Curcumin enhances bedaquiline’s efficacy against Mycobacterium abscessus: in vitro and in vivo evidence

ABSTRACT In this study, we describe the combined effects of bedaquiline (BDQ) and the natural product curcumin (CUR) on Mycobacterium abscessus. In both in vitro and in vivo experiments, CUR enhanced BDQ’s inhibitory effect. This combination reduced M. abscessus survival under nutrient-deprived, hyp...

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Main Authors: Dan Luo, Weile Xie, Zhe Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-05-01
Series:Microbiology Spectrum
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02295-24
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author Dan Luo
Weile Xie
Zhe Wang
author_facet Dan Luo
Weile Xie
Zhe Wang
author_sort Dan Luo
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT In this study, we describe the combined effects of bedaquiline (BDQ) and the natural product curcumin (CUR) on Mycobacterium abscessus. In both in vitro and in vivo experiments, CUR enhanced BDQ’s inhibitory effect. This combination reduced M. abscessus survival under nutrient-deprived, hypoxic, and acidic conditions, accelerated ATP depletion, mitigated BDQ-induced respiratory compensation, and effectively improved infection outcomes in both normal and immunosuppressed mice. Metabolomics analysis revealed that adding CUR to BDQ exacerbated BDQ-dependent downregulation of purine and pyrimidine metabolism and amino acid synthesis. Thus, BDQ-CUR combination therapy could potentially be applied to treat M. abscessus infections.IMPORTANCEMycobacterium abscessus is an emerging pathogen that causes pulmonary infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. It exhibits natural resistance to many anti-tuberculosis drugs, posing significant challenges for both patients and physicians, thereby raising the need for innovative drug discovery. Here, we describe the combined effects of bedaquiline (BDQ) and curcumin (CUR) on M. abscessus. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that CUR enhances the inhibitory effect of BDQ. Additionally, we investigated the synergistic effects at the metabolic level. Thus, these findings highlight the potential of BDQ-CUR combination therapy against M. abscessus infections.
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spelling doaj-art-91e00bec10cd436fae59447b70e95e6d2025-08-20T02:11:30ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-05-0113510.1128/spectrum.02295-24Curcumin enhances bedaquiline’s efficacy against Mycobacterium abscessus: in vitro and in vivo evidenceDan Luo0Weile Xie1Zhe Wang2Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, Shanghai, ChinaABSTRACT In this study, we describe the combined effects of bedaquiline (BDQ) and the natural product curcumin (CUR) on Mycobacterium abscessus. In both in vitro and in vivo experiments, CUR enhanced BDQ’s inhibitory effect. This combination reduced M. abscessus survival under nutrient-deprived, hypoxic, and acidic conditions, accelerated ATP depletion, mitigated BDQ-induced respiratory compensation, and effectively improved infection outcomes in both normal and immunosuppressed mice. Metabolomics analysis revealed that adding CUR to BDQ exacerbated BDQ-dependent downregulation of purine and pyrimidine metabolism and amino acid synthesis. Thus, BDQ-CUR combination therapy could potentially be applied to treat M. abscessus infections.IMPORTANCEMycobacterium abscessus is an emerging pathogen that causes pulmonary infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. It exhibits natural resistance to many anti-tuberculosis drugs, posing significant challenges for both patients and physicians, thereby raising the need for innovative drug discovery. Here, we describe the combined effects of bedaquiline (BDQ) and curcumin (CUR) on M. abscessus. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that CUR enhances the inhibitory effect of BDQ. Additionally, we investigated the synergistic effects at the metabolic level. Thus, these findings highlight the potential of BDQ-CUR combination therapy against M. abscessus infections.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02295-24Mycobacterium abscessusbedaquilinecurcuminsynergycombination
spellingShingle Dan Luo
Weile Xie
Zhe Wang
Curcumin enhances bedaquiline’s efficacy against Mycobacterium abscessus: in vitro and in vivo evidence
Microbiology Spectrum
Mycobacterium abscessus
bedaquiline
curcumin
synergy
combination
title Curcumin enhances bedaquiline’s efficacy against Mycobacterium abscessus: in vitro and in vivo evidence
title_full Curcumin enhances bedaquiline’s efficacy against Mycobacterium abscessus: in vitro and in vivo evidence
title_fullStr Curcumin enhances bedaquiline’s efficacy against Mycobacterium abscessus: in vitro and in vivo evidence
title_full_unstemmed Curcumin enhances bedaquiline’s efficacy against Mycobacterium abscessus: in vitro and in vivo evidence
title_short Curcumin enhances bedaquiline’s efficacy against Mycobacterium abscessus: in vitro and in vivo evidence
title_sort curcumin enhances bedaquiline s efficacy against mycobacterium abscessus in vitro and in vivo evidence
topic Mycobacterium abscessus
bedaquiline
curcumin
synergy
combination
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02295-24
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AT weilexie curcuminenhancesbedaquilinesefficacyagainstmycobacteriumabscessusinvitroandinvivoevidence
AT zhewang curcuminenhancesbedaquilinesefficacyagainstmycobacteriumabscessusinvitroandinvivoevidence