AUTHOR=Story-Roller Elizabeth , Maggioncalda Emily C. , Cohen Keira A. , Lamichhane Gyanu 

TITLE=Mycobacterium abscessus and β-Lactams: Emerging Insights and Potential Opportunities

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2018

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02273

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.02273

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=β-lactams, the most widely used class of antibiotics, are well-tolerated, and their molecular mechanisms of action against many bacteria are well-documented. Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) is a virulent and highly drug-resistant rapid-growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), however, only in recent years have we begun to gain insight into the unique relationship between β-lactams and their targets in Mab.  In this mini-review, we summarize recent findings that have begun to unravel the molecular basis for overall efficacy of β-lactams against Mab and discuss emerging evidence that indicates that we have yet to harness the full potential of this antibiotic class to treat Mab infections.