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Antimicrobial Efflux Pumps and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Drug Tolerance: Evolutionary Considerations.
Title | Antimicrobial Efflux Pumps and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Drug Tolerance: Evolutionary Considerations. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | Szumowski, JD, Adams, KN, Edelstein, PH, Ramakrishnan, L |
Journal | Curr Top Microbiol Immunol |
Date Published | 2012 Dec 16 |
ISSN | 0070-217X |
Abstract | The need for lengthy treatment to cure tuberculosis stems from phenotypic drug resistance, also known as drug tolerance, which has been previously attributed to slowed bacterial growth in vivo. We discuss recent findings that challenge this model and instead implicate macrophage-induced mycobacterial efflux pumps in antimicrobial tolerance. Although mycobacterial efflux pumps may have originally served to protect against environmental toxins, in the pathogenic mycobacteria, they appear to have been repurposed for intracellular growth. In this light, we discuss the potential of efflux pump inhibitors such as verapamil to shorten tuberculosis treatment by their dual inhibition of tolerance and growth. |
DOI | 10.1007/82_2012_300 |
Alternate Journal | Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. |
PubMed ID | 23242857 |
Grant List | DP1 MH099901 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States R01 AI036396 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States R37 AI054503 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States |