Researchers Discover New Molecule To Fight TB, HIV

A molecule drawn out from a marine microorganism could possibly be the next biggest progression in the treatment of two fatal illnesses including tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency Virus.

This declaration has been made by scientists on Wednesday.

Providing novel hope to those suffering from HIV and TB, a group of researchers from the Tuberculosis Research Centre, IIT-Madras and Periyar University drawn out the molecule, Transitmycin, from the marine Micro-organism, Streptomyces SP, which was detached from a soil model amassed from the coral reef off the coast of Rameshwaram.

Scientists stated that the brominated and pigmented antibiotic has been discovered to be active against both the diseases.

Principal investigator and head of the department of bacteriology at the TRC, Dr. Vanaja Kumar said, "Transitmycin inhibited drug sensitive, multidrug resistant and XDR Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains as well as bacterial pathogens."

It was also discovered to be active against latent bacilli.

Exciting them more, the compound was detected to slow down two most widely prevalent clades of HIV-1, the Sub types B&C.

Medical specialists stated that the latter subtype was most prevalent in India and portions of the African continent, reportedly accountable for the worst outbreaks and around half of all contagions.

Notably, this compound is said to be effectual against both Mycobacterium and HIV, a distinctive trait that permits the cure of patients who have been infected with both these pathogens unlike the subsisting medications, which cannot be taken at the same time as they counteract, the researchers said.

Preclinical study, comprising animal researches, are to be adopted before examining this compound in human clinical trials, they said, adding that it would be ready in a period of ten years if the plan fell in place.