title: Recent progress towards understanding genetic variation in the Mycobacterium abscessus complex.
abstract: Mycobacterium abscessus is an emerging cause of respiratory disease and soft tissue infections. Whole genome sequencing and other molecular approaches are enhancing our understanding of outbreaks, antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and virulence properties, and of the phylogeny of the M. abscessus complex. Infection models are providing further insights into factors such as colony phenotype that impact host-pathogen interactions. This paper reviews recent developments in our understanding of genetic variation in M. abscessus and the potential relevance for disease and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA. Electronic address: sthoward1@sbcglobal.net.
authors.forename: Susan T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D017963:Azithromycin; D017291:Clarithromycin
keywords: Genomics; Infection models; Mycobacterium abscessus; Strain typing; Subspecies; Variants