title: Design, synthesis, and study of a mycobactin-artemisinin conjugate that has selective and potent activity against tuberculosis and malaria.
abstract: Although the antimalarial agent artemisinin itself is not active against tuberculosis, conjugation to a mycobacterial-specific siderophore (microbial iron chelator) analogue induces significant and selective antituberculosis activity, including activity against multi- and extensively drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The conjugate also retains potent antimalarial activity. Physicochemical and whole-cell studies indicated that ferric-to-ferrous reduction of the iron complex of the conjugate initiates the expected bactericidal Fenton-type radical chemistry on the artemisinin component. Thus, this "Trojan horse" approach demonstrates that new pathogen-selective therapeutic agents in which the iron component of the delivery vehicle also participates in triggering the antibiotic activity can be generated. The result is that one appropriate conjugate has potent and selective activity against two of the most deadly diseases in the world.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, 251 Nieuwland Science Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States. mmiller1@nd.edu
authors.forename: Marvin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Walz
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Chunrui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Garrett
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moraski
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Möllmann
authors.forename: Esther M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tristani
authors.forename: Alvin L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Crumbliss
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ferdig
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Checkley
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Helena I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Boshoff
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015195:Drug Design; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D037621:Artemisinins; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D010080:Oxazoles; C018608:mycobactins; C031327:artemisinin