Researchers Unlock Potential New Method To Fight Antibiotic-Resistant TB
Researchers at Oregon State University are working with Indian scientists in order to develop an antibiotic-resistant TB treatment. The researchers, which were from Oregon State University, the University of Delhi, and the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in India, have announced the successful modification of a precursor to a TB drug, which they believe is the first step to overcoming antibiotic resistance problems in regards to the disease.
The new compound, 24-desmethylrifampicin, has shown better antibacterial activity than rifampicin against multi-drug resistant strands of TB. Currently, rifampicin is part of the drug cocktail that is used to treat TB over a 6 month period. However, multi-drug resistant strands of TB no longer respond to rifampicin treatment.
Taifo Mahmud, Oregon State University professor at the College of Pharmacy, commented on the results of the study. “We believe these findings are an important new avenue toward treatment of multi-drug-resistant TB,” he said. “Rifampicin is the most effective drug against tuberculosis, and it's very difficult to achieve a cure without it. The approach we're using should be able to create one or more analogs that could help take the place of rifampicin in TB therapy.”
The new compound was created through genetic modification and synthetic drug development. The researchers have noted that the compound needs to undergo further testing before it can be used in human populations. It is not yet known when that further testing will occur. The scientists have noted that more research must be completed on antibiotic resistance in order to overcome the genetic mutations of bacteria that infect humans and cause diseases.
It is estimated that about 1 million people around the world die from TB each year. It is the 2nd most common cause of death via infection after the AIDS virus.
The research was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.