Metabolic Changes Under Treatment

Metabolite	BDQ Alone	CUR Alone	CUR-BDQ Combination
ATP Levels	50%	100%	25%
NADH/NAD+ Ratio	1:1	1:1	3:1
Purine Metabolism	Decreased	Stable	Significantly Decreased
Amino Acid Synthesis	Stable	Increased	Decreased

These findings underscore CUR’s role in enhancing BDQ’s efficacy by modulating metabolic pathways crucial for M. abscessus pathogenicity and survival.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the combination of CUR and BDQ presents a promising therapeutic strategy against M. abscessus infections. The in vitro and in vivo evidence demonstrates that CUR can significantly enhance the efficacy of BDQ, leading to improved outcomes in bacterial clearance and reduced inflammatory pathology. The metabolic insights gained from this study further elucidate the mechanisms through which CUR exerts its effects, paving the way for future research and clinical applications.

FAQ

What is Mycobacterium abscessus?
Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing mycobacterium that can cause serious infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals.

How does curcumin enhance the efficacy of bedaquiline?
Curcumin enhances bedaquiline’s efficacy by improving its absorption, modulating immune responses, and disrupting metabolic pathways crucial for the survival of Mycobacterium abscessus.

What are the treatment implications of the CUR-BDQ combination?
The CUR-BDQ combination may offer a more effective treatment option for M. abscessus infections, potentially reducing the duration of therapy and improving clinical outcomes.

Are there any safety concerns with curcumin?
Curcumin is generally regarded as safe, with studies indicating that it can be taken in high doses without significant adverse effects.

What further research is needed?
Further clinical studies are essential to validate the safety and efficacy of the CUR-BDQ combination in human patients suffering from M. abscessus infections.

References

Luo, D., Xie, W., & Wang, Z. (2025). Curcumin enhances bedaquiline’s efficacy against Mycobacterium abscessus: in vitro and in vivo evidence. Microbiology Spectrum
(2025). Epidemiological characteristics of RSV in pediatric inpatients with lower respiratory tract infections in Suzhou and their correlation with meteorology and atmospheric pollutants. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11075-2
Alnasser, S. M. (2025). Revisiting the approaches to DNA damage detection in genetic toxicology: insights and regulatory implications. BioData Mining. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13040-025-00447-8
(2025). Antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance mechanisms to antipseudomonal β-lactams in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from blood. Microbiology Spectrum