An oral non-covalent non-peptidic inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro ameliorates viral replication and pathogenesis in vivo.

Safe, effective, and low-cost oral antiviral therapies are needed to treat those at high risk for developing severe COVID-19. To that end, we performed a high-throughput screen to identify non-peptidic, non-covalent inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), an essential enzyme in viral replication. NZ-804 was developed from a screening hit through iterative rounds of structure-guided medicinal chemistry.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Malate Synthase Structures with Fragments Reveal a Portal for Substrate/Product Exchange.

Fragment screening and high throughput screening are complementary approaches that combine with structural biology to explore the binding capabilities of an active site. We have used a fragment-based approach on malate synthase (GlcB) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and discovered several novel binding chemotypes. In addition, the crystal structures of GlcB in complex with these fragments indicated conformational changes in the active site that represent the enzyme conformations during catalysis.

Thiophene containing trisubstituted methanes [TRSMs] as identified lead against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Triarylmethanes (TRAMs) and thiophene containing trisubstituted methanes (TRSMs) have been reported by us, having potential against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium fortuitum strains, respectively. Further, extension through synthesis and biological evaluation of novel TRSMs resulted into an identified lead 36 (S006-830) [(diisopropyl-(2-{4-[(4-methoxy-phenyl)- thiophen-2-yl-methyl]-phenoxy}-ethyl)-amine)] with MIC: 1.33 mg/L, non-toxic against Vero C-1008 cell line with selectivity index >10, ex vivo efficacy equivalent to first line TB drugs-isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RFM) and pyrazinamide (PZA) in the mouse and human macrophages, and lung CFU count of 2.

Design, synthesis, and biological and structural evaluations of novel HIV-1 protease inhibitors to combat drug resistance.

A series of new HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs) were designed using a general strategy that combines computational structure-based design with substrate-envelope constraints. The PIs incorporate various alcohol-derived P2 carbamates with acyclic and cyclic heteroatomic functionalities into the (R)-hydroxyethylamine isostere. Most of the new PIs show potent binding affinities against wild-type HIV-1 protease and three multidrug resistant (MDR) variants.

SAR and Lead Optimization of an HIV-1 Vif-APOBEC3G Axis Inhibitor.

We describe structure-activity relationship and optimization studies of RN-18, an HIV-1 Vif-APOBEC3G axis inhibitor. Targeted modifications of RN-18 ring-C, ring-B, ring-A, bridge A-B, and bridge B-C were performed to identify the crucial structural features, which generated new inhibitors with similar ( and ) and improved (, , and ) activities. Two potent water-soluble RN-18 analogues, and are also disclosed, and we describe the results of pharmacological studies with compound The findings described here will be useful in the development of more potent Vif inhibitors and in the design of probes to identify the target protein of RN-18 and its analogues.

In vivo activity of thiophene-containing trisubstituted methanes against acute and persistent infection of non-tubercular Mycobacterium fortuitum in a murine infection model.

Objectives: Mycobacterium fortuitum causes opportunist non-tubercular infection in humans. Chronic infection of M. fortuitum has been clinically documented and requires prolonged chemotherapy.

Application of Nazarov cyclization to access [6-5-6] and [6-5-5]tricyclic core embedded new heterocycles: an easy entry to structures related to taiwaniaquinoids.

A concise and general route to synthesize a new class of [6-5-6] tricyclic core embedded polyheterocycles has been accomplished using diastereoselective Nazarov cyclization with an overall yield of 35-40%. Versatility of this synthetic route has also been demonstrated by accessing a variety of [6-5-5] tricyclic core incorporated polycycles. It was observed that the efficiency of cyclization depends upon the impact of polarization on the reacting systems.

Thiophene containing triarylmethanes as antitubercular agents.

A new series of thiophene containing triarylmethane derivatives were synthesized from the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of diarylcarbinols followed by incorporation of amino alkyl chains. These were evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37R(v) and showed the activity in the range of 3.12-12.

Effect of substituents on diarylmethanes for antitubercular activity.

Aminoalkyl derivatives of diarylmethanes were prepared using Grignard, Friedel-Crafts arylation and aminohydrochloride chain formation reactions. These series of compounds were evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)R(v) and showed the activity in the range of 6.25-25 microg/mL.