Abstract: The invention provides for the use of antimicrobial chemical entities based on a nitrothiazolide backbone that exhibit anti-mycobacteria activity, including the mycobacterium causing tuberculosis. Multiple compounds were synthesized and screened for anti-tuberculosis activity. Disclosed herein are a series of compounds with anti-tuberculosis activity, including six leads that completely inhibited bacterial growth at 5 micrograms per ml or less. Three of these compounds were tested to determine MIC and these ranged between 1 and 4 micrograms per ml against both drug susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains and strains that are multi-drug resistant (MDR) including XDR strains. The compounds developed are derived from parent compound nitazoxanide, which had no inhibitory activity in the stringent testing format used herein.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of antimicrobial chemical entities based on a nitrothiazolide backbone that exhibit anti-mycobacteria activity, including the mycobacterium causing tuberculosis. Multiple compounds were synthesized and screened for anti-tuberculosis activity. Disclosed herein are a series of compounds with anti-tuberculosis activity, including six leads that completely inhibited bacterial growth at 5 micrograms per ml or less. Three of these compounds were tested to determine MIC and these ranged between 1 and 4 micrograms per ml against both drug susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains and strains that are multi-drug resistant (MDR) including XDR strains. The compounds developed are derived from parent compound nitazoxanide, which had no inhibitory activity in the stringent testing format used herein.