Synthesis and mechanistic study of Aβ C-terminus domain derived tetrapeptides that inhibit Alzheimer's Aβ-aggregation-induced neurotoxicity.

Amyloid plaque formation in the brain is mainly responsible for the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Structure-based peptides have gained importance in recent years, and rational design of the peptide sequences for the prevention of Aβ-aggregation and related toxicity is imperative. In this study, we investigate the structural modification of tetrapeptides derived from the hydrophobic C-terminal region of Aβ "VVIA-NH" and its retro-sequence "AIVV-NH.

Synthesis and mechanistic study of ultrashort peptides that inhibits Alzheimer's Aβ-aggregation-induced neurotoxicity.

Misfolding/aggregation of β-amyloid peptide lead to the formation of toxic oligomers or accumulation of amyloid plaques, which is a seminal step in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite continuous efforts in the development of therapeutic agents, the cure for AD remains a major challenge. Owing to specific binding affinity of structure-based peptides, we report the synthesis of new peptide-based inhibitors derived from the C-terminal sequences, Aβ and Aβ.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and mechanistic studies of 4-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)morpholine-benzimidazole hybrids as a new structural class of antimicrobials.

In spite of several attempts to develop newer pharmacophores as potential antimicrobial agents, the benzimidazole scaffold is still considered as one of the most sought after structural component towards the design of compounds that act against a wide spectrum of microbes. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a new structural class of 4-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)morpholine-benzimidazole hybrids as antimicrobial agents. The most potent analog, 6g shows IC of 1.

Synthetic amino acids-based short amphipathic peptides exhibit antifungal activity by targeting cell membrane disruption.

Availability of a limited number of antifungal drugs created a necessity to develop new antifungals with distinct mode of action. Investigation on a new series of peptides led us to identify Boc-His-Trp-His[1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)] (10g) as the most promising inhibitor exhibiting IC value of 4.4 µg/mL against Cryptococcus neoformans.

Ring-Modified Histidine-Containing Cationic Short Peptides Exhibit Anticryptococcal Activity by Cellular Disruption.

Delineation of clinical complications secondary to fungal infections, such as cryptococcal meningitis, and the concurrent emergence of multidrug resistance in large population subsets necessitates the need for the development of new classes of antifungals. Herein, we report a series of ring-modified histidine-containing short cationic peptides exhibiting anticryptococcal activity via membrane lysis. The -1 position of histidine was benzylated, followed by iodination at the C-5 position via electrophilic iodination, and the dipeptides were obtained after coupling with tryptophan.

Anticryptococcal activity and mechanistic studies of short amphipathic peptides.

Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, causes cryptococcosis in immunocompromised persons. A series of modified L-histidines-containing peptides are synthesized that exhibit promising activity against C. neoformans.

Synthetic amino acids-derived peptides target Cryptococcus neoformans by inducing cell membrane disruption.

We investigated synthetic amino acid-based approach to design short peptide-based antibiotics. Tautomerically restricted, amphiphilic 1-aryl-l-histidines along with hydrophobic tryptophan were utilized to synthesize the designed peptides. l-Trp-l-His(1-biphenyl)-NHBzl (12e, IC = 1.

Antifungal evaluation and mechanistic investigations of membrane active short synthetic peptides-based amphiphiles.

The quest for new class of peptide-based antibiotics has steered this research towards the design and synthesis of short sequences possessing modified amphiphilic histidine along with hydrophobic tryptophan residues. The new structural class of dipeptides Trp-His(1-Bn)-OMe/NHBn and tripeptides His(1-Bn)-Trp-His(1-Bn)-OMe/NHBn demonstrated promising antifungal and antibacterial activities with membrane lytic action. The illustration of desirable hydrophilic-lipophilic balance appeared in the dipeptide Trp-His[1-(3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)]-NHBn (13d) that produced the most promising antifungal activity with IC value of 2.

Modified histidine containing amphipathic ultrashort antifungal peptide, His[2-p-(n-butyl)phenyl]-Trp-Arg-OMe exhibits potent anticryptococcal activity.

In pursuit of ultrashort peptide-based antifungals, a new structural class, His(2-aryl)-Trp-Arg is reported. Structural changes were investigated on His-Trp-Arg scaffold to demonstrate the impact of charge and lipophilic character on the biological activity. The presence and size of the aryl moiety on imidazole of histidine modulated overall amphiphilic character, and biological activity.

Structural and mechanistic insights into the inhibition of amyloid-β aggregation by Aβ fragment derived synthetic peptides.

The inhibition of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation is a promising approach towards therapeutic intervention for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thirty eight tetrapeptides based upon AβC-terminus fragment of the parent Aβ peptide were synthesized. The sequential replacement/modification employing unnatural amino acids imparted scaffold diversity, augmented activity, enhanced blood brain barrier permeability and offered proteolytic stability to the synthetic peptides.

Common garlic (Allium sativum L.) has potent Anti-Bacillus anthracis activity.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Gastrointestinal anthrax, a disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, remains an important but relatively neglected endemic disease of animals and humans in remote areas of the Indian subcontinent and some parts of Africa. Its initial symptoms include diarrhea and stomachache. In the current study, several common plants indicated for diarrhea, dysentery, stomachache or as stomachic as per traditional knowledge in the Indian subcontinent, i.

Effect of C-terminus amidation of Aβ fragment derived peptides as potential inhibitors of Aβ aggregation.

The C-terminus fragment (Val-Val-Ile-Ala) of amyloid-β is reported to inhibit the aggregation of the parent peptide. In an attempt to investigate the effect of sequential amino-acid scan and C-terminus amidation on the biological profile of the lead sequence, a series of tetrapeptides were synthesized using MW-SPPS. Peptide D-Phe-Val-Ile-Ala-NH (12c) exhibited high protection against β-amyloid-mediated-neurotoxicity by inhibiting Aβ aggregation in the MTT cell viability and ThT-fluorescence assay.

Design, synthesis and bio-evaluation of C-1 alkylated tetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives as novel antifungal lead compounds.

The field of antifungal agent has become static and development of resistance by the pathogen as well as limited clinical efficacy of marketed drugs demand the constant development of new antifungals. The presence of hydrocarbon chain of specific length linked with various different heterocycles was found to be an important structural feature in various antifungal lead compounds. Based on the prominent antimicrobial activity of β-carboline derivatives, a set of C1 alkylated tetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives were proposed to be active against fungi.

C-Terminal Fragment, Aβ-Based Tetrapeptides Mitigates Amyloid-β Aggregation-Induced Toxicity.

Since the introduction of acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors as the first approved drugs by the US Food and Drug Administration for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in clinics, less than satisfactory success in the design of anti-AD agents has impelled the scientists to also focus toward inhibition of Aβ aggregation. Considering the specific binding of fragments for their parent peptide, herein, we synthesized more than 40 new peptides based on a C-terminus tetrapeptide fragment of Aβ. Initial screening by MTT cell viability assay and supportive results by ThT fluorescence assay led us to identify a tetrapeptide showing complete inhibition for Aβ aggregation.

A strategic approach to the synthesis of ferrocene appended chalcone linked triazole allied organosilatranes: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic and antioxidant studies.

A series of ferrocene appended chalcone allied triazole coupled organosilatranes (FCTSa 7-FCTSa 12) were synthesised with the aim of amalgamating the pharmacological action of the constituting moieties into a single molecular scaffold. All the synthesised silatranes were well characterized by various spectroscopic techniques like IR, H NMR, C NMR and elemental analysis. Organosilatranes were then evaluated for their biological alacrity against bacterial and fungal strains compared with the standard drugs Rifampicin and Amphotericin B respectively.

Peptides as adjuvants for ampicillin and oxacillin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Fast emerging antibiotic resistance in pathogens requires special attention for strengthening the reservoir of antimicrobial compounds. In view of this, several peptides with known antimicrobial activities have been reported to enhance the efficacy of antibiotics against multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens. In the present study, potential of peptides having distinct mechanism of action, if any, was evaluated to improve the efficacy of conventional antibiotics against methicillin-resistant S.

Design, synthesis, DFT, docking studies and ADME prediction of some new coumarinyl linked pyrazolylthiazoles: Potential standalone or adjuvant antimicrobial agents.

The control of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) seems to have come to a dead end. The major consequences of the use and abuse of antibacterial drugs are the development of resistant strains due to genetic mutability of both pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms. We, herein, report the synthesis, characterization and biological activities of coumarin-thiazole-pyrazole (CTP) molecular hybrids with an effort to explore and overcome the increasing antimicrobial resistance.

Antimicrobial activity of Bulbothrix setschwanensis (Zahlbr.) Hale lichen by cell wall disruption of Staphylococcus aureus and Cryptococcus neoformans.

In the present study, antimicrobial activity of a common Himalayan lichen viz. Bulbothrix setschwanensis (Zahlbr.) Hale extract in three common solvents (acetone, chloroform and methanol) was evaluated against six bacterial and seven fungal clinical strains.

Discovery of a Membrane-Active, Ring-Modified Histidine Containing Ultrashort Amphiphilic Peptide That Exhibits Potent Inhibition of Cryptococcus neoformans.

The new structural classes of ultrashort peptides that exhibit potent microbicidal action have potential as future drugs. Herein, we report that C-2 arylated histidines containing tripeptides His(2-Ar)-Trp-His(2-Ar) exhibit potent antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans with high selectivity. The most potent peptide 12f [His(2-biphenyl)-Trp-His(2-biphenyl)] displayed high in vitro activity against C.

Synthesis, stability and mechanistic studies of potent anticryptococcal hexapeptides.

The growing incidents of cryptococcosis in immuno-compromised patients have created a need for novel drug therapies capable of eradicating the disease. The peptide-based drug therapy offers many advantages over the traditional therapeutic agents, which has been exploited in the present study by synthesizing a series of hexapeptides that exhibits promising activity against a panel of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and various pathogenic fungal strains; the most exemplary activity was observed against Cryptococcus neoformans. The peptides 3, 24, 32 and 36 displayed potent anticryptococcal activity (IC = 0.

Facile synthesis, structural evaluation, antimicrobial activity and synergistic effects of novel imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine based organoselenium compounds.

A simple and efficient method has been described to synthesize the hitherto unknown imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine selenides (5a-l) by reaction of 2-chloroimidazo [1,2-a]pyridines with aryl/heteroaryl selenols, generated in situ by reduction of various diselenides with hypophosphorous acid. The crystal structures of 3-nitro-2-(phenylselanyl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (5a), 2-(mesitylselanyl)-3-nitro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (5d) and 3-nitro-2-(pyridin-2-ylselanyl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (5e) were confirmed by X-ray crystallography and the DFT calculations were performed to determine various structural parameters which were correlated with the X-ray crystal structures. The synthesized compounds were subjected to antimicrobial evaluation and it was found that compounds 5a and 5j were active against gram negative bacterium Escherichia coli whereas compound 5e was active against different fungal strains.

C-Terminal Fragment, Aβ32-37, Analogues Protect Against Aβ Aggregation-Induced Toxicity.

Amyloid-β aggregation is a major etiological phenomenon in Alzheimer's disease. Herein, we report peptide-based inhibitors that diminish the amyloid load by obviating Aβ aggregation. Taking the hexapeptide fragment, Aβ32-37, as lead, more than 40 new peptides were synthesized.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of chalconyl blended triazole allied organosilatranes as giardicidal and trichomonacidal agents.

A series of chalconyl blended triazole allied silatranes (7a-g/8a-g/9a-g) were synthesized in good yields using a simple, economical and biocompatible synthetic route. The blend of three different pharmacologically active moieties into a single scaffold resulted into synergistic effect in their bio-activity. Various substitutions were tried to study the structure activity relationship (SAR) of the synthesized compounds on the basis of biological results.

Chemosensitization of multidrug resistant Candida albicans by the oxathiolone fused chalcone derivatives.

Three structurally related oxathiolone fused chalcone derivatives appeared effective chemosensitizers, able to restore in part sensitivity to fluconazole of multidrug-resistant C. albicans strains. Compound 21 effectively chemosensitized cells resistant due to the overexpression of the MDR1 gene, compound 6 reduced resistance of cells overexpressing the ABC-type drug transporters CDR1/CDR2 and derivative 18 partially reversed fluconazole resistance mediated by both types of yeast drug efflux pumps.