To examine the macrophage response to M. avium, I compared inflammasome and cytosolic sensor expression and activation. My result demonstrated that virulent strains of M. avium (A5 and 104) suppress IL-1β production and induce IFN-β production in macrophages. M. avium mutants deficient at DNA export in the biofilm exhibited reduced...
Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis (M. avium) is a ubiquitous, acid-fast organism found in water and soil. This opportunistic pathogen is a common causative of pulmonary diseases in immunocompromised individuals and prevalent infection in HIV/AIDS patients. As a primary defense response against infection, immune cells such as macrophages phagocytize M. avium...
M. avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) and M. abscessus subsp. abscessus (MAB) both belong to the clinically important non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) group that infect immunocompromised patients with AIDS and individuals with underlining lung conditions such as bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis. The main challenge of treating MAH and MAB patients is an...
Background: Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB) is a rapidly growing opportunistic pathogen that causes infections in immunocompromised patients. The highly impermeable cell wall and surface transport systems are major contributing factors to MAB intrinsic resistance, influencing the efficacy of bactericidal antibiotics. Phages are promising alternatives to antibiotics and have been used in...
Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) belongs to the most-clinically significant non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pathogens with constant increase in disease prevalence, mainly in several industrialized western countries where tuberculosis is less prevalent. Upon entry into the alveolar space, MAH is engulfed by resident-macrophages, where the pathogen adapts to the hostile phagosomal...
M. abscessus subsp. abscessus is a nontuberculous mycobacterium causing pulmonary infections in immunocompromised patients. The treatment of MAB infections is challenging due to its natural resistance to most antibiotics. To identify MAB genetic factors that are involved in mechanisms of the antibiotic tolerance, we screened the library of 2,000 gene...