Researchers at the Tuberculosis Research Centre, Chennai, India, claimed to have invented a compound named “Transitmycin” to treat tuberculosis and HIV virus. Speaking to the media, Vanaja Kumar, Head, Department of Bacteriology said, “we have invented a compound Transitmycin for treatment of TB that has a simple structure, less cell toxicity. Since this was obtained from coastal area, the immunity developed by tuberculosis bacteria to counter this compound will be less. The compound was also tested against HIV virus and found to be active against the virus”.

Hitherto, a tablet named “Rifampicin” was used to effectively treat tuberculosis across the world. But, Transitmycin is the first brominated compound obtained from a coastal area invented in the treatment of the disease. “The compound is active against HIV clade C when tested. We are in the process of testing it against other clades,” said Luke Elizabeth Hannah, who is presently testing the compound’s action on HIV virus.

Over 55 per cent and 98 per cent of the total HIV patients across the world and total HIV patients in India are infected by clade C. Transitmycin is a yellow pigment compound, which itself is an indication for a strong anti bacterial activity, Hannah said. The team collaborated with IIT, Madras, and Periyar University, Salem and collected samples from places in Andaman Islands and in the coasts of Bay of Bengal.