The metabolic changes promoted by 2-AA may be clinically relevant in molecular medicine in general, and CF in particular, as: a) ATP synthesis rate and IMCLs can be measured clinically using non-invasive and non-irradiating metabolomic assays; b) PGC-1β activity may be induced; and c) PGC-1β agonists may alleviate insulin resistance and prevent damage in organs remote from the infection site. Here, PPARGC1B is linked to infection.