Biomarker for Low-Risk NTM Infection in the Airway of Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive, chronic disease characterized by the production of thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and creates an ideal environment for bacterial colonization. As such, Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been identified as the greatest risk for those afflicted by CF, but the lack of sensitive and specific markers of NTM in the airway is a significant barrier for patient care. Currently, the only method of screening is through direct culture from the airway. Sadly, this gold standard diagnosis procedure has several limitations, including slow growth (up to 8 weeks), high cost, and low sensitivity. Furthermore, CF sputum samples contain bacterial co-pathogens, resulting in false negative results.

Lipoarabinomannan (LAM), however, is a cell wall lipoglycan found in all mycobacteria species that is released into circulation from metabolically active or degrading bacteria. It has recently gained attention as a biomarker for active tuberculosis as it is found in the urine of infected patients. LAM has potential to be utilized for non-invasive screening for those with potential risk of NTM.