(S)-N-(2,5-Dimethylphenyl)-1-(quinoline-8-ylsulfonyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide as a Small Molecule Inhibitor Probe for the Study of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

A high-throughput, cell-based screen was used to identify chemotypes as inhibitors for human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV). Optimization of a sulfonylpyrrolidine scaffold resulted in compound 5o that inhibited a virus-induced cytopathic effect in the entry stage of infection (EC50 = 2.3 ± 0.8 µM) with marginal cytotoxicity (CC50 = 30.9 ± 1.1 µM) and reduced viral titer by 100-fold. Compared to ribavirin, sulfonylpyrrolidine 5o demonstrated an improved in vitro potency and selectivity index

Studies on Dibenzylamines as Inhibitors of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus

Alphaviruses are arthropod-transmitted members of the Togaviridae family that can cause severe disease in humans, including debilitating arthralgia and severe neurological complications. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or antiviral therapies directed against the alphaviruses, and care is limited to treating disease symptoms. A phenotypic cell-based high-throughput screen was performed to identify small molecules that inhibit the replication of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV). The compound, 1-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-N-(3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzyl)ethan-1-amine (1), was identified as a highly active, potent inhibitor of VEEV with an effective concentration for 90% inhibition of virus (EC90) of 0.89 μM and 7.49 log reduction in virus titers at 10 μM concentration. These data suggest that further investigation of compound 1 as an antiviral therapeutic against VEEV, and perhaps other alphaviruses, is warranted. Experiments suggested that the antiviral activity of compound 1 is directed at an early step in the VEEV replication cycle by blocking viral RNA and protein synthesis

Discovery of a Novel Compound with Anti-Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Activity That Targets the Nonstructural Protein 2

Abstract Alphaviruses present serious health threats as emerging and re-emerging viruses. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), a New World alphavirus, can cause encephalitis in humans and horses, but there are no therapeutics for treatment. To date, compounds reported as anti-VEEV or anti-alphavirus inhibitors have shown moderate activity. To discover new classes of anti-VEEV inhibitors with novel viral targets, we used a high-throughput screen based on the measurement of cell protection from live VEEV TC-83-induced cytopathic effect to screen a 340,000 compound library. Of those, we identified five novel anti-VEEV compounds and chose a quinazolinone compound, CID15997213 (IC50 = 0.84 µM), for further characterization. The antiviral effect of CID15997213 was alphavirus-specific, inhibiting VEEV and Western equine encephalitis virus, but not Eastern equine encephalitis virus. In vitro assays confirmed inhibition of viral RNA, protein, and progeny synthesis. No antiviral activity was detected against a select group of RNA viruses. We found mutations conferring the resistance to the compound in the N-terminal domain of nsP2 and confirmed the target residues using a reverse genetic approach. Time of addition studies showed that the compound inhibits the middle stage of replication when viral genome replication is most active. In mice, the compound showed complete protection from lethal VEEV disease at 50 mg/kg/day. Collectively, these results reveal a potent anti-VEEV compound that uniquely targets the viral nsP2 N-terminal domain. While the function of nsP2 has yet to be characterized, our studies suggest that the protein might play a critical role in viral replication, and further, may represent an innovative opportunity to develop therapeutic interventions for alphavirus infection. Author Summary Alphaviruses occur worldwide, causing significant diseases such as encephalitis or arthritis in humans and animals. In addition, some alphaviruses, such as VEEV, pose a biothreat due to their high infectivity and lack of available treatments. To discover small molecule inhibitors with lead development potential, we used a cell-based assay to screen 348,140 compounds for inhibition of a VEEV-induced cytopathic effect. The screen revealed a scaffold with high inhibitory VEEV cellular potency and low cytotoxicity liability. While most previously reported anti-alphavirus compounds inhibit host proteins, evidence supported that this scaffold targeted the VEEV nsP2 protein, and that inhibition was associated with viral replication. Interestingly, compound resistance studies with VEEV mapped activity to the N-terminal domain of nsP2, to which no known function has been attributed. Ultimately, this discovery has delivered a small molecule-derived class of potent VEEV inhibitors whose activity is coupled to the nsP2 viral protein, a novel target with a previously unestablished biological role that is now implicated in viral replication.This research was supported by the following funding sources: NIH R03MH087448-01A1, University of Louisville Internal Research Initiate grant to DHC, USAMRAA W81XWH-10-2-0064 and W81XWH-08-2-0024 to CBJ. Screening was provided by the Southern Research Specialized Screening Center (U54HG005034-0) and chemistry through the University of Kansas Specialized Chemistry Center (U54HG005031). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Lifting the mask: identification of new small molecule inhibitors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli group 2 capsule biogenesis.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the leading cause of community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs), with over 100 million UTIs occurring annually throughout the world. Increasing antimicrobial resistance among UPEC limits ambulatory care options, delays effective treatment, and may increase overall morbidity and mortality from complications such as urosepsis. The polysaccharide capsules of UPEC are an attractive target a therapeutic, based on their importance in defense against the host immune responses; however, the large number of antigenic types has limited their incorporation into vaccine development. The objective of this study was to identify small-molecule inhibitors of UPEC capsule biogenesis. A large-scale screening effort entailing 338,740 compounds was conducted in a cell-based, phenotypic screen for inhibition of capsule biogenesis in UPEC. The primary and concentration-response assays yielded 29 putative inhibitors of capsule biogenesis, of which 6 were selected for further studies. Secondary confirmatory assays identified two highly active agents, named DU003 and DU011, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 1.0 µM and 0.69 µM, respectively. Confirmatory assays for capsular antigen and biochemical measurement of capsular sugars verified the inhibitory action of both compounds and demonstrated minimal toxicity and off-target effects. Serum sensitivity assays demonstrated that both compounds produced significant bacterial death upon exposure to active human serum. DU011 administration in mice provided near complete protection against a lethal systemic infection with the prototypic UPEC K1 isolate UTI89. This work has provided a conceptually new class of molecules to combat UPEC infection, and future studies will establish the molecular basis for their action along with efficacy in UTI and other UPEC infections

Inhibitors of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Described herein are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating a respiratory syncytial virus infection in a subject, or for inhibiting replication of respiratory syncytial virus

Regulation of host immune responses to Schistosoma mansoni by the inhibition of the parasitic NAD salvage pathway

T regulatory cells (Tregs) are a subset of FoxP3+ lymphocytes that maintain immune homeostasis through immunosuppressive signaling. In many helminth infections, one mechanism of immune evasion involves the influx and maintenance of Tregs. Multiple mechanisms can control Treg homeostasis including a Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) dependent apoptotic pathway. In most organisms, the two pathways of NAD synthesis include de novo synthesis from amino acid precursors, and the salvage pathway in which nicotinamide-containing precursors are recycled into NAD. A comparative genome analysis of S. mansoni, the parasite that causes Schistosomiasis, enabled the assembly of a putative NAD biosynthetic pathway. Only orthologues of NAD salvage-specific genes were identified and expression was confirmed by PCR. This suggests that S. mansoni decreases host NAD levels in a salvage-specific manner and rescues Tregs from NAD-dependent cell death. As such, we hypothesized that inhibition of NAD biosynthesis through the salvage pathway would result in impaired NAD uptake by S. mansoni and restoration of NAD-mediated cell death of Tregs. Indeed, co-culture with S. mansoni prevented NAD-induced toxicity and death of Tregs. Blockade of the NAD salvage pathway via the inhibition of Schistosoma mansoni NAD catabolizing enzyme (SmNACE) restored NAD-mediated cell death of Tregs. Furthermore, SmNACE inhibition decreased intracellular NAD levels and reduced metabolism and viability of the parasite. Collectively, our data suggest that inhibition of NAD biosynthesis blocks immune evasion and metabolism of S. mansoni, and that targeting the NAD salvage pathway is a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of Schistosomiasis

Identification of a Series of Quinazolinediones as Potent, Selective, Post-Entry Inhibitors of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (\u3cem\u3eh\u3c/em\u3eRSV) via a Cell-Based High Throughput Screen and Chemical Optimization

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants under one year of age. Most children will be infected with RSV prior to their second birthday, leading to 75,000-125,000 hospitalizations and medical costs exceeding $650 million annually. The virus is highly contagious and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, severe lower respiratory tract disease may occur at any age, especially among the elderly or those with compromised cardiac, pulmonary, or immune systems. FDA-approved drugs for the acute infection are ribavirin and the prophylactic humanized monoclonal antibody, Synagis®, which is limited to use in high risk pediatric patients. Due to the lack of a vaccine and the presence of toxicological limitations in existing therapies, there is substantial need for effective treatments with an improved profile. Of the 313,816 Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository (MLSMR) compounds screened in a cell-based, RSV inhibition assay, 51 compounds were selected based on potency, selectivity and chemical tractability for further evaluation in dose response and secondary assays. Collaboration between the assay provider at the University of Louisville, the screening center at Southern Research Institute and the University of Kansas Specialized Chemistry Center narrowed the structure activity relationship (SAR) focus to three scaffolds. The probe, ML275, resulted from structural modification and optimization of a quinazolinedione chemical series, generating a compound with an antiviral EC50 value of 0.81 ± 0.75 μM and a 247-fold selectivity index (SI) for antiviral activity over HEp-2 cell cytotoxicity. Additionally, ML275 demonstrated a 6.7 log reduction of in vitro viral titer, or reduction by approximately 5,000,000-fold. ML275, determined to be a post-entry inhibitor of viral replication, has been broadly profiled for off-target liabilities and assessed for PAMPA permeability and hepatocyte toxicity