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Tuberculosis metabolomics reveals adaptations of man and microbe in order to outcompete and survive

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An Erratum to this article was published on 17 February 2016

Abstract

Despite numerous research efforts to control tuberculosis, it is still regarded as a global pandemic. It is clear that the infectious agent responsible and its associated disease mechanisms remain poorly understood. Alternative research strategies are therefore urgently needed to better characterize active-TB, especially the adaptations of the host and microbe as they compete to survive. Using a GCxGC-TOFMS metabolomics approach, we identified new urinary TB metabolite markers induced by adaptations of the host metabolome and/or host-pathogen interactions. The most significant of these were the TB-induced changes resulting in abnormal host fatty acid and amino acid metabolism, in particular to tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine, inducing a metabolite profile similar to that of patients suffering from phenylketonuria, mediated through changes to INF-γ and possibly insulin. This subsequently also explains some of the symptoms associated with TB and provides clues to better treatment approaches.

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Author contribution

Both authors contributed equally to this work: DTL conceptionalized the study design, and LDV did the data acquisition/analysis. LDV worked on data interpretation, and drafted the article, and DTL revised it critically for important intellectual content. Both authors approved the final version to be submitted.

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  1. Human Metabolomics, School for Physical and Chemical Sciences, North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Private Bag X6001, Box 269, Potchefstroom, 2531, South Africa

    Laneke Luier & Du Toit Loots

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  1. Laneke Luier
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  2. Du Toit Loots
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Correspondence to Du Toit Loots.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest, and that this manuscript, and the work described therein, is unpublished and has not been submitted for publication elsewhere.

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Ethical approval for this investigation, carried out according to the Declaration of Helsinki and International Conference of Harmonization guidelines, was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the North-West University, South Africa (Number NWU-00127-11-A1). All participants gave written informed consent for collection of urine and its use as described.

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Luier, L., Loots, D.T. Tuberculosis metabolomics reveals adaptations of man and microbe in order to outcompete and survive. Metabolomics 12, 40 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-016-0969-x

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