This is an application for a Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award (FIRCA) between the research groups of Dr. Gloria Serra (Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, UniversIdad de Ia Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay) and Dr. Peter Wipf (Professor of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA).
Our specific aims i n this collaborative project are: - Synthesis of bis-oxazoles, bis-oxazolines, bis-thiazoles and bis-thiazolines analogs of the anthelminthic marine natural product bengazole. This is the primary goal of this application. - Evaluation of biological activities, e.g. i) In vitro anthelmintic activity against Nippostrongylus brassiliensis by Prof. Laura DomInguez from the Pharmacology Department of the Faculty of Chemistry (Uruguay); ii) cytotoxic activity in cancer cell lines by Dr. Adriana Baz at the Immunology Department of the Faculty of Chemistry (Uruguay); iii) if the results of the in vitro anthelminthic activity assays are significant, the Pharmacology Department will perform an in vivo evaluation. - SAR analysis of compounds of type 1: i) esterification with fatty acids of some of the 0H groups on the lateral chain; ii) preparation of 0/S heterocycle analogs for structures of type 1; iii) preparation of analogs differing in the level of polyhydroxylation at the lateral chain R. Chemotherapy has been a long-standing effective instrument for battling parasitic infections in both human and veterinary medicine. Although there have been major advances in the clinical treatment of anthelmintic diseases, there are still no ideal broad-spectrum anthelminthics. Moreover, the field has suffered major setbacks, since resistance of nematodes to the anthelminthic drugs of general use such as benzimidazoles levamizole and praziquantel has emerged. The proposed project will provide a wide range of bengazole analogs for testing of their anthelminthic properties which represents a crucial step in the development of new antiparasitic pharmaceuticals.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03TW001354-02
Application #
6540809
Study Section
International and Cooperative Projects 1 Study Section (ICP)
Program Officer
Katz, Flora N
Project Start
2001-05-01
Project End
2004-04-30
Budget Start
2002-05-01
Budget End
2003-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$35,600
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
053785812
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Bravo-Altamirano, Karla; George, Kara M; Frantz, Marie-CĂ©line et al. (2011) Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of Benzothienothiazepinone Inhibitors of Protein Kinase D. ACS Med Chem Lett 2:154-159
Sellanes, Diver; Manta, Eduardo; Serra, Gloria (2007) Toward the Total Synthesis of Scleritodermin A: Preparation of the C(1)-N(15) Fragment. Tetrahedron Lett 48:1827-1830