Tobramycin enhances Mycobacterium abscessus fitness through whiB7 induction.

Tobramycin increases Mycobacterium abscessus survival by inducing whiB7, promoting persistent infection in cystic fibrosis airway conditions.

• Why it matters: Understanding how antibiotics influence bacterial persistence is crucial for improving treatment strategies for NTM infections, especially in vulnerable cystic fibrosis patients.
• What they did: The study examined the effects of clinically relevant tobramycin concentrations on Mabsc, using gene expression analysis, bacterial viability assays, macrophage infection models, and mouse studies, focusing on whiB7 regulation.
• The result: Tobramycin induced whiB7 expression, enhancing Mabsc resistance to stress and survival, suggesting that its use in cystic fibrosis may inadvertently promote persistent Mabsc infections.