Publications by authors named "Luigi A Agrofoglio"

Emerging and reemerging viruses pose significant public health threats, underscoring the urgent need for new antiviral drugs. Recently, a novel family of antiviral acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANP) composed of a 4-(2,4-diaminopyrimidin-6-yl)oxy-but-2-enyl phosphonic acid skeleton (O-DAPy nucleobase) has shown promise. Among these, LAVR-289 stands out for its potent inhibitory effects against various DNA viruses.

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A molecularly imprinted polymer of Tenofovir (1), an FDA-approved acyclic nucleoside phosphonate with antiviral activity, was synthesized using a non-covalent approach. A pre-polymerization complex was formed between (1) and DMAEMA and in-house synthetic -[(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl] thymine, with EGDMA as a cross-linker in an MeCN/HO (9:1, 1:1) mixture as a porogen, giving an imprinting factor (IF) of 5.5 at 2.

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Article Synopsis
  • New acyclic pyrimidine nucleoside phosphonate prodrugs, featuring a specific phosphonic acid structure, were synthesized using a method called olefin cross-metathesis.
  • These prodrugs demonstrated strong antiviral activity in the nanomolar range against several viruses, including varicella zoster virus (VZV) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), with good selectivity to limit toxicity to cells.
  • The most promising compound, 9c (LAVR-289), showed exceptional potency against VZV and other herpesviruses, suggesting that it could be a valuable candidate for further clinical research as a broad-spectrum antiviral treatment.
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The emergence of Multidrug Resistance (MDR) strains of bacteria has accelerated the search for new antibacterials. The specific bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthetic pathway represents opportunities for the development of novel antibacterial agents. Among the enzymes involved, Mur ligases, described herein, and especially the amide ligases MurC-F are key targets for the discovery of multi-inhibitors, as they share common active sites and structural features.

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In 2002, a new class of thymidylate synthase (TS) involved in the de novo synthesis of dTMP named Flavin-Dependent Thymidylate Synthase (FDTS) encoded by the thyX gene was discovered; FDTS is present only in 30% of prokaryote pathogens and not in human pathogens, which makes it an attractive target for the development of new antibacterial agents, especially against multi-resistant pathogens. We report herein the synthesis and structure-activity relationship of a novel series of hitherto unknown pyrido[1,2-e]purine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione analogues. Several synthetics efforts were done to optimize regioselective N1-alkylation through organopalladium cross-coupling.

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The synthesis of (1)-2-amino-2-deoxy-β-l-gulopyranosyl benzene and the α and β forms of 2-amino-2-deoxy-l-idopyranosyl benzene derivatives was accomplished through stereospecific addition of tributylstannyllithium to readily available ()- or ()--butanesulfinyl-arabinofuranosylamine building blocks, followed by stereoretentive Pd-catalyzed Migita-Kosugi-Stille cross-coupling, stereoselective reduction, and an activation-cyclization strategy. Application of this methodology paves the way to new three-dimensional chemical space and preparation of unknown (non-natural) and complex 2-amino-2-deoxy sugars of biological interest.

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With several US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs and high barriers to resistance, nucleoside and nucleotide analogs remain the cornerstone of antiviral therapies for not only herpesviruses, but also HIV and hepatitis viruses (B and C); however, with the exception of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), for which vaccines have been developed at unprecedented speed, there are no vaccines or small antivirals yet available for (re)emerging viruses, which are primarily RNA viruses. Thus, herein, we present an overview of ribonucleoside analogs recently developed and acting as inhibitors of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). They are new lead structures that will be exploited for the discovery of new antiviral nucleosides.

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Nucleoside analogues are at the forefront of antiviral therapy for last decades. To circumvent some of their limitations, based on their metabolism, and in order to improve their anti-viral potency and selectivity, several families of nucleoside analogues have been described through structural modifications at the sugar and heterocycles. The replacement of the oxygen of the nucleoside by a methylene has led to the family of carbocyclic (or cyclopentane) nucleoside analogues.

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This study describes the synthesis and evaluation of different imprinted hydrogels using ribavirin as template molecule. Ribavirin serves as a model molecule because it possesses a broad-spectrum antiviral effect against RNA viruses, which are expected as emerging viruses. The choice of monomers enables to stabilize the pre-polymerization complex and to synthesize biocompatible polymers.

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Flavin-Dependent Thymidylate Synthase (FDTS) encoded by ThyX gene was discovered as a new class of thymidylate synthase involved in the de novo synthesis of dTMP named only in 30 % of human pathogenic bacteria. This target was pursed for the development of new antibacterial agents against multiresistant pathogens. We have developed a new class of ANPs based on the mimic of two natural's cofactors (dUMP and FAD) as inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis ThyX.

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A series of hitherto unknown (1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazol)-()-2-methyl-but-2-enyl nucleosides phosphonate prodrugs bearing 4-substituted-1,2,3-triazoles were prepared in a straight approach through an olefin acyclic cross metathesis as the key synthetic step. All novel compounds were evaluated for their antiviral activities against HBV, HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Among these molecules, only compound , a hexadecyloxypropyl (HDP)/(-oxymethyl)-ester (POC) prodrug, showed activity against HBV in Huh7 cell cultures with 62% inhibition at 10 μM, without significant cytotoxicity (IC = 66.

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Novel 2-substituted-6-[(4-substituted-1-piperidyl)methyl]-1H-benzimidazoles were designed and synthesized as Ebola virus inhibitors. The proposed structures of the new prepared benzimidazole-piperidine hybrids were confirmed based on their spectral data and CHN analyses. The target compounds were screened in vitro for their anti-Ebola activity.

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The synthesis of hitherto unknown 5'-deoxy-5'-(4-substituted-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-uridine and its evaluation, through an one-pot screening assay, against MurA-F enzymes involved in (Mtb), are described. Starting from UDP--acetylmuramic acid (UDP-MurNAc), the natural substrate involved in the peptidoglycan biosynthesis, our strategy was to substitute the diphosphate group of UDP-MurNAc by a 1,2,3-triazolo spacer under copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition conditions. The structure-activity relationship was discussed and among the 23 novel compounds developed, -acetylglucosamine analogues and emerged as the best inhibitors against the Mtb MurA-F enzymes reconstruction pathway with an inhibitory effect of 56% and 50%, respectively, at 100 μM.

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Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes is a series of Editorials that is published on a biannual basis by the Editorial Board of the Medicinal Chemistry section of the journal [...

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Nucleosides analogues are the cornerstone of the treatment of several human diseases. They are especially at the forefront of antiviral therapy. Their therapeutic efficiency depends on their capacity to be converted to the active nucleoside triphosphate form through successive phosphorylation steps catalyzed by nucleoside/nucleotide kinases.

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Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes is a series of Editorials which is published on a biannual basis by the Editorial Board of the Medicinal Chemistry section of the journal [...

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Herein, we propose the synthesis of a microspherical imprinted hydrogel meant for the controlled release of a nucleotide, adenosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-AMP). Indeed, molecularly imprinted polymers-based (MIPs) materials possess remarkable selective molecular recognition ability that mimicks biological systems. MIPs have been used in numerous applications and hold great promise for the vectorization and/or controlled release of therapeutics and cosmetics.

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Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes is a series of Editorials, which is published on a biannual basis by the Editorial Board of the Medicinal Chemistry section of the journal . [..

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Hitherto unknown chromophoric nucleosides are reported. This novel set of visibly coloured dye-labeled 5'-nucleosides, including 1,2,4,5-tetrazine, dicyanomethylene-4H-pyran, benzophenoxazinone, 9,10-anthraquinone and azobenzene chromophores, were prepared mainly under Cu-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The design criteria are outlined.

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We report herein the synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of 2,4,6-trisubstituted 1,3,5-triazines as reversible inhibitors of human cysteine cathepsins. The desired products bearing morpholine and N-Boc piperidine, respectively, were obtained in three to four steps from commercially available trichlorotriazine. Seventeen hitherto unknown compounds were evaluated in vitro against various cathepsins for their inhibitory properties.

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Several hitherto unknown (E)-but-2-enyl nucleoside phosphonoamidate analogs (ANPs) were prepared directed with nitrogen reagents by cross-metathesis in water-under ultrasound irradiation. Two diastereoisomers were formally identified by X-ray diffraction. These compounds were evaluated against a large spectrum of DNA and RNA viruses.

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Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes is a series of Editorials, which are published on a biannual basis by the Editorial Board of the Medicinal Chemistry section of the journal Molecules [...

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Pseudouridine (Ψ) is an important urinary cancer biomarker, especially in human colorectal cancer (CRC). Disclosed herein is the first Ψ molecularly imprinted polymer (Ψ-MIP) material obtained from tailor-engineered functional monomers. The resulting MIP imprint exhibits a remarkable imprinting factor greater than 70.

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The synthesis and evaluation against various cysteine cathepsins with endopeptidase activity, of two new families of hitherto unknown 1,3,5-triazines, substituted by a nitrile function and either a cyclohexylamine moiety (5-like) or a piperazine moiety (9-like) are described. The structure-activity relationship was discussed; from 16 synthesized novel compounds, 9h was the most active and selectively inhibitor of Cat K (IC50 = 28 nM) and Cat S (IC50 = 23 nM). Molecular docking of 9h to X-ray crystal structure of cathepsins K and S confirmed a common binding mode with a crucial covalent bond with Cys25.

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