What organism is known for having a waxy outer coating?

Mycobacterium is known for having a waxy outer coating called mycolic acid, which is a distinctive feature of its cell wall. This waxy layer is a crucial aspect of Mycobacterium's structure, providing resilience against environmental stresses, such as desiccation and chemical disinfectants. It also plays a significant role in the bacterium's virulence and ability to evade the host's immune system.

This unique composition of the cell wall makes Mycobacterium resistant to many common antibiotics, as these medications often target the more accessible components of bacterial cell walls in other organisms. The waxy coating is also responsible for the characteristic slow growth of Mycobacterium species, as the permeability of the cell wall restricts the entry of nutrients and drugs.

In contrast, the other organisms listed do not feature this type of protective layer. For example, Staphylococcus has a simpler cell wall structure without a significant waxy coating, Lactobacillus is a Gram-positive bacterium with a thicker peptidoglycan layer but lacks the characteristic waxy outer layer, and Escherichia (specifically Escherichia coli) has a typical Gram-negative cell wall structure with an outer membrane but does not contain mycol