title: Anthelmintic avermectins kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including multidrug-resistant clinical strains.
abstract: Avermectins are a family of macrolides known for their anthelmintic activities and traditionally believed to be inactive against all bacteria. Here we report that members of the family, ivermectin, selamectin, and moxidectin, are bactericidal against mycobacterial species, including multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant clinical strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Avermectins are approved for clinical and veterinary uses and have documented pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. We suggest that avermectins could be repurposed for tuberculosis treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Leah E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vilchèze
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramón-García
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides; D007559:Ivermectin; C019264:avermectin; C414354:selamectin; C027837:moxidectin