Rifabutin Is Active against Mycobacterium abscessus in Mice

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2020 Jan 27;64(2):e01943-19. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01943-19. Print 2020 Jan 27.

Abstract

There is no reliable cure for Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. Rifampin is not used clinically due to poor in vitro potency. In contrast, we have shown that rifabutin, another approved rifamycin used to treat tuberculosis, is potent in vitro against M. abscessus Here, we report that rifabutin is as active as clarithromycin against M. abscessus K21 in NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/NCrCrl mice. This suggests that rifabutin should be considered a repurposing candidate for patients with M. abscessus disease.

Keywords: NTM; animal model; mouse model; nontuberculous mycobacteria; rifamycin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Clarithromycin / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Repositioning
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Lung Diseases / microbiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / drug therapy*
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium abscessus / drug effects*
  • Rifabutin / chemistry
  • Rifabutin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Rifabutin
  • Clarithromycin