Integrating tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistance control programmes

Investigating the composition and recruitment of the mycobacterial ImuA'-ImuB-DnaE2 mutasome

A DNA damage-inducible mutagenic gene cassette has been implicated in the emergence of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis during anti-tuberculosis (TB) chemotherapy. However, the molecular composition and operation of the encoded 'mycobacterial mutasome' - minimally comprising DnaE2 polymerase and ImuA' and ImuB accessory proteins - remain elusive. Following exposure of mycobacteria to DNA damaging agents, we observe that DnaE2 and ImuB co-localize with the DNA polymerase III β subunit (β clamp) in distinct intracellular foci. Notably, genetic inactivation of the mutasome in an imuBAAAAGG mutant containing a disrupted β clamp-binding motif abolishes ImuB-β clamp focus formation, a phenotype recapitulated pharmacologically by treating bacilli with griselimycin and in biochemical assays in which this β clamp-binding antibiotic collapses pre-formed ImuB-β clamp complexes. These observations establish the essentiality of the ImuB-β clamp interaction for mutagenic DNA repair in mycobacteria, identifying the mutasome as target for adjunctive therapeutics designed to protect anti-TB drugs against emerging resistance.

Novel stilbene scaffolds efficiently target Mycobacterium tuberculosis nucleoid-associated protein, HU

Novel scaffolds of stilbene were identified as inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by targeting the nucleoid-associated protein, HU, using molecular docking.

Challenges and controversies in childhood tuberculosis

Children bear a substantial burden of suffering when it comes to tuberculosis. Ironically, they are often left out of the scientific and public health advances that have led to important improvements in tuberculosis diagnosis, treatment, and prevention over the past decade. This Series paper describes some of the challenges and controversies in paediatric tuberculosis, including the epidemiology and treatment of tuberculosis in children. Two areas in which substantial challenges and controversies exist (ie, diagnosis and prevention) are explored in more detail. This Series paper also offers possible solutions for including children in all efforts to end tuberculosis, with a focus on ensuring that the proper financial and human resources are in place to best serve children exposed to, infected with, and sick from all forms of tuberculosis.