0000000001080622
AUTHOR
Uta Schurigt
Development of a New Antileishmanial Aziridine-2,3-Dicarboxylate-Based Inhibitor with High Selectivity for Parasite Cysteine Proteases
ABSTRACT Leishmaniasis is one of the major neglected tropical diseases of the world. Druggable targets are the parasite cysteine proteases (CPs) of clan CA, family C1 (CAC1). In previous studies, we identified two peptidomimetic compounds, the aziridine-2,3-dicarboxylate compounds 13b and 13e, in a series of inhibitors of the cathepsin L (CL) subfamily of the papain clan CAC1. Both displayed antileishmanial activity in vitro while not showing cytotoxicity against host cells. In further investigations, the mode of action was characterized in Leishmania major . It was demonstrated that aziridines 13b and 13e mainly inhibited the parasitic cathepsin B (CB)-like CPC enzyme and, additionally, ma…
A Hyaluronic acid-pentamidine bioconjugate as macrophage mediated drug targeting delivery system for the treatment of Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is still a serious public health problem worldwide, especially in tropical areas where this infectious disease is endemic. The most severe form of the disease (i.e. visceral) can claim victims if left untreated and the few accessible drugs have several drawbacks including major side effects and parenteral administration. In this context, the investigation of new delivery modalities which might reduce the toxicity and increase the bioavailability of the drugs currently on the market represents a valid strategy to counter these problems. Herein we present the development of a macrophage mediated drug targeting delivery system by conjugating the anti-leishmanial drug pentamidine …