Abstract:
In the interest of developing more effective and safer anti-tuberculosis drugs, we used a
GCxGC-TOF-MS metabolomics research approach to investigate and compare the metabolic profiles
of Mtb in the presence and absence of ciprofloxacin. The metabolites that best describe the differences
between the compared groups were identified as markers characterizing the changes induced by
ciprofloxacin. Malic acid was ranked as the most significantly altered metabolite marker induced
by ciprofloxacin, indicative of an inhibition of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) and glyoxylate cycle
of Mtb. The altered fatty acid, myo-inositol, and triacylglycerol metabolism seen in this group
supports previous observations of ciprofloxacin action on the Mtb cell wall. Furthermore, the altered
pentose phosphate intermediates, glycerol metabolism markers, glucose accumulation, as well as
the reduction in the glucogenic amino acids specifically, indicate a flux toward DNA (as well as cell
wall) repair, also supporting previous findings of DNA damage caused by ciprofloxacin. This study
further provides insights useful for designing network whole-system strategies for the identification
of possible modes of action of various drugs and possibly adaptations by Mtb resulting in resistance.
