The study investigates therapeutic strategies for managing chronic Mycobacterium abscessus infections, particularly in people with cystic fibrosis (PWCF) who are ineligible for standard elexacaftor, tezacaftor, ivakaftor (ETI) treatments. Apoptotic body-like liposomes loaded with phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate (ABL/PI5P) were tested in vitro in M. abscessus-infected macrophages from PWCF as potential treatment. ABL/PI5P reduced intracellular bacterial viability and showed enhanced effects on a M. abscessus clinical strain when combined with amikacin. Notably, ABL/PI5P was effective on macrophages from PWCF not receiving ETI therapy. The findings suggest ABL/PI5P liposomes as a promising alternative or adjunct therapy, especially for those who cannot access ETI treatment, warranting further clinical investigation.
Keywords: Mycobacterium abscessus; ETI; cystic fibrosis; host-directed therapy; innate immunity; liposomes; pathogen-directed therapy; phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate.
© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.