Enoyl reductase: One target, Two major Global Threats

Tuberculosis and Malaria are two major global threats; both account for 5 million deaths annually (mostly in developing countries). Despite the worldwide ravages of Tuberculosis and Malaria, chemotherapeutic regimens against these two diseases have remained largely unchanged. There is an urgent need to develop novel, effective, and affordable drugs to treat both diseases because the resistance has developed or is developing to existing therapy. Scientists around the world are seeking new ways to combat the two opportunistic pathogens.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium Falciparum are causative agents of tuberculosis and malaria, respectively. Both organisms share enzymatic components of the type II fatty acid biosynthetic pathway (FAS-II). Enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase (ENR) is one of the key type II enzymes, has been repeatedly validated as an effective antimicrobial target (e.g., INH, diazoborines, triclosan, and thiolactomycin).

Triclosan, the ENR inhibitor, showed excellent activity against both organisms. Targeting ENR  with a new class of compounds may yield new drugs against these devastating pathogens.