Targeting Tuberculosis — In a recent issue of the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, Einstein researchers describe a new strategy for killing Myobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacterial species that causes TB. Drs. Michael Berney, Linda Berney-Meyerand William Jacobs found that MTb’s ability to successfully infect hosts and survive in their tissues depends on synthesizing the metabolites methionine and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). Deleting the gene encoding homoserine transacetylase (metA) halts biosynthesis of these two important biomolecules, rendering Mtb highly sensitive being killed in mice. Deleting the metA gene in Mtb and then withholding the two biomolecules in vitro leads to unusually rapid cell death. The research uncovers a previously unknown Mtb vulnerability: its inability to scavenge intermediates of SAM and methionine biosynthesis from the host. This vulnerability opens up an entirely new drug target space for rapidly killing Mtb. The Einstein researchers are working with collaborators at the California Institute of Biomedical Research to find metA inhibitors. Dr. Berney is a research assistant professor in microbiology & immunology and Dr. Berney-Meyer is an associate in the same department. Dr. Jacobs is professor of microbiology & immunology and of genetics and holds the Leo and Julia Forchheimer Chair in Microbiology & Immunology.
Posted on: Wednesday, August 26, 2015