Mycobacterium special interest group

The Mycobacteria special interest group (MSIG) is a special interest group within the ASM community that serves to provide a forum for those members that have a particular interest in mycobacteria. The group attracts not only members that are employed within specialised state mycobacterial reference laboratories but also scientists who perform mycobacterial culture and microscopy within non-reference laboratories.

The MSIG hosts an annual 2-day meeting that is strategically held on or near World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, which is 24 March. The meeting location rotates through each Australian state, where it is hosted by each state reference laboratory, who also set the program. This has expanded to include the National Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory in Auckland, New Zealand, where the 2024 meeting is scheduled for 21–22 March. This meeting attracts a varied audience including diagnostic and research scientists, medical microbiologists and clinicians. Invitees are those who have registered with the MSIG convenor as a member or by word of mouth.