Ceclazepide as novel Mycobacterium abscessus inhibitor

ABSTRACT The rise of drug-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus poses a significant challenge due to its resistance to current standard treatments, highlighting the urgent need for new antibacterial solutions. In this research, ceclazepide was introduced as a promising agent with strong activity against M. abscessus . Our findings revealed that ceclazepide effectively suppressed the growth of M. abscessus wild-type strain, multiple subspecies, and clinical isolates in vitro. Notably, ceclazepide demonstrated the ability to inhibit M. abscessus growth within macrophages without causing harm. These results support the potential of ceclazepide as a candidate for further development as a clinical drug to combat M. abscessus infections effectively.