New synergic treatments for inhaled anti-TB therapy: a preliminary SANS study

Despite being generally regarded as one of the oldest diseases affecting mankind, tuberculosis (TB) is still among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have greatly hampered the discovery of new antitubercular drugs: hence, the treatment of TB still relies on outdated, inefficient drugs, compromised by toxicity issues. A new validated target is MbtI [1], a mycobacterium-specific Mg2+-dependent salicylate synthase, which catalyses the double-step conversion of chorismic acid to salicylic acid, the building block of essential iron chelators, known as mycobactins. A new validated target is MbtI [1], a mycobacterium-specific Mg2+-dependent salicylate synthase, which catalyses the double-step conversion of chorismic acid to salicylic acid, the building block of essential iron chelators, known as mycobactins. Our final aim is the development of a coordinated delivery system via inhalation devices, assuring efficacy, carrying in the same nanoparticles the aforementioned inhibitors together with established antitubercular drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin), for a synergic mechanism of action against TB. The results of our research efforts will be presented.