Nitazoxanide Disrupts Membrane Potential and Intrabacterial pH Homeostasis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Nitazoxanide (Alinia), a nitro-thiazolyl antiparasitic drug, kills diverse microorganisms by unknown mechanisms. Here we identified two actions of nitazoxanide against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb): disruption of Mtb’s membrane potential and pH homeostasis. Both actions were shared by a structurally related antimycobacterial compound, niclosamide. Reactive nitrogen intermediates were reported to synergize with nitazoxanide and its...