Skip to content
Home page - Centenary Institute Centenary Institute

Primary menu

  • Research
        • Research

          The latest medical research into our most complex health challenges across cancer, cardiovascular disease and inflammation

          Learn more

        • Cancer
        • Inflammation
        • Cardiovascular
        • Programs
        • Laboratories
        • Diseases
        • Expertises
        • Services and instrumentation
  • Support us
        • Support us

          By supporting the Centenary Institute you can help improve human health through excellence in medical research

          Learn more

        • Workplace giving
        • Host or join a fundraiser
        • Gift in your Will
        • Donate in Memory
  • Impact
        • Impact

          Our research develops new diagnostics, treatments and cures for some of the most deadly and debilitating diseases affecting society today

          Learn more

        • Breakthroughs
        • Community and research
        • Real stories
  • Health hub
        • Health hub

          A range of practical information to assist in the possible preventions to disease through evidence-based research on how the body works.

          Learn more

        • Inflammation
        • The Good Gut Anti-Inflammatory Diet
        • Ageing
        • Exercise Snack Program
  • News & events
        • News & Events

          Explore the latest research breakthroughs and ways you can take part in our series of digital and in-person events

        • News
        • Events
        • Media Hub
  • About us
        • About us

          We are world-leading independent medical research institute that drives collaboration to accelerate and translate solutions to our most complex health challenges

          Learn more

        • Governance
        • Corporate information
        • Annual reports
        • Our researchers
        • Careers and studies
        • Contact
  • Donate
    Centenary Institute > News > Researchers shed new light on devastating drug-resistant bacteria

Researchers shed new light on devastating drug-resistant bacteria

Date time 18 February, 2022
News Type News type Media release

Centenary Institute researchers have uncovered new insight into Mycobacterium abscessus, a highly drug-resistant bacteria that can cause serious infection and lung damage in vulnerable people. The bacteria is considered an emerging health threat with infection numbers on the rise globally.

Commonly found in soil, dust and water, Mycobacterium abscessus is closely related to the bacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy. Individuals with underlying disorders such as bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis (an inherited form of lung disease) are particularly susceptible to Mycobacterium abscessus infection.

In the published study that used adult zebrafish as a model, researchers found that the immune system reacted in different ways, dependent on the Mycobacterium abscessus variant in play. The findings are a critical step in developing potential new treatments to fight Mycobacterium abscessus infection.

“Mycobacterium abscessus is emerging as a major threat and is increasing in prevalence within patient groups with respiratory conditions. It attacks lung tissue making it hard to breathe and is notorious for being extremely drug and antibiotic resistant,” said Dr Oehlers, study senior author and researcher affiliated with both the Centenary Institute and A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (Singapore).

“There are two types of Mycobacterium abscessus – rough and smooth. The rough variant of the bacterium differs from the smooth in that it lacks certain surface lipids. We wanted to better understand the body’s immune response to both variants.”

Discovered by the researchers was that infection by the rough variant caused a hyperactive immune response in the zebrafish being studied, this driving increased inflammation and tissue destruction. The smooth variant, although proliferating to high levels in the zebrafish, saw reduced levels of inflammation and tissue damage. This outcome mirrored the lower rate of pulmonary (lung) decline often seen in human patients infected with the smooth variant of Mycobacterium abscessus. 

“Our findings are important as studying the immune system and how it reacts to Mycobacterium abscessus is key to developing new therapeutics that can best fight this potentially devastating bacterial infection,” said Dr Oehlers.

Dr Oehlers said that medical research in the area was challenging as previous Mycobacterium abscessus models had not been able to convincingly recreate human disease conditions.

“Our new zebrafish model will allow researchers to further dig into the genetic and environmental factors that cause some people to get severe infection while others are able to clear Mycobacterium abscessus from their body without symptoms.”

The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Themes

  • Inflammation

    Inflammation

Media enquires

For all media and interview enquiries, please contact Tony Crawshaw, Media and Communications Manager

Phone number Phone Number 0402 770 403

Email Email t.crawshaw@centenary.org.au

Media Release

Researchers shed new light on devastating drug-resistant bacteria

Download

Recent Stories

  • Metastatic cancer research boosted

    Dr Dannel Yeo from the Centenary Institute and Clinical Associate Professor Kate Mahon from Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, have been awarded an inaugural Sydney Cancer Partners Translational Fellowship.
    News Type: Research News
    Date 03 Mar 2023
  • The Year That Made Me: Professor John Rasko

    Professor John Rasko AO, Head of the Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program at the Centenary Institute has featured on the popular Radio National show Sunday Extra in the segment called ‘The Year That Made Me’.
    News Type: Media coverage
    Date 21 Feb 2023
  • Top abstract prize for gene therapy research

    Professor John Rasko AO and team have received the top scoring abstract award at the 16th Annual Congress of the European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders in Manchester.
    News Type: Research News
    Date 15 Feb 2023
  • Event celebrates ‘The Good Gut Anti-Inflammatory Diet’

    The Centenary Institute has celebrated the publication of a new book, 'The Good Gut Anti-Inflammatory Diet’ at a special event, held at the Dymocks Bookstore, Sydney.
    News Type: Community
    Date 13 Feb 2023

Subscribe to receive news on
research updates and free events

Newsletter

The Centenary Institute is a world-leading independent Medical Research Institute.

We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Centenary Institute stands.

About

  • About
  • Governance
  • Corporate information

Research

  • Programs
  • Our researchers
  • News
  • Media hub

Careers & studies

  • Career opportunities
  • Life at Centenary

Links

  • Contact
  • Privacy statement

Contact us

Building 93, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Missenden Rd
Camperdown NSW 2050 Australia
Telephone +61 2 9565 6100
Fax +61 2 9565 6101

Centenary Institute ABN 22 654 201 090 (DGR 1) • Centenary Institute Medical Research Foundation ABN 85 778 244 012 (DGR 2)
© 2017 Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology.

  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram