The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary infections has been increasing worldwide, leading to alarmingly high fatality rates. Once thought to be environmental and opportunistic mycobacteria only affecting immunocompromised individuals, both fast- and slow-growing M. abscessus and M. avium complex organisms are emerging as pathogens of clinical significance. The ability of NTM to cause serious diseases in immunocompetent children and adults have been also documented in recent years, particularly in those individuals with structural lung diseases such as bronchiectasis and COPD. NTM lung infection is extremely hard to treat due to the natural resistance to many antimicrobials. While clinically available antibiotics effectively kill bacteria in vitro, despite combinational and lengthy antimicrobial regimens, treatment outcomes in patients are unpredictable and often ineffective.
There is a need to better understand the mechanisms of NTM intrinsic resistance as well as the host factors that allow genetically susceptible bacteria to tolerate bactericidal concentrations of antibiotics, leading to the development of chronic and drug-resistant infections. The identification of origins of NTM intrinsic resistance, and characterization of environmental and host factors stimulating mycobacterial tolerance to antibiotics and to innate immune defences, as well as defining mechanisms of bacterial metabolic transition within the host promoting this persistent niche, are critical aspects of NTM pathogenicity. This knowledge will allow identification of essential and synergistic targets of mycobacteria, and potentially contribute to development of rational treatment interventions to avoid the emergence of drug resistance.
This Research Topic encourages original research articles, brief research reports, perspective, opinion articles and reviews laying foundation into the deep understanding of NTM inherent mechanisms and host factors promoting the antimicrobial resistance and demonstrating innovative treatment strategies that target these mechanisms.
Keywords:
NTM pathogens, M. abscessus complex, M. avium complex, mycobacterial tolerance, antibiotic resistance, persistent infections, efflux systems, cell wall permeability, mycobacterial proteome, new therapeutic strategies, metabolism-based strategies to overcome antibiotic tolerance, host environmental stresses, host immune dysregulation. hypoxia.
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary infections has been increasing worldwide, leading to alarmingly high fatality rates. Once thought to be environmental and opportunistic mycobacteria only affecting immunocompromised individuals, both fast- and slow-growing M. abscessus and M. avium complex organisms are emerging as pathogens of clinical significance. The ability of NTM to cause serious diseases in immunocompetent children and adults have been also documented in recent years, particularly in those individuals with structural lung diseases such as bronchiectasis and COPD. NTM lung infection is extremely hard to treat due to the natural resistance to many antimicrobials. While clinically available antibiotics effectively kill bacteria in vitro, despite combinational and lengthy antimicrobial regimens, treatment outcomes in patients are unpredictable and often ineffective.
There is a need to better understand the mechanisms of NTM intrinsic resistance as well as the host factors that allow genetically susceptible bacteria to tolerate bactericidal concentrations of antibiotics, leading to the development of chronic and drug-resistant infections. The identification of origins of NTM intrinsic resistance, and characterization of environmental and host factors stimulating mycobacterial tolerance to antibiotics and to innate immune defences, as well as defining mechanisms of bacterial metabolic transition within the host promoting this persistent niche, are critical aspects of NTM pathogenicity. This knowledge will allow identification of essential and synergistic targets of mycobacteria, and potentially contribute to development of rational treatment interventions to avoid the emergence of drug resistance.
This Research Topic encourages original research articles, brief research reports, perspective, opinion articles and reviews laying foundation into the deep understanding of NTM inherent mechanisms and host factors promoting the antimicrobial resistance and demonstrating innovative treatment strategies that target these mechanisms.
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Keywords:
NTM pathogens, M. abscessus complex, M. avium complex, mycobacterial tolerance, antibiotic resistance, persistent infections, efflux systems, cell wall permeability, mycobacterial proteome, new therapeutic strategies, metabolism-based strategies to overcome antibiotic tolerance, host environmental stresses, host immune dysregulation. hypoxia.
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
