AUTHOR=Story-Roller Elizabeth , Maggioncalda Emily C. , Cohen Keira A. , Lamichhane Gyanu 

TITLE=Mycobacterium abscessus and β-Lactams: Emerging Insights and Potential Opportunities

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02273

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.02273

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>β-lactams, the most widely used class of antibiotics, are well-tolerated, and their molecular mechanisms of action against many bacteria are well-documented. <italic>Mycobacterium abscessus</italic> (<italic>Mab</italic>) is a highly drug-resistant rapidly-growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Only in recent years have we started to gain insight into the unique relationship between β-lactams and their targets in <italic>Mab</italic>. In this mini-review, we summarize recent findings that have begun to unravel the molecular basis for overall efficacy of β-lactams against <italic>Mab</italic> and discuss emerging evidence that indicates that we have yet to harness the full potential of this antibiotic class to treat <italic>Mab</italic> infections.</p>