Optimization of In Vitro <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> and <i>Mycobacterium</i> <i>intracellulare</i> Growth Assays for Therapeutic Development

• Main Authors: Lauren Auster, Morgan Sutton, Mary Chandler Gwin, Christopher Nitkin, Tracey L. Bonfield
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-02-01
• Series: Microorganisms
• Subjects: <i>Mycobacterium intracellulare</i>; <i>Mycobacterium avium</i>; optimized growth; anti-non-tuberculous mycobacterium therapeutic testing
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/7/2/42

Infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a complication of lung disease in immunocompromised patients, including those with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis (CF). The most widespread, disease-causing NTM is <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> complex (<i>MAC</i>), which colonizes the lungs as a combination of <i>Mycobacterium avium</i>, <i>Mycobacterium intracellulare</i>, and other mycobacterial species. While combination drug therapy exists for <i>MAC</i> colonization, there is no cure. Therapeutic development to treat <i>MAC</i> has been difficult because of the slow-growing nature of the bacterial complex, limiting the ability to characterize the bacteria&#8217;s growth in response to new therapeutics. The development of a technology that allows observation of both the <i>MAC</i> predominant strains and <i>MAC</i> could provide a means to develop new therapeutics to treat NTM. We have developed a new methodology in which <i>M. avium</i> and <i>M. intracellulare</i> can be optimally grown in short term culture to study each strain independently and in combination, as a monitor of growth kinetics and efficient therapeutic testing protocols.