- Tuberculosis is a deadly infectious disease that kills many people.
- Doctors often treat tuberculosis with the antibiotic rifampicin daily.
- Some bacteria have become resistant to rifampicin in many places.
- Scientists tested rifampicin together with a second new compound.
- The second compound attacks the bacteria in a different way.
- In laboratory tests the drug pair killed resistant bacteria.
- In an animal model the two drugs worked much better.
- Researchers plan to make a stable medicine from the probe.
Difficult words
- tuberculosis — A serious disease that affects the lungs.
- infectious — Can spread from one person to another.
- antibiotic — A medicine that kills bacteria and stops infections.
- resistant — Not killed by a medicine or treatment.
- compound — A chemical substance made for research or medicine.
- laboratory — A room where scientists do tests and experiments.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever taken antibiotics?
- Do you know the name of any antibiotic medicine?
- Would you like to work in a laboratory?
Related articles
Some chemotherapy drugs trigger immune attack by mimicking viruses
New research finds that some chemotherapy agents can make cancer cells behave like virus‑infected cells. This viral mimicry activates the innate immune system and could let doctors use lower drug doses with better results.
Targeting inflammation as a way to treat depression
A federally funded review and meta-analysis found that anti-inflammatory treatments reduced depressive symptoms and eased anhedonia in people with depression who had high inflammation. The drugs were not FDA-approved for depression and would be used off-label.
Affordable twice-yearly HIV injection lenacapavir to reach 120 countries
Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, will be licensed for 120 low- and middle-income countries at US$40 a year. Rollout is expected from 2027 with funding support, but some countries and price transparency remain concerns.
