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In the course of optimizing a novel indazole sulfonamide series that inhibits β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase (KasA) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a mutagenic aniline metabolite was identified. Further lead optimization efforts were therefore dedicated to eliminating this critical liability by removing the embedded aniline moiety or modifying its steric or electronic environment. While the narrow SAR space against the target ultimately rendered this goal unsuccessful, key structural knowledge around the binding site of this underexplored target for TB was generated to inform future discovery efforts.

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is the most frequent presentation of albinism, a heterogeneous rare genetic condition generally associated with variable alterations in pigmentation and with a profound visual impairment. There are non-syndromic and syndromic types of OCA, depending on whether the gene product affected impairs essentially the function of melanosomes or, in addition, that of other lysosome-related organelles (LROs), respectively. Syndromic OCA can be more severe and associated with additional systemic consequences, beyond pigmentation and vision alterations. In addition to OCA, albinism can also be presented without obvious skin and hair pigmentation alterations, in ocular albinism (OA), and a related genetic condition known as foveal hypoplasia, optic nerve decussation defects, and anterior segment dysgenesis (FHONDA). In this review, we will focus only in the genetics of skin pigmentation in OCA, both in human and mouse, updating our current knowledge on this subject.

In recent years, several small natural cyclopeptides and cyclodepsipeptides were reported to have antimycobacterial activity. Following this lead, a synthetic pathway was developed for a small series of 12-membered ring compounds with one amide and two ester bonds (cyclotridepsipeptides). Within the series, the ring system proved to be necessary for growth inhibition of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the low micromolar range. Open-chain precursors and analogues were inactive. The compounds modulated autophosphorylation of the mycobacterial protein kinase B (PknB). PknB inhibitors were active at µM concentration against mycobacteria while inducers were inactive. PknB regulates the activity of the mycobacterial reductase InhA, the target of isoniazid. The activity of the series against Mycobacterium bovis BCG InhA overexpressing strains was indistinguishable from that of the parental strain suggesting that they do not inhibit InhA. All substances were not cytotoxic (HeLa > 5 µg/ml) and did not show any significant antiproliferative effect (HUVEC > 5 µg/ml; K-562 > 5 µg/ml). Within the scope of this study, the molecular target of this new type of small cyclodepsipeptide was not identified, but the data suggest interaction with PknB or other kinases may partly cause the activity.

Isoniazid (INH) remains one of the cornerstones of antitubercular chemotherapy for drug-sensitive strains of M. tuberculosis bacteria. However, the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains containing mutations in the KatG enzyme, which is responsible for the activation of INH into its antitubercular form, have rendered this drug of little or no use in many cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Presented herein is a novel family of antitubercular direct NADH-dependent 2-trans enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (InhA) inhibitors based on an N-benzyl-4-((heteroaryl)methyl)benzamide template; unlike INH, these do not require prior activation by KatG. Given their direct InhA target engagement, these compounds should be able to circumvent KatG-related resistance in the clinic. The lead molecules were shown to be potent inhibitors of InhA and showed activity against M. tuberculosis bacteria. This new family of inhibitors was found to be chemically tractable, as exemplified by the facile synthesis of analogues and the establishment of structure-activity relationships. Furthermore, a co-crystal structure of the initial hit with the enzyme is disclosed, providing valuable information toward the design of new InhA inhibitors for the treatment of MDR/XDR tuberculosis.

Society urgently needs new, effective medicines for the treatment of tuberculosis. To kick-start the required hit-to-lead campaigns, the libraries of pharmaceutical companies have recently been evaluated for starting points. The GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) library yielded many high-quality hits, and the associated data were placed in the public domain to stimulate engagement by the wider community. One such series, the spiro compounds, are described here. The compounds were explored by a combination of traditional in-house research and open source methods. The series benefits from a particularly simple structure and a short associated synthetic chemistry route. Many members of the series displayed striking potency and low toxicity, and highly promising in vivo activity in a mouse model was confirmed with one of the analogues. Ultimately the series was discontinued due to concerns over safety, but the associated data remain public domain, empowering others to resume the series if the perceived deficiencies can be overcome.

Antifolates are widely used to treat several diseases but are not currently used in the first-line treatment of tuberculosis, despite evidence that some of these molecules can target Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) bacilli in vitro. To identify new antifolate candidates for animal-model efficacy studies of tuberculosis, we paired knowledge and tools developed in academia with the infrastructure and chemistry resources of a large pharmaceutical company. Together we curated a focused library of 2508 potential antifolates, which were then tested for activity against live Mtb. We identified 210 primary hits, confirmed the on-target activity of potent compounds, and now report the identification and characterization of 5 hit compounds, representative of 5 different chemical scaffolds. These antifolates have potent activity against Mtb and represent good starting points for improvement that could lead to in vivo efficacy studies.