Chennai Scientists Find New Molecule That Might Help Fight TB

Scientists at the Tuberculosis Research Centre (TRC) in Chennai have discovered a new molecule that can aid the fight against tuberculosis.

The new molecule is called Transitmycin and was extracted from Streptomyces sp, which were isolated from a soil sample found in the Rameswaram coral reef. The molecule has significant anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, which make it an useful weapon against TB as well as common HIV sub types such as clade B and C.

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Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lung. It may spread to other organs.

“The significance of the discovery of this molecule is that it comes at a time when there is very little to offer to patients developing multi-drug resistance to otherwise effective drugs in the regimen like Rifampicin and isoniazid,” Vanaja Kumar, Head of Bacteriology at TRC, Chennai told The Hindu.

This project was funded by the Department of Science and Technology and was undertaken in collaboration with IIT-M and the Periyar University, Salem.

Screening Tests for Tuberculosis
Tuberculin skin test and Interferon – Release Assays are tests used to screen for tuberculosis.

Source-Medindia

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Drug resistance is often a problem in malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and hospital acquired diseases. Judicious use of antibiotics can control the problem.