I also have another rather rare disease - Anklyosing Spondylitis - a type of arthritis not heard of often.  Those AS people have gotten together, made a newsletter, and collected enough money (from sufferers, I think) to fund some research.  They have found several genetic markers.

My understanding is there are over 100 varieties of MAC types of bacteria. They normally live in the environment, not in people. There are many antibiotics in nature and the MAC become good at becoming immune to various antibiotics as they encounter them, so when people with MAC take antibiotics, the bacteria can quickly become immune to them. The hope is to find one they can't become immune to so quickly.

Yes, you are right, but the air contains dust, which is soil (especially Arizona, where I am) !