Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of New 1 H-Benzo[ d]imidazole Based PqsR Inhibitors as Adjuvant Therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections

J Med Chem. 2024 Jan 25;67(2):1008-1023. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00973. Epub 2024 Jan 3.

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the top priority pathogens that requires immediate attention according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Due to the alarming shortage of novel antimicrobials, targeting quorum sensing (QS), a bacterial cell to cell signaling system controlling virulence, has emerged as a promising approach as an antibiotic adjuvant therapy. Interference with the pqs system, one of three QS systems in P. aeruginosa, results in reduction of bacterial virulence gene expression and biofilm maturation. Herein, we report a hit to lead process to fine-tune the potency of our previously reported inhibitor 1 (IC50 3.2 μM in P. aeruginosa PAO1-L), which led to the discovery of 2-(4-(3-((6-chloro-1-isopropyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)amino)-2-hydroxypropoxy)phenyl)acetonitrile (6f) as a potent PqsR antagonist. Compound 6f inhibited the PqsR-controlled PpqsA-lux transcriptional reporter fusion in P. aeruginosa at low submicromolar concentrations. Moreover, 6f showed improved efficacy against P. aeruginosa CF isolates with significant inhibition of pyocyanin, 2-alkyl-4(1H)-quinolones production.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Biofilms
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / metabolism
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Imidazoles / therapeutic use
  • Pseudomonas Infections* / drug therapy
  • Pseudomonas Infections* / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism
  • Quinolones* / pharmacology
  • Quorum Sensing
  • Virulence Factors

Substances

  • Quinolones
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Imidazoles
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Virulence Factors