Synthesis of small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of disease

<p>Three aspects of the protecting-group-free (PGF) synthesis of small molecules have been described in this thesis. In the first part, the PGF azasugar synthesis methodology was applied to 2-deoxy-D-glucose with the intention of selectively forming the six-membered azasugar 5-epi-fagomine. Surprisingly, four products were formed in the key I2-mediated carbamate annulation step, with a pyrrolidine being the major product after optimisation. This was formed in 15% yield. A mechanism that explains the formation of the four carbamates was proposed, which was supported by an investigation into related halocyclisation reactions. The next part of this thesis describes the development of a new PGF methodology for the synthesis of conduramines, another class of biologically interesting molecules. Conduramines are amino polyhydroxy cyclohexenes and some conduramines have glycosidase inhibitory activity. These molecules are also useful precursors to a variety of biologically useful molecules including aminocyclitols and azasugars. The key steps in the PGF synthesis of conduramines are a Vasella-Barbier amination, a reaction that forms new C-C and C-N bonds concomitantly, and a ring closing metathesis in the presence of free hydroxyl and amine groups. To this end, a 4-deoxy 3-conduramine was prepared in just four steps and in 27% yield. Finally, the preparation of an amine library and its biological testing for the identification of a new anti-tuberculosis drug is described. Two short syntheses were used to prepare alkenylamines and amines from the corresponding sugar, with various lipophilic groups attached to the amine. A 20-member amine library was prepared, and the compounds were tested for anti-mycobacterial activity in a mycobacterial growth inhibition assay. The most active compounds were subjected to further biological testing to determine their general cytotoxic properties. Two amines, arabinohexadecylamine and arabinohexadecylmethylamine, were identified as having the best potential for use as anti-tuberculosis drugs, and have been sent to Colorado State University for subsequent in vivo testing in a mouse model of tuberculosis.</p>

Synthesis of small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of disease

<p>Three aspects of the protecting-group-free (PGF) synthesis of small molecules have been described in this thesis. In the first part, the PGF azasugar synthesis methodology was applied to 2-deoxy-D-glucose with the intention of selectively forming the six-membered azasugar 5-epi-fagomine. Surprisingly, four products were formed in the key I2-mediated carbamate annulation step, with a pyrrolidine being the major product after optimisation. This was formed in 15% yield. A mechanism that explains the formation of the four carbamates was proposed, which was supported by an investigation into related halocyclisation reactions. The next part of this thesis describes the development of a new PGF methodology for the synthesis of conduramines, another class of biologically interesting molecules. Conduramines are amino polyhydroxy cyclohexenes and some conduramines have glycosidase inhibitory activity. These molecules are also useful precursors to a variety of biologically useful molecules including aminocyclitols and azasugars. The key steps in the PGF synthesis of conduramines are a Vasella-Barbier amination, a reaction that forms new C-C and C-N bonds concomitantly, and a ring closing metathesis in the presence of free hydroxyl and amine groups. To this end, a 4-deoxy 3-conduramine was prepared in just four steps and in 27% yield. Finally, the preparation of an amine library and its biological testing for the identification of a new anti-tuberculosis drug is described. Two short syntheses were used to prepare alkenylamines and amines from the corresponding sugar, with various lipophilic groups attached to the amine. A 20-member amine library was prepared, and the compounds were tested for anti-mycobacterial activity in a mycobacterial growth inhibition assay. The most active compounds were subjected to further biological testing to determine their general cytotoxic properties. Two amines, arabinohexadecylamine and arabinohexadecylmethylamine, were identified as having the best potential for use as anti-tuberculosis drugs, and have been sent to Colorado State University for subsequent in vivo testing in a mouse model of tuberculosis.</p>

Evaluation of Tuberculosis Vaccine Candidate, pcDNA3.1-rpfD using Mycobacterial Growth Inhibition Assay (MGIA)

Resuscitation-promoting factor D (RpfD) is a protein involved in the resuscitation of dormant bacteria. A new tuberculosis vaccine carrying the rpfD gene has been successfully constructed, pcDNA3.1-rpfD. It was demonstrated that this vaccine exhibits cellular and humoral immune responses. Therefore, within this study, the efficacy of this new vaccine candidate was evaluated using mycobacterial growth inhibition assay (MGIA). MGIA is a functional assay that measures the complex host immune response, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and splenocyte from BALB/c mice against mycobacteria. With BACTECTM MGITTM 960 automated system, the effect of vaccination on bacterial growth was reported as a time to positivity (TTP) in hours. The mean of TTP from the vaccinated group (both pcDNA3.1-rpfD and BCG) was higher than the negative control group. These results suggest that pcDNA3.1-rpfD may be effective in controlling tuberculosis growth and may provide a clue for the development of the tuberculosis vaccine. In addition, despite previous evidence that IFNγ was essential for tuberculosis immunity, IFNγ (interferon gamma) production was found not to be correlated with mycobacterial inhibition. Therefore, these findings offer an alternative method to evaluate vaccine candidates than the assessment using IFNγ only.

Inhibition of infection-induced vascular permeability modulates host leukocyte recruitment to Mycobacterium marinum granulomas in zebrafish

Mycobacterial granuloma formation involves significant stromal remodeling and the growth of leaky, granuloma-associated vasculature. These permeable blood vessels aid mycobacterial growth, as anti-angiogenic or vascular normalizing therapies are beneficial host-directed therapies in pre-clinical models of tuberculosis. Here we demonstrate that vascular normalization through vascular endothelial-protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibition decreases granuloma hypoxia, the opposite effect of hypoxia-inducing anti-angiogenic therapy. Vascular normalization leads to increased T cell and decreased neutrophil recruitment to granulomas, correlates of a protective immune response against mycobacterial infection.

Macrophage Innate Training Induced by IL-4 Activation Enhances OXPHOS Driven Anti-Mycobacterial Responses

Macrophages are key innate immune cells for determining the outcome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Polarization with IFNγ and LPS into the “classically activated” M1 macrophage enhances pro-inflammatory and microbicidal responses, important for eradicating the bacterium. By contrast, “alternatively activated” M2 macrophages, polarized with IL-4, oppose bactericidal mechanisms and allow mycobacterial growth. These activation states are accompanied by distinct metabolic profiles, where M1 macrophages favor near exclusive use of glycolysis, whereas M2 macrophages up-regulate oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Here we demonstrate that activation with IL-4 counterintuitively induces protective innate memory against mycobacterial challenge. This was associated with enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine responses and killing capacity. Moreover, despite this switch towards a phenotype that is more akin to classical activation, IL-4 trained macrophages do not demonstrate M1-typical metabolism, instead retaining heightened use of OXPHOS. Moreover, inhibition of OXPHOS with oligomycin, 2-deoxy glucose or BPTES all impeded heightened pro-inflammatory cytokine responses from IL-4 trained macrophages. Lastly, this work identifies that IL-10 negatively regulates protective IL-4 training, impeding pro-inflammatory and bactericidal mechanisms. In summary, this work provides new and unexpected insight into alternative macrophage activation states in the context of mycobacterial infection.

Whole-Genome Sequencing of Alcaligenes faecalis HZ01, with Potential to Inhibit Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Growth

Alcaligenes faecalis is a Gram-negative rod that is ubiquitous in the environment and is an opportunistic human pathogen. Here, we report the whole-genome sequencing analysis of A. faecalis HZ01, which presents mycobacterial growth inhibitory activity and was isolated from a contaminated culture of Mycobacterium chubuense ATCC 27278.

The in vitro direct mycobacterial growth inhibition assay (MGIA) for the early evaluation of TB vaccine candidates and assessment of protective immunity: a protocol for non-human primate cells

The only currently available approach to early efficacy testing of tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidates is in vivo preclinical challenge models. These typically include mice, guinea pigs and non-human primates (NHPs), which must be exposed to virulent M.tb in a ‘challenge’ experiment following vaccination in order to evaluate protective efficacy. This procedure results in disease development and is classified as ‘Moderate’ in severity under EU legislation and UK ASPA licensure. Furthermore, experiments are relatively long and animals must be maintained in high containment level facilities, making them relatively costly. We describe an in vitro protocol for the direct mycobacterial growth inhibition assay (MGIA) for use in the macaque model of TB vaccine development with the aim of overcoming some of these limitations. Importantly, using an in vitro assay in place of in vivo M.tb challenge represents a significant refinement to the existing procedure for early vaccine efficacy testing. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell and autologous serum samples collected from vaccinated and unvaccinated control animals are co-cultured with mycobacteria in a 48-well plate format for 96 hours. Adherent monocytes are then lysed to release intracellular mycobacteria which is quantified using the BACTEC MGIT system and colony-forming units determined relative to an inoculum control and stock standard curve. We discuss related optimisation and characterisation experiments, and review evidence that the direct NHP MGIA provides a biologically relevant model of vaccine-induced protection. The potential end-users of the NHP MGIA are academic and industry organisations that conduct the assessment of TB vaccine candidates and associated protective immunity using the NHP model. This approach aims to provide a method for high-throughput down-selection of vaccine candidates going forward to in vivo efficacy testing, thus expediting the development of a more efficacious TB vaccine and offering potential refinement and reduction to the use of NHPs for this purpose.

Improved detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. bovis in African wildlife samples using cationic peptide decontamination and mycobacterial culture supplementation

In South Africa, mycobacterial culture is regarded as the gold standard for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection in wildlife even though it is regarded as “imperfect.” We compared a novel decontamination and mycobacterial culture technique (TiKa) to the conventional mycobacterium growth indicator tube (MGIT) system using known amounts of bacilli and clinical samples from MTBC-infected African buffaloes ( Syncerus caffer), white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum), and African elephants ( Loxodonta africana). Use of the TiKa-KiC decontamination agent on samples spiked with 10,000 to 10 colony forming units (cfu) of M. bovis (SB0121) and M. tuberculosis (H37Rv) had no effect on isolate recovery in culture. In contrast, decontamination with MGIT MycoPrep resulted in no growth of M. bovis samples at concentrations < 1,000 cfu and M. tuberculosis samples < 100 cfu. Subsequently, we used the TiKa system with stored clinical samples (various lymphatic tissues) collected from wildlife and paucibacillary bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, trunk washes, and endotracheal tube washes from 3 species with known MTBC infections. Overall, MTBC recovery by culture was improved significantly ( p < 0.01) by using TiKa compared to conventional MGIT, with 54 of 57 positive specimens versus 25 of 57 positive specimens, respectively. The TiKa mycobacterial growth system appears to significantly enhance the recovery of MTBC members from tissue and paucibacillary respiratory samples collected from African buffaloes, African elephants, and white rhinoceros. Moreover, the TiKa system may improve success of MTBC culture from various sample types previously deemed unculturable from other species.

Diagnostic Value of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Examination in Sputum Negative Patients for AFB in Suspected Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is one of the most common infections worldwide, more commonly among the developing countries like Bangladesh. So its early detection and prompt treatment was a challenge and the burden of diagnostic challenge was higher if the patients smear negative for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB). Objective: Evaluate the diagnostic value of Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for diagnosis of suspected Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) whose sputum for AFB smear neagtive. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational reserach was undertaken where 50 patients were included on the basis of specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients who had negative smear for AFB but highly suspected for PTB underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy to collect Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid for diagnostic testing in the form of BAL for AFB and mycobacterial culture in Lowenstein Jensen medium. Results: The Male predominacy 29 (58%) was obserevd among the smear negative PTB patients. Clinically more than seventy percent (72%) presents with fever then cough with sputum and haemoptysis 62% and 32% respectively. Radiological cavitation 33 (66%) was the most common x-ray findings. After analysis of BAL for AFB about 31 (62%) patient found positive and on culture about mycobacterial growth found in 29 (58%) patients. Conclusion: Bronchoalveolar lavage had a superior diagnostic value in patients with smear negative suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. KYAMC Journal.2021;12(02): 84-87

A novel benzoxaborole is active against Escherichia coli and binds to FabI

To combat the looming crisis of antimicrobial-resistant infections, there is an urgent need for novel antimicrobial discovery and drug target identification. The benzoxaborole series was previously identified as an inhibitor of mycobacterial growth. Here, we demonstrate that a benzoxaborole is also active against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli in vitro. We isolated resistant mutants of E. coli and subjected them to whole genome sequencing. We found mutations in the enoyl acyl carrier protein FabI. Mutations mapped around the active center site located close to the co-factor binding site. This site partially overlaps with the binding pocket of triclosan, a known FabI inhibitor. Similar to triclosan, the physical interaction of the benzoxaborole with FabI was dependent on the co-factor NAD + . Identification of the putative target of this compound in E. coli provides scope for further development and optimization of this series for Gram-negative pathogens.