Novel Antibacterial Compound from Soil to Treat Tuberculosis

Antibacterial compound from soil can be used for the treatment of tuberculosis, reveals study.

Highlights

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Drugs used for tuberculosis are becoming resistant to the bacteria.
Antibacterial compound obtained from soil can be a new drug lead for treating tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an infectious disease. Antibacterial compounds present in the soil can provide new treatment options for tuberculosis, finds a recent study from the University of Sydney.

The research team along with University Professors Richard Payne, and Warwick Britton from the Sydney have found a new compound which can be translated as a drug lead for tuberculosis.

Drugs for Tuberculosis
View list of generic and brand names of drugs used for treatment of Tuberculosis (Pulmonary Lung TB). Find more information including dose, side effects of the Tuberculosis medicine.

‘Antibacterial compound present in the soil can be a new drug lead for tuberculosis treatment.’

The study findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.

It was estimated that around 10.4 million cases of tuberculosis and 1.4 million deaths being recorded in 2015. Tuberculosis is found to have more number of deaths than any other infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS.

The commonly used drugs for tuberculosis are becoming increasingly resistant to the tuberculosis bacteria. Around 480,000 cases are found to be unresponsive to the two major drugs. More than 250,000 tuberculosis deaths are from drug-resistant infections.

Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis - Symptoms, Signs, Causes, Risk factors, Treatment
Extra pulmonary tuberculosis is infection of tissues and organs other than the lungs by mycobacterium tuberculosis and related organisms.

Antibacterial Compound from Soil
The compounds from soil were found to prevent the growth of other bacteria. The research team was able to synthesize compounds with structural variations. These compounds are potent and are referred as ‘Analogues.’

These analogues are found to be effective killers for tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis - Spread - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lung. It may spread to other organs.

Professor Payne, said, "These analogues inhibit the action of a key protein needed to build a protective cell wall around the bacterium."

"Without a cell wall, the bacterium dies. This wall-building protein is not targeted by currently available drugs."

Quiz on Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a major health care concern, especially in Africa and South East Asia. Brush up your information on tuberculosis by taking this quiz.

The analogues are found to be effective in killing the TB-causing bacteria which is present inside the macrophages.

These findings can help to create a new TB drug. Further testing and studies are required for treatment.

Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. TB infections are contagious and can spread mainly through air. People with a weak immune system are more prone to tuberculosis.

Symptoms of tuberculosis

Bad cough
Weight loss
Fever
Night Sweats
Coughing of blood

Drugs like isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and streptomycin are used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis does not respond to the standard drug treatment. The new discovery of antibacterial compound from soil can help to develop treatment for tuberculosis.

References

10 facts about tuberculosis - ( http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/tuberculosis/10_en.html )
Tuberculosis - ( https://medlineplus.gov/tuberculosis.html )

Source-Medindia