mammals ETC, and avium, i think, would not have been all about that. he probably thought that was very crass of tuberculosis LOL. he would also have been the first person to worry about young leprae, before he became strictly intracellular. he asked tuberculosis to go looking for him and that kickstarted tuberculosis’ hobby of taking over mammal hosts.he must also have been delighted with the “lady windermere” thing, like flattered. i can see him with that oscar wilde aesthetic. hence the current character design
Personality
Avium is a very proud individual, who values his public image and social status. He is very highly socially and emotionally intelligent, and enjoys having long discussions or debates – all in a mondain type of way. Just like Leprae, and then Tuberculosis, he’s taken an active interest in human arts and culture. Overall, he enjoys feeling important enough that people would refer to him for an opinion or advice.
He can be quite judgmental, and is very hypocritical about it. He is also very good at lying and persuading people, but he mostly applies that to evading tricky social situations, and not so much for personal gain or actual manipulation. He can get very uppity and pedantic when he is vexed.
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)
Known member for this complex are:
- M. avium
- M. hominissuis
- M. intracellulare
- M. paraintracellulare
- M. columbiense
- M. paratuberculosis
- M. chimaera…
- M. silvaticum…4,6
Avium doesn’t tell everyone he’s a complex, only his closest friends; or very good acquaintances like Aeruginosa.
see also: M. tuberculosis’s page for the M. tuberculosis complex
Relationships
Other Mycobacteria
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
The two of them are somewhat close as brothers, but Avium is critical of Tuberculosis for not disclosing his true nature as a complex. Avium desperetely looks for Tuberculosis whenever he colonises bronchi.
Mycobacterium smegmatis
Despite being almost as old as one another, Avium finds himself looking after Smeg quite often. They have a solid relationship as brothers. Avium worries over Smeg because of how naive he can show himself to be.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
He’s one of Avium’s best acquaintances, and they are often found together in water systems and biofilms. Like many others, Avium is enamoured with Aeruginosa, but he prefers keeping his feelings for himself, something that hardly any of his suitors do. Avium deems such forwardness “frivolous”, especially because he actually notices how uncomfortable it makes Aeruginosa. He’d rather behave as an attentive and sensible admirer to him, which is why he is one of the few people Aeruginosa actually enjoys having around.
Yersinia pestis
To Avium, Pestis is like a child, like Tuberculosis once was to him. He’s always been amicable to Pestis, but keeps him in the dark about complexes on purpose, and fakes agreeing with his point of view on humans. The truth of the matter is, despite enjoying human media, he doesn’t have a strong opinion about it.