Discovery of Novel 7-Hydroxy-5-oxo-4,5-dihydrothieno[3,2- b]pyridine-6-carboxamide Derivatives with Potent and Selective Antifungal Activity against Cryptococcus Species

J Med Chem. 2022 Aug 25;65(16):11257-11269. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00794. Epub 2022 Aug 3.

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii can cause fatal invasive infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. However, few antifungal drugs are available to help treat cryptococcosis. In this study, by compound library screening, we presented the first report of hit compound P163-0892, which had potent in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity against Cryptococcus spp. In vitro tests showed that P163-0892 was not cytotoxic and had highly selective and strong antifungal activities against Cryptococcus spp. with MIC values less than 1 μg/mL. Synergism of P163-0892 and fluconazole was also observed in vitro. The in vivo antifungal efficacy of P163-0892 was assessed in a wax moth larval fungal infection model, and treatment with 10 mg/kg P163-0892 caused a significant reduction in fungal burden and significant extension of the survival time. Taken together, our data indicate that the hit compound P163-0892 warrants further investigation as a novel anti-Cryptococcus agent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cryptococcosis* / drug therapy
  • Cryptococcosis* / microbiology
  • Cryptococcus gattii*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans*
  • Fluconazole / pharmacology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Oxotremorine / analogs & derivatives
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Pyridines
  • N-methylacetamide-oxotremorine M
  • Oxotremorine
  • Fluconazole