Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 14, Issue 1, 2014

Biotin protein ligase (BPL) represents a promising target for the discovery of new antibacterial chemotherapeutics. Here we review the central role of BPL for the survival and virulence of clinically important Staphylococcus aureus in support of this claim. X-ray crystallography structures of BPLs in complex with ligands and small molecule inhibitors provide new insights into the mechanism of protein biotinylation, and a template f Read More

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics, particularly to multiple drug resistant antibiotics, is becoming cause for significant concern. The only really viable course of action is to discover new antibiotics with novel mode of actions. This review focuses on antibiotic resistance mechanisms of Enterococcus and Campylobacter, and new antibacterial agents against Enterococcus and Campylobacter through de novo or semi- synthesis in the p Read More

Nosocomial infections are produced by pathogens with the ability to persist in hospital environments and with the propensity to develop resistance to diverse antimicrobials. In order to tackle resistance, it has been pointed as good strategy to select resilient drug targets that are evolutionally constrained to design drugs less susceptible to develop resistance. Molecular modeling can help to fulfill this goal by providing a rationali Read More

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis, a lethal infection disease that attacks the lungs. Now it becomes the major global health risk because of very long latent period, the persistent increase of new cases, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of new, safe and more efficient tuberculosis d Read More

Staphylococcus aureus lives in commensalism with the majority of the population, being recognized as an important pathogen in patients with chronic liver diseases and can cause a deadly infection. The use of antibiotics as rifampin for the chemotherapy of infections caused by S. aureus has resulted in the selection of mutants with resistance. In an attempt to combat resistant strains new research is continuously conduct Read More

The bacterial biofilms and the emergence of multiple drug resistance have become a major threat for current medical treatment of nosocomial infections. It has been estimated that about 65-80% of microbial infections in the developed countries are associated with biofilms. Given the prominence of biofilms in infectious diseases, increasing efforts toward the development of small molecules that will modulate bacterial Read More

Tuberculosis is a major global health problem. In the middle of the last century several laboratories identified, developed and synthesized several substances which were active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of the disease. In the 1980s the standard oral treatment regimen was introduced with isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. In combination with the DOTS strategy it was possible Read More

The modulation of DNA topology by DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, both of which are type IIA topoisomerases and found in most bacteria, is a function vital to DNA replication, repair and decatenation. Despite the potential for resistance development, DNA gyrase and/or topoisomerase IV have been proven to be and remain highly attractive targets in antibacterial drug discovery due to their potential for dual targeting. The Read More

Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic, Gram-positive pathogen that causes C. difficile infection, which results in significant morbidity and mortality. The incidence of C. difficile infection in developed countries has become increasingly high due to the emergence of newer epidemic strains, a growing elderly population, extensive use of broad spectrum antibiotics, and limited therapies for this diarrheal disease. Because treatment optio Read More

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is a common infectious disease with high mortality and morbidity. The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant strains of TB presents a major public health problem. Due to the lack of effective drugs to treat these drug-resistant strains, the discovery or development of novel anti-TB drugs is important. Computer-aided drug design has become an es Read More