Summary

We submit our publication, "Four novel nontuberculous mycobacteria species; Mycobacterium wendeliensis, Mycobacterium burgundiense, Mycobacterium kokjensenii, and Mycobacterium holstebronense revived from a historical Danish strain collection" for your consideration. In this study, we report the discovery of four previously unrecognized mycobacterial species, isolated from clinical samples collected between 1948 and 1955 from patients suspected of tuberculosis disease. Extensive resistance, complex treatment and poor survival rate are some of the challenges associated with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) disease and with an increasing incidence, NTM disease is a growing concern worldwide. Thus, many aspects of NTM, as pathogenicity and clinical relevance, are still unclear. Modern genomic methods provide a more precise species identification and the opportunity to investigate the diversity of the genus Mycobacterium. We believe descriptions of novel NTM are essential for future accurate species identification and for establishing robust epidemiological relationships within the field of mycobacteriology.