University of Sydney: Emerging Class of Antibiotics to Tackle Global TB Crisis

26 February 2026

University of Sydney press release

Researchers have discovered how a promising class of experimental antibiotics disrupts the TB bacterium, paving the way for urgently needed new treatments.

In a study published in Nature Communications, the team investigated how three naturally occurring antibiotic compounds – ecumicin, ilamycin and cyclomarin – act on a vital protein degradation machine inside Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The molecular machine, known as the ClpC1–ClpP1P2 complex, allows the bacterium to break down damaged or unneeded proteins, helping it to survive stress and maintain essential functions. Without it, the TB bacterium can’t survive, making it an attractive drug target.

Read the full press release here.

Source: University of Sydney