The researchers report the results of the in vitro and in vivo experiments conducted to test the effectiveness of the compounds identified in the previous project (FFC#16/2018). The antibacterial properties of the liposome ABL/PI5 were evaluated in synergy with amikacin, an antibiotic used in the treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus (MA) infections. The tests were conducted on different experimental models, such as MA bacterial strains, human macrophage cell lines (THP-1) and F508del mutant mice (C57Bl/6) and non-mutated mice, all infected with MA.
The results show that the combined treatment of the liposome ABL/PI5 and amikacin generates a greater antibacterial action than using the two compounds alone. The synergistic action of the two compounds showed interesting results for both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity. This combined strategy could be a possible immunotherapeutic treatment of MA drug-resistant lung infection.