Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs) such as Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) causes opportunistic infections that have no viable treatment options and are among the dominant species in the European cystic fibrosis (CF) population. This project, a continuation of the previous one (FFC#23/2020) has two different objectives: i) characterizing Mabs among people with CF in Italy and ii) identifying biological markers of lung disease progression.

The research team will collect Mab samples from people with CF through a multicenter collaboration to evaluate the characteristics of the bacterial genome to understand the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Biological samples from people with CF, infected with M. abscessus, with and without lung disease will also be used to identify markers of lung disease progression that could help decision-making associated with NTM infection in CF patients.

To achieve these objectives, the research group will exploit bacterial genome (DNA) and transcriptome (RNA) sequencing technologies that allow to evaluate the genetic characteristics of Mabs isolated from the Italian FC population.