P3MA: A Promising Mycobacteriophage Infecting Mycobacterium abscessus.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Mycobacterium abscessus is an opportunistic pathogen causing infections mainly in patients with immunosuppression and chronic pulmonary pathologies. Extended treatment periods are needed to tackle this pathogen, bacterial eradication is rare, and recurrence can take place with time. New alternative treatments are being investigated, such as bacteriophage therapy. This work describes the characterization of the mycobacteriophage P3MA, showing its ability to infect clinical and standard M. abscessus strains.

METHODS

Phylogenetic analysis, electron microscopy, growth curves, biofilm assays, checkerboard, and granuloma-like medium studies were performed.

RESULTS

P3MA inhibited the growth of clinical samples in both planktonic and biofilm states as well as in a granuloma-like model. The study of the interaction with antibiotics revealed that P3MA exhibited an antagonistic effect combined with clarithromycin, indifference with amikacin, and synergy with imipenem.

CONCLUSIONS

All these results suggest that, after genetic engineering, P3MA could be a promising candidate for phage therapy in combination with imipenem, including lung infections.