University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Thomas Eric Ballard, Jr

Timothy L MacDonald

Paul S Hoffman

Richard Littleton Guerrant

Eric R Houpt

The invention provides novel antimicrobial chemical entities based on a nitrothiazolide backbone that exhibit antibacterial and antiparasitic action against a wide range of human pathogens. The new classes of compounds show extended action against Gram positive bacteria including MRSA drug resistant pathogens. In the Gram-positive organisms, they specifically target and functionally inhibit microbial attachment to surfaces and biofilm formation. In Gram-negative bacteria, including enteroaggregativestrains, these compounds function as pilicides by inhibiting the assembly of pilin subunits into adhesive filaments. Several of these compounds show potent antimicrobial action against Gram positive bacteria, perhaps involving novel targets. Many of the benzothiophene derivatives exhibit antimicrobial activity in the low micrograms per ml range and in blocking biofilm formation in the nanomolar range; ranges considered are well within the range of utility as therapeutics.

Broad spectrum benzothiophene-nitrothiazolide and other antimicrobials

The invention provides for the use of antimicrobial chemical entities based on a nitrothiazolide backbone that exhibit anti-mycobacteria activity, including thecausing tuberculosis. Multiple compounds were synthesized and screened for anti-tuberculosis activity. Disclosed herein are a series of compounds with anti-tuberculosis activity, including six leads that completely inhibited bacterial growth at 5 micrograms per ml or less. Three of these compounds were tested to determine MIC and these ranged between 1 and 4 micrograms per ml against both drug susceptiblestrains and strains that are multi-drug resistant (MDR) including XDR strains. The compounds developed are derived from parent compound nitazoxanide, which had no inhibitory activity in the stringent testing format used herein. The derivatives were synthesized using a di-nitro-thiophene or 4-Chloro-5-Nitro-thiazole scaffold and R groups connected via a peptide bond (NHCO) to cyclic compounds such as benzene, thiophene or furans. Many of these compounds have broad spectrum activity against Gram positive bacteria including(MRSA) and. Several of these lead compounds were not toxic for mice at 200 mg/Kg doses administered over a period of three days. 

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Middletown, CT, United States of America

Thomas Eric Ballard, Jr