A New Method for Combating Tuberculosis

The increasing number of deaths occurring due to tuberculosis infections has led to many laboratories going back to the drawing board to determine more effective means of combating it. Initially, vaccination and certain antibiotics were used to control this deadly disease that kills up to 1.5 million people per year. However, a more effective approach has been identified to be suitable for combating tuberculosis. A study conducted by Insticut Curie, CNRS and University Toulouse revealed that aspartate is the nitrogen source for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacteria that causes the disease. Amino acid transporter AnsP1 was studied and the researchers obtain that it was responsible for capturing aspartate and transporting nitrogen to the microorganism. In vivo test was then performed using mice species. The organism amino acid transporter AnsP1 was inactivated, this attenuated the microorganism present and they recorded reduced rates of multiplication in comparison to the case when the pathway is active. Molecules involved in the metabolism of aspartate can therefore be the target for most antibiotics. Moreover, inactivation strategy of AnsP1 can be used for formulation of most vaccines