IL31RA and infectious disease: Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) has emerged as a significant infectious disease threat and warrants the designation of “shapeshifter of the mycobacterial world.” Its ability to exist as a GPL-expressing environmental saprophyte forming biofilms along with the ability to “unmask” itself within the human host and display virulence properties such as serpentine cording is unprecedented for a bacterial pathogen.