Design and synthesis of broad spectrum trypanosomatid selective inhibitors

Abstract

Neglected tropical diseases caused by parasitic infections are an ongoing and increasing concern that have a devastating effect on the developing world due to their burden on human and animal health. In this work, we detail the preparation of a focused library of substituted-tetrahydropyran derivatives and their evaluation as selective chemical tools for trypanosomatid inhibition and the follow-on development of photo-affinity probes capable of labeling target protein(s) in vitro. Several of these functionalised compounds maintain low micromolar activity against Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani. In addition we demonstrate the utility of the photo-affinity probes for target identification through preliminary cellular localization studies.