Characterization of Prophages and Their Genetic Cargo in Clinical M. abscessus Isolates

Limited data exist regarding lysogenic phages carried by <i>M. abscessus</i>, as well as regarding their roles played in diseases. Strains identified as <i>M. abscessus</i> from patients were collected. Prophages, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance genes present in genomes were predicted, and correlations between prophages, virulence factors, antibiotic resistance genes, and clinical patient prognoses were analyzed. A total of 145 prophage sequences were detected in 56 <i>M. abscessus</i> strains. Prophages contained more virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes, compared to known mycobacteriophages. The average sequence similarity among prophage sequences from a single patient was significantly higher than that among prophages from different patients or between prophages and known phages. The study showed that <i>M. abscessus</i> commonly carries prophages, which are enriched in virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes relative to known phages, but their relationship to clinical prognoses requires further study. Prophages present in strains from different patients were highly diverse and exhibited low similarity with known mycobacterial phages.