Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

Visualization of the Charcoal Agar Resazurin Assay for Semi-quantitative, Medium-throughput Enumeration of Mycobacteria
Published on: December 14, 2016
Nitazoxanide Disrupts Membrane Potential and Intrabacterial pH Homeostasis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Luiz Pedro S de Carvalho1, Crystal M Darby, Kyu Y Rhee
1Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY 10065.
Abstract:
Nitazoxanide (Alinia(®)), a nitro-thiazolyl antiparasitic drug, kills diverse microorganisms by unknown mechanisms. Here we identified two actions of nitazoxanide against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb): disruption of Mtb's membrane potential and pH homeostasis. Both actions were shared by a structurally related anti-mycobacterial compound, niclosamide. Reactive nitrogen intermediates were reported to synergize with nitazoxanide and its deacetylated derivative tizoxanide in killing Mtb. Herein, however, we could not attribute this to increased uptake of nitazoxanide or tizoxanide as monitored by targeted metabolomics, nor to increased impact of nitazoxanide on Mtb's membrane potential or intrabacterial pH. Thus, further mechanisms of action of nitazoxanide or tizoxanide may await discovery. The multiple mechanisms of action may contribute to Mtb's ultra-low frequency of resistance against nitazoxanide.
Related Concept Videos
Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis
Anthelminthic Agents
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
