Mycobacterium leprae

Nutrition

Bacteria are mainly divided into two general categories. Some are photosynthetic (autotrophic) bacteria, which mean they are self-feeding and use photosynthesis to produce food. Most, however, are heterotrophic bacteria. Mycobacterium leprae are heterotrophic bacteria, or “other feeding,” and they rely on other sources for food.  In the case of Mycobacterium leprae, they are parasitic and rely on their host, (a human or armadillo are the only known organisms capable of hosting them,) for their nutrients. Unlike a symbiotic relationship, the parasites are harming the host in some way while they are gaining nutrients. The human or armadillo, in this case, are not benefitting, but actually being damaged.

Mycobacterium leprae would stick to the "humans and armadillo" category....

Because Mycobcaterium leprae do not have mouths, they must possess special membranes on their cell walls which allow nutrients to diffuse through. Remember they do not have membrane-bound organelles, but they do have special components to aid. They then metabolize sugars that they consume from the host, which is turned into polysaccharides. These polysaccharides are then stored until they are needed.