Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a significant global health problem, infecting one third of the world's population, and is the leading cause of death from a curable infectious disease. Attributable mortality rates were reported as 1,300,000 in 2012. Despite infection in humans since ancient times, we lack complete understanding of Mtb pathogenesis. Therapy is challenging due to the emergence of drug resistance, and the ability of Mtb to remain latent for extended periods in a state referred to as non-replicating (NR) Most current therapies are ineffective at eradicating NR Mtb, which has the potential to reactivate, causing disease. New therapeutics are needed that target both replicating (R) and NR Mtb. We have identified a novel class of compounds, nitrofuranyl calanolides (NCs), which achieve this goal. NCs are very potent against R and NR Mtb, are selective, and tolerated well by primary human cells. In addition, their ability to kill Mtb in primary human macrophages makes them an important class to study. Our project focuses on using NCs as tools to discover the biology of the dormant NR state and new druggable targets. We will accomplish this by finding NC-resistant bacteria that have mutations in the essential target(s), in addition to using metabolomics to identify essential pathways that are altered by NCs. Our preliminary data show that rv2466c, a gene of unknown function in Mtb, is an activating enzyme for NCs, leading to production of several conversion products in vitro, proposing a nitroreductase function for this enzyme. We will identify and synthesize these conversion products, and test their activity against Mtb. If active, these conversion products will be also used to identify potential targets important in killing R and NR Mtb. Moreover, we predict that in addition to its role in NC activation, rv2466c also plays a role in Mtb pathogenesis and dormancy. Evidence from transcriptome studies predict it to be important during stress conditions encountered in the host, which is supported by our preliminary findings showing its importance in oxidative stress resistance. We will further evaluate significance of Rv2466c by generating an rv2466c-knockout strain, and evaluating its phenotype in response to physiologic stresses and during in vivo mouse infections. Furthermore, we will evaluate its binding partners using co- immunoprecipitation strategies, while using information from the already available crystal structure to guide us better delineate sites important for enzymatic and binding activity.

Public Health Relevance

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease affecting one third of the world's population, and kills up to 160 people every hour. The goal of this mentored career development proposal is to better understand the mechanisms that can kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis in its dormant and replicating states, which will be important for optimizing and shortening therapy. In addition, we aim to determine the role of a specific gene (rv2466c) in mycobacterial pathogenesis and dormancy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08AI108799-03
Application #
9066089
Study Section
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases B Subcommittee (MID)
Program Officer
Lacourciere, Karen A
Project Start
2014-06-01
Project End
2019-05-31
Budget Start
2016-06-01
Budget End
2017-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
060217502
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
Negri, Ana; Javidnia, Prisca; Mu, Ran et al. (2018) Identification of a Mycothiol-Dependent Nitroreductase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ACS Infect Dis 4:771-787
Saito, Kohta; Warrier, Thulasi; Somersan-Karakaya, Selin et al. (2017) Rifamycin action on RNA polymerase in antibiotic-tolerant Mycobacterium tuberculosis results in differentially detectable populations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114:E4832-E4840
Gold, Ben; Roberts, Julia; Ling, Yan et al. (2016) Visualization of the Charcoal Agar Resazurin Assay for Semi-quantitative, Medium-throughput Enumeration of Mycobacteria. J Vis Exp :
Warrier, Thulasi; Kapilashrami, Kanishk; Argyrou, Argyrides et al. (2016) N-methylation of a bactericidal compound as a resistance mechanism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:E4523-30
Gold, Ben; Smith, Robert; Nguyen, Quyen et al. (2016) Novel Cephalosporins Selectively Active on Nonreplicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J Med Chem 59:6027-44
Gold, Ben; Roberts, Julia; Ling, Yan et al. (2015) Rapid, Semiquantitative Assay To Discriminate among Compounds with Activity against Replicating or Nonreplicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 59:6521-38