Enzyme helps Nitric Oxide fight TB – big time

Researchers wanted to know why an existing drug isoniazid works so well against tuberculosis. They found that nitric oxide–the same substance involved in inflammation (asthma, liver disease, etc.), pain and cardiac events is created when the drug is used to treat TB. “An enzyme only found inside the TB bacteria makes nitric oxide from the isoniazid that is taken inside the cell.”

The University of Mexico College of Pharmacy and School of Medicine discovered the mechanism by which the nitric oxide is energized. They expect to use this piece of the puzzle to develop even better drugs.