Find in Library

<i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> (<i>M. abscessus</i>) is an opportunistic pathogen usually colonizing abnormal lung airways and is often seen in patients with cystic fibrosis. Currently, there is no vaccine available for <i>M. abscessus</i> in clinical development. The treatment of <i>M. abscessus</i>-related pulmonary diseases is peculiar due to intrinsic resistance to several commonly used antibiotics. The development of either prophylactic or therapeutic interventions for <i>M. abscessus</i> pulmonary infections is hindered by the absence of an adequate experimental animal model. In this review, we outline the critical elements related to <i>M. abscessus</i> virulence mechanisms, host–pathogen interactions, and treatment challenges associated with <i>M. abscessus</i> pulmonary infections. The challenges of effectively combating this pathogen include developing appropriate preclinical animal models of infection, developing proper diagnostics, and designing novel strategies for treating drug-resistant <i>M. abscessus</i>.