NTMscope-REPLAGE
REsistance determinants, PLAsmid pathogenicity, and phAGE Therapy in non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).
The group of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) comprises all mycobacteria except M. tuberculosis and M. leprae. The incidence of NTM-infections is rising globally. Due to intrinsic antibiotic resistances, they are extremely difficult to treat and associated with severe consequences for individual patients. NTMscope-REPLAGE will use an unique European dataset to characterize resistance determinants, the plasmidome and possible phage therapies in different NTM species. Through the correlation of genotypic and phenotypic susceptibility testing, further resistance genes will be identified and allow a prediction of phenotypic susceptibility based on genomic data. A comprehensive characterization of the plasmidome of NTM will identify plasmids as possible carriers of resistance and virulence genes. Finally, the general susceptibility of different NTM-species to lytic mycobacteriophages will be determined. By combining these different methodological approaches, NTMscope-REPLAGE will facilitate individualized therapies, allow stratified risk assessment by improved diagnostics and therefore contribute significantly to the better management of difficult to treat NTM-infections.
Funding: BMBF
Status: Project ongoing