The effect of Tyloxapol on the metabolome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The use of detergents when culturing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) are essential to prevent clumping. However, these detergents may influence research outcomes by impacting bacterial morphology and metabolism.

Tween 80 induces a carbon flux rerouting in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

As a means to increase the growth rate and reduce aggregation, Tween 80 is routinely added to growth media during mycobacterial culturing. This detergent has, however, been associated with causing alterations to the morphology, pathogenicity and virulence of these bacteria. In an attempt to better understand the underlying mechanism of these alterations, we investigated the effect of Tween 80 on the metabolomes of a M.

Preliminary Evaluation of Artemisinin-Cholesterol Conjugates as Potential Drugs for the Treatment of Intractable Forms of Malaria and Tuberculosis.

To evaluate the feasibility of developing drugs that may be active against both malaria and tuberculosis (TB) by using in part putative cholesterol transporters in the causative pathogens and through enhancement of passive diffusion in granulomatous TB, artemisinin-cholesterol conjugates were synthesized by connecting the component molecules through various linkers. The compounds were screened in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Antimalarial activities (IC ) against Pf drug-sensitive NF54, and drug-resistant K1 and W2 strains ranged from 0.

RNAseq reveals hypervirulence-specific host responses to M. tuberculosis infection.

The distinguishing factors that characterize the host response to infection with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) are largely confounding. We present an infection study with 2 genetically closely related M.

The Host Response to a Clinical MDR Mycobacterial Strain Cultured in a Detergent-Free Environment: A Global Transcriptomics Approach.

During Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection, the initial interactions between the pathogen and the host cell determines internalization and innate immune response events. It is established that detergents such as Tween alter the mycobacterial cell wall and solubilize various lipids and proteins.

Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Screening of Flavanones and Chalcones from Galenia africana and Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis.

This study focused on an 80% ethanol:water extract of Galenia africana and Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis in which a phytochemical study revealed the presence of flavonoids as the major secondary plant metabolites. Eleven pure flavonoids viz., (E)-2',4'-dihydroxychalcone 1, (S)-7-hydroxyflavanone 2, (E)-2',4'-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydrochalcone 3, (S)-5,7-dihydroxyflavanone 4, (S)-2',5,7,-trihydroxyflavanone 5, (S)-5,7-dihydroxy-2'-methoxyflavanone 6, 5,7-dihydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one 7, (S)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone 8 and (E)-2-hydroxy-3',6'-dimethoxychalcone 9 were isolated from G.

Mycolic acids, a promising mycobacterial ligand for targeting of nanoencapsulated drugs in tuberculosis.

The appearance of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) poses a great challenge to the development of novel treatment programmes to combat tuberculosis. Since innovative nanotechnologies might alleviate the limitations of current therapies, we have designed a new nanoformulation for use as an anti-TB drug delivery system. It consists of incorporating mycobacterial cell wall mycolic acids (MA) as targeting ligands into a drug-encapsulating Poly dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid polymer (PLGA), via a double emulsion solvent evaporation technique.

Ergothioneine is a secreted antioxidant in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Ergothioneine (ERG) and mycothiol (MSH) are two low-molecular-weight thiols synthesized by mycobacteria. The role of MSH has been extensively investigated in mycobacteria; however, little is known about the role of ERG in mycobacterial physiology. In this study, quantification of ERG at various points in the growth cycle of Mycobacterium smegmatis revealed that a significant portion of ERG is found in the culture media, suggesting that it is actively secreted.