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Updated: May 12, 2026
09:03
Growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Biofilms
Published on: February 15, 2012
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is resistant to streptolydigin
Alexander Speer1, Jennifer L Rowland, Michael Niederweis
1Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 609 Bevill Biomedical Research Building, 845 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|April 18, 2013
Summary
Streptolydigin, a potential tuberculosis drug, shows high resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Mtb
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Drug Discovery
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains pose a significant threat to global tuberculosis (TB) control efforts.
- Streptolydigin, an RNA polymerase inhibitor, is being investigated as a potential TB therapeutic due to improved synthesis methods.
- Its efficacy against Mtb is crucial for its consideration in TB treatment regimens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to streptolydigin and its derivatives.
- To investigate the role of porins in the uptake and susceptibility of bacteria to streptolydigin.
- To determine the suitability of streptolydigin as a therapeutic agent for TB treatment.
Main Methods:
- Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) were determined using the microplate Alamar Blue assay for Streptococcus salivarius, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Mtb.
- A porin mutant of M. smegmatis was used to assess the role of porins in streptolydigin susceptibility.
- Comparison of streptolydigin and its derivatives (streptolydiginone, dihydrostreptolydigin) against Mtb.
Main Results:
- Streptococcus salivarius and Mycobacterium smegmatis showed susceptibility to streptolydigin (MICs 1.6 mg/L and 6.25 mg/L, respectively).
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) exhibited high resistance to streptolydigin and its derivatives, with MICs ≥ 100 mg/L.
- A porin mutant of M. smegmatis was resistant to streptolydigin, indicating porin-mediated uptake.
Conclusions:
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is intrinsically resistant to streptolydigin, contrary to previous reports.
- Porins are essential for streptolydigin entry into bacteria; their absence in Mtb likely contributes to resistance.
- Streptolydigin is not a suitable candidate for TB treatment regimens due to Mtb's resistance.
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