The Crosstalk Between Mycobacterium abscessus and Immune Cells: Exploring Novel Interaction Modalities

TL;DR

This paper explores how Mycobacterium abscessus interacts with immune cells and proposes new ways to understand and control its infection.

Contribution

The paper proposes potential receptors for Mab-immune cell communication and draws insights from other mycobacteria.

Findings

Mab evades the immune response by transitioning into different morphotypes.

Macrophages and neutrophils affect smooth and rough Mab morphotypes differently.

The inflammatory response and disease outcomes of Mab infection are not well understood.

Abstract

Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) is a rapidly growing, non-tuberculous mycobacterium and opportunistic pathogen that causes lung and skin infections in immunocompromised individuals. In recent years, Mab has gained attention due to its resistance to multiple antibiotics and its ability to evade the immune response by transitioning into different morphotypes. Macrophages and neutrophils play key roles during the acute phase of infection and granuloma formation, utilising clearance mechanisms that affect the smooth and rough morphotypes differently. Despite considerable research, the inflammatory response elicited by Mab and its impact on disease outcomes remain not well understood. This perspective examines the interactions between Mab and immune cells, proposing potential receptors that may mediate Mab-driven immune communication. By drawing insights from immune evasion and signalling strategies employed by other mycobacterial species, it aims to deepen our understanding of Mab pathogenicity and to outline innovative approaches for infection control.

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