Using a glaucoma drug to weaken the tuberculosis bateria's ability to sense immune system attacks could help prevent antibiotic-resistant strains. Photo by Sebastian Kaulitzki/Shutterstock

EAST LANSING, Mich., July 23 (UPI) -- A compound found in many drugs used to treat glaucoma, ethoxzolamide, has been found to turn off the tuberculosis bacteria's ability to sense immune system attacks, potentially making existing treatments shorter and more effective.

Researchers in a new study said finding this use for the compound is significant because the length of time required for antibiotics to kill off the bacteria is difficult for patients to withstand and ethoxzolamide can help it happen faster.


"The compound we found inhibits TB's ability to detect acidic environments, effectively blindfolding the bacterium so it can't resist the immune system's assault," said Robert Abramovitch, a Michigan State University microbiologist, in a press release.

The TB bacteria can sense changes in acidity levels in the body, which indicate that it is being attacked by immune cells. Ethoxzolamide, Abramovitch said, blocks this ability, making the bacteria susceptible to immune system attack, increasing the efficacy of antibiotics. The compound was shown in the lab to reduce TB symptoms in mice.

Abramovitch said the discovery also will help to prevent antibiotics from losing some of their efficacy by helping the body's defenses be more effective.

"The single biggest reason for the evolution of drug-resistant strains is the long course of treatment," Abramovitch said. "It's difficult for a patient to complete the entire antibiotic course required to kill all of the bacteria. Shortening the duration will help slow the development of these resistant strains."

The study is published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.