Infectious disease

Cell culture and mouse studies identified a M. tuberculosis qcrB inhibitor that could help treat tuberculosis (TB). Screening of a compound library in cell-based assays identified a morpholino-thiophene-based compound that inhibited the growth of M. tuberculosis with an IC₅₀ of 0.24 µM. In a mouse model of TB, the compound decreased bacterial growth in the lungs compared with no treatment. In an M. tuberculosis culture-based assay of growth and ATP depletion, the compound concomitantly decreased bacterial growth and ATP levels in a dose-dependent manner and with potencies similar to a qcrB inhibitor tool compound, suggesting qcrB as its target. ...