Genome sequencing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis lansoprazole resistant mutants

Novel antibiotics capable of killing multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains are urgently needed. Here we show that the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole is a prodrug that targets the cytochrome bc1 complex of Mtb once converted to its bioactive metabolite in the host cell-environment. This novel cytochrome bc1 inhibitor is a highly specific antituberculotic drug with no activity on the human H+K+-ATPase thus providing excellent opportunities for targeting the major human pathogen Mtb.