Effect of Antitubercular Drug Macozinone (PBTZ169) on the Intestinal Microbiota and Immunity in Inbred Mice.

Inbred BALB/c mice were intragastrically administered with a new antitubercular compound macozinone (PBTZ169) or a combination of isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide (HRZ) for six months; control animals received no antitubercular drugs. After 6 months, the microbiota of the large intestine was analyzed. Unlike HRZ combination, macozinone practically does not affect the microbiota: its composition remained the same as in the control group. In lung tissue, differences in the expression of some genes regulating the immune response were found. Two months post-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mice treated with either the HRZ combination or macozinone exhibited distinct immune responses to tuberculin.