What type of microorganism causes tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterial infection. The bacterium that causes tuberculosis is called *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*. It is a small, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium that is part of the family *Mycobacteriaceae*. *M. tuberculosis* is a human pathogen and the causative agent of tuberculosis, a respiratory disease that primarily affects the lungs. It is transmitted from person to person through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks.