# The Role of Atypical Cell Wall Biology of Mycobacterium abscessus in Pulmonary Infection and Therapy

> **NIH NIH F31** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $17,091

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Patients with structural lung conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis are highly susceptible to
infections with Mycobacterium abscessus. These pathogens are detected in the sputum of ~13% of cystic fibrosis
patients in the US. In addition to those with underlying lung conditions, immune competent post-menopausal
Caucasian women are also selectively susceptible to pulmonary M. abscessus infections. Despite increasing
prevalence of this disease, very little is known about the pathogenesis of pulmonary infections with M. abscessus.
This proposal’s aim is to fill critical gaps in our understanding of pulmonary M. abscessus infection. Recent
studies have demonstrated that the peptidoglycan, the exoskeleton of the bacterial cell, of M. abscessus is
unique in the final step of its synthesis compared to other gram negative and gram positive bacteria. Furthermore,
this distinction is due to the activities of non-classical transpeptidases. I will study the relevance of these novel
transpeptidases to the physiology of M. abscessus peptidoglycan and their contribution during acute and chronic
stages of pulmonary infection. Investigating M. abscessus in vivo is critical, however current published accounts
of mouse models often lack a sustained chronic infection analogous to what would occur in cystic fibrosis or
bronchiectasis patients. They also lack demonstrated progression to pathology. I have developed a mouse model
which fulfills both of these criteria, generating not only a chronic M. abscessus pulmonary infection, but also
leading to gross pathological findings that mimic those observed in humans.
The studies outlined in this proposal will provide new insights into aspects of M. abscessus cell wall metabolism
and physiology during infection that could lead to novel therapeutic development and novel chemotherapy
regimens of existing antibiotics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9912640
- **Project number:** 5F31HL147392-02
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Emily Maggioncalda
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $17,091
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-03-19 → 2020-11-02

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9912640

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9912640, The Role of Atypical Cell Wall Biology of Mycobacterium abscessus in Pulmonary Infection and Therapy (5F31HL147392-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9912640. Licensed CC0.

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