About this Research Topic
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are recognized as important opportunistic pathogens of humans that can cause lymphadenitis, skin abscesses, pulmonary infection, disseminated infection, and systematic infection. According to the speed of growth, NTM can be categorized as rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM), which account for most NTM infections, and slowly growing mycobacteria (SGM).
Over the years, infections caused by NTM have been increasing all over the world, driven by complex host factors including the increasing age of the population, lung diseases and immunodeficiency, and environmental risk factors. With mutation in drug targets, induction of drug efflux pumps, enzymes that neutralize drugs, and other mechanisms, NTM infections are notoriously difficult to treat because of the resistance of these bacteria to many common antibiotics, especially Mycobacterium abscessus. Only a few antibiotics are available for treating NTM infections with limited efficacies currently, which prompts the urgent need to develop new or repurposed antimicrobial agents against NTM, especially oral antibiotics.
This Research topic focuses on novel antibiotics or compound which supports a promising drug candidate for the treatment of NTM infection, including but not limited to the following aspects:
1. Explore the anti-NTM activity of the existing chemotherapeutic reagent.
2. Develop new inhibitors with activity against NTM in vitro and/or in animal model.
3. Drug resistance mechanism of NTM against current antibiotics and /or novel compounds.
4. Pharmacokinetics of the novel compounds/inhibitors in animal or human.
5. The mechanism of pathogenesis and virulence caused by NTM, especially ESX secretion systems.
6. The safety and efficacy of antibiotics and /or novel compounds in the treatment of NTM infection.
Over the years, infections caused by NTM have been increasing all over the world, driven by complex host factors including the increasing age of the population, lung diseases and immunodeficiency, and environmental risk factors. With mutation in drug targets, induction of drug efflux pumps, enzymes that neutralize drugs, and other mechanisms, NTM infections are notoriously difficult to treat because of the resistance of these bacteria to many common antibiotics, especially Mycobacterium abscessus. Only a few antibiotics are available for treating NTM infections with limited efficacies currently, which prompts the urgent need to develop new or repurposed antimicrobial agents against NTM, especially oral antibiotics.
This Research topic focuses on novel antibiotics or compound which supports a promising drug candidate for the treatment of NTM infection, including but not limited to the following aspects:
1. Explore the anti-NTM activity of the existing chemotherapeutic reagent.
2. Develop new inhibitors with activity against NTM in vitro and/or in animal model.
3. Drug resistance mechanism of NTM against current antibiotics and /or novel compounds.
4. Pharmacokinetics of the novel compounds/inhibitors in animal or human.
5. The mechanism of pathogenesis and virulence caused by NTM, especially ESX secretion systems.
6. The safety and efficacy of antibiotics and /or novel compounds in the treatment of NTM infection.
Keywords: non-tuberculous mycobacteria, antibiotics, inhibitors, resistance
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