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Adult Cystic Fibrosis

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (17)

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Some therapies (antibiotics, eg) select for resistant bacterial or tumor populations. That is not true of the CFTR modulators Trikafta or Alyftrek, which work by helping the mutant chloride channel protein fold, getting it to the surface of the cell, and increasing the amount of time the channel stays open. There's no apparent theoretical advantage to the host cell to keep the modulator from entering the cell where it is needed.
That's not to say the modulators prevent all pulmonary exacerbations (PE) long term - they don't. But PE are greatly reduced. It is quite likely that the bacteria colonizing the lung adapt to the changing conditions resulting from a vastly different extracellular environment post-modulator treatment and can flare up, often in response to viral insults. However, data do show that the bacterial burden in the CF lung (the only population studied to date) remains orders of magnitude lower even after several years of effective modulator treatment.
I hope that helps.

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Replies to "Some therapies (antibiotics, eg) select for resistant bacterial or tumor populations. That is not true of..."

@tw508 Thanks for your info! I will also check with the CF director. By research, Asian CF patients do have a milder form of CF due to different mutation. They even do not have a positive sweat test result or only show as BE. My sweat test is 11/12. I think there is no modulator available for my mutation as it is so rare/not a significant indicator. However it is such a significant finding to me. Thank you!