Smooth-to-rough morphotype switching, a mechanism of phage resistance in Mycobacterium abscessus - PubMed
12 hours ago
- #morphotype switching
- #Mycobacterium abscessus
- #phage therapy
- Mycobacterium abscessus infections are a growing global health concern due to severe pathology and intrinsic antimicrobial resistance.
- Phage therapy is a promising alternative, but studies have mainly focused on GPL-deficient rough variants, not the GPL-producing smooth variants common in Asia.
- Phage treatment of smooth variants can select for rough morphotype switching, leading to phage resistance linked to mutations in the GPL biosynthetic locus.
- A two-layered phage combination surpasses single-phage treatments and may improve clinical phage cocktail strategies.
- Understanding phage resistance mechanisms is crucial to avoid adverse effects and improve treatment outcomes.