Targeting Protein Folding: A Novel Approach for the Treatment of Pathogenic Bacteria

J Med Chem. 2020 Nov 25;63(22):13355-13388. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00911. Epub 2020 Aug 28.

Abstract

Infectious diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, exacerbated by increasing antibiotic resistance in many bacterial species. The development of drugs with new modes of action is essential. A leading strategy is antivirulence, with the aim to target bacterial proteins that are important in disease causation and progression but do not affect growth, resulting in reduced selective pressure for resistance. Immunophilins, a superfamily of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) enzymes have been shown to be important for virulence in a broad-spectrum of pathogenic bacteria. This Perspective will provide an overview of the recent advances made in understanding the role of each immunophilin family, cyclophilins, FK506 binding proteins (FKBPs), and parvulins in bacteria. Inhibitor design and medicinal chemistry strategies for development of novel drugs against bacterial FKBPs will be discussed. Furthermore, drugs against human cyclophilins and parvulins will be reviewed in their current indication as antiviral and anticancer therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / chemistry
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / chemistry
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Protein Folding / drug effects*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins