What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore how Mycobacterium abscessus isolates adapt phenotypically during colonisation in cystic fibrosis lungs.

March 26, 2026Open Access

From colonisation to chronicity: adaptation of Mycobacterium abscessus in the cystic fibrosis lung environment

Key Points

To explore how Mycobacterium abscessus isolates adapt phenotypically during colonisation in cystic fibrosis lungs.
Analyzed isolate pairs from early and later stages of colonisation
Performed phenotypic assays and proteomic analysis to identify changes
Compared data to previously identified clinical isolates
Phenotypic changes were detected over time in the isolate pairs
Specific changes were noted through proteomic data
Biofilm formation, colony morphology, and sliding motility changes were previously identified, but not observed in this dataset

Abstract

Graphical abstract M. abscessus isolates change in phenotype over time of colonisation. Upper panel highlights the timelines between the early isolate and the later isolate in each pair. Lower panel highlights changes observed between isolate pairs. Changes marked with green arrows were shown by phenotypic assays and proteomic data while changes marked with pink text were identified from proteomic data only. Changes in biofilm formation, colony morphology and sliding motility were not seen in this data set but have been identified previously in clinical isolates.

From colonisation to chronicity: adaptation of Mycobacterium abscessus in the cystic fibrosis lung environment

Key Points

Abstract

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