Infectious disease

Cell culture and mouse studies identified a carboxamide-based inhibitor of M. tuberculosis qcrB that could help treat Buruli ulcers, which are caused by M. ulcerans infection. In M. ulcerans growth assays, bacteria expressing mutant qcrB had lower sensitivity to a previously reported carboxamide-based compound than bacteria expressing the wild-type gene, indicating qcrB as the compound’s probable target. In a mouse model of Buruli ulcers, the compound decreased disease-associated swelling and redness in the footpad and bacterial burden in the footpad tissue compared with the generic antibiotics rifampin and streptomycin. In mice, the compound had a plasma half-life of 17.7 hours. Next steps could include testing the efficacy and safety of the compound in mouse models with chronic, severe Buruli ulcers...