biostudies-literatureUnknown11Wang YH<i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> (MAB) is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe, recalcitrant pulmonary infections in susceptible groups, including people with cystic fibrosis (CF). MAB forms biofilms during human infection and in environmental reservoirs such as household plumbing systems, and biofilm formation renders MAB more drug tolerant. However, our limited understanding of the regulatory systems governing mycobacterial biofilm formation undercuts our ability to disperse MAB biofilms and potentially increase treatment efficacy. Using experimental evolution, we demonstrate that selective pressure from synthetic cystic fibrosis sputum medium (SCFM1) drives the emergence of evolved MAB lineages that more readily aggregate in different environmental conditions. Whole-geBiofilm100343https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12811641biostudies-literatureExperimental evolution in the cystic fibrosis chemical environment reveals early TCA cycle flux as a central regulator of &lt;i&gt;Mycobacterium abscessus&lt;/i&gt; biofilm formation.PMC12811641Cooper VSGelhaus SLDePas WHMullett SJD'Amico IWhalen JArmbruster CRWang YHfalseExperimental evolution in the cystic fibrosis chemical environment reveals early TCA cycle flux as a central regulator of &lt;i&gt;Mycobacterium abscessus&lt;/i&gt; biofilm formation.<i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> (MAB) is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe, recalcitrant pulmonary infections in susceptible groups, including people with cystic fibrosis (CF). MAB forms biofilms during human infection and in environmental reservoirs such as household plumbing systems, and biofilm formation renders MAB more drug tolerant. However, our limited understanding of the regulatory systems governing mycobacterial biofilm formation undercuts our ability to disperse MAB biofilms and potentially increase treatment efficacy. Using experimental evolution, we demonstrate that selective pressure from synthetic cystic fibrosis sputum medium (SCFM1) drives the emergence of evolved MAB lineages that more readily aggregate in different environmental conditions. Whole-ge2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jun2026-06-06T15:59:05.909Z2026-06-02T03:10:50.689ZS-EPMC128116414155042210.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100343