New tuberculosis drug development: targeting the shikimate pathway.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet no new drugs have been developed in the last 40 years.

OBJECTIVE:

The exceedingly lengthy TB chemotherapy and the increasing emergence of drug resistance complicated by HIV co-infection call for the development of new TB drugs. These problems are further compounded by a poor understanding of the biology of persister bacteria.

METHODS:

New molecular tools have offered insights into potential new drug targets, particularly the enzymes of the shikimate pathway, which is the focus of this review.

RESULTS/CONCLUSION:

Shikimate pathway enzymes, especially shikimate kinase, may offer attractive targets for new TB drug and vaccine development.

• Authors: Senta M Kapnick, Ying Zhang
• Journal: Expert opinion on drug discovery (Expert Opin Drug Discov) Vol. 3 Issue 5 Pg. 565-77 (May 2008) ISSN: 1746-0441 [Print] England
• PMID: 23484927 (Publication Type: Journal Article)