A drug now used to treat stroke patients has been found to combat tuberculosis, ulcers, and other bacterial infections, including some that are becoming resistant to antibiotics.
The drug compound, called ebselen, has been shown to fight a variety of bacteria, including Helicobacter pylori which causes gastric ulcers and Mycobacterium tuberculosis which causes TB, according to a new study published online in the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB Journal). The compound interferes with the bacteria agents’ ability to make new DNA and protect themselves against immune system defenses.
"This new antibacterial principle provides better chances of surviving an infection," said Arne Holmgren, M.D., a researcher from the Division of Biochemistry in the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.
"Since ebselen is also an antioxidant, the present mechanism can be described as a 'two for the price of one' antioxidant action in inflammation, and specific targeting of multi-resistant bacterial complications and sepsis."
The researchers tested the effects of ebselen on strains of E. coli, along with TB- and ulcer-causing bacteria, which are frequently resistant to many commonly used antibiotics. All three were found to be sensitive to ebselen.
"As rapidly as these organisms evolve, we need new drugs sooner rather than later," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "The fact that these scientists have found a new target for killing some of the most resistant bacteria is great news, but the fact that we already have at least one drug which we could possibly use now makes the news even better."