Research in Mice Shows That Imatinib Limits TB Infection
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – ATLANTA — It’s estimated that nearly one-third of the world’s population—more than two billion people—are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. According to the World Health Organization, 5 to 10 percent of infected people eventually develop active tuberculosis and can transmit the bacterium to others. Almost two million die from the disease each year. But the current treatment regimen for the disease is long and arduous, making patient compliance difficult. As a result, some strains of the bacteria have become resistant to many or all of the available antibiotics.
A team of researchers has shown in mice that M. tuberculosis and several of its close relatives, including M. marinum, exploit a family of host enzymes known as ABL-family tyrosine kinases to gain entry into host cells and to survive once inside. The researchers also showed that imatinib, an Abl-family inhibitor, limits infection, and works just as well against antibiotic resistant strains. Also, when given alongside traditional front-line antibiotics, the drugs worked synergistically to enhance their effectiveness.
The bottom line: by targeting the host—not the mycobacteria itself—researchers were able to reduce the host’s mycobacteria load, and even target antibiotic-resistant strains, all while enhancing the effectiveness of front-line antibiotics.
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