Ravindra K. Rawal

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Abstract: Carbocyclic 6-benzylthioinosine analogues were synthesized and evaluated for their binding affinity against Toxoplasma gondii adenosine kinase [EC.2.7.1.20]. Various substituents on the aromatic ring of the 6-benzylthio group resulted in increased binding affinity to the enzyme as compared to the unsubstituted compound. Carbocyclic 6-(p-methylbenzylthio)inosine 9n exhibited the most potent binding affinity. Docking simulations were performed to position compound 9n into the T. gondii adenosine kinase active site to determine the probable binding mode. Experimental investigations and theoretical calculations further support that an oxygen atom of the sugar is not critical for the ligand-binding. In agreement with its binding affinity, carbocyclic 6-(p-methylbenzylthio)inosine 9n demonstrated significant anti-toxoplasma activity (IC(50)=11.9microM) in cell culture without any apparent host-toxicity.

Abstract: We have engineered recombinant (r) Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) to express multiple antigens under the control of either of two related vaccinia synthetic promoters (pSyn) with early and late transcriptional activity or the modified H5 (mH5) promoter which has predominant early activity. We sequentially passaged these constructs and analyzed their genetic stability by qPCR, and concluded that rMVA expressing multiple antigens using the mH5 promoter exhibit remarkable genetic stability and maintain potent immunogenicity after serial passage. In contrast, rMVA expressing antigens using engineered vaccinia synthetic E/L (pSyn I or II) promoters are genetically unstable. Progressive accumulation of antigen loss variants resulted in a viral preparation with lower immunogenicity after serial passage. Metabolic labeling, followed by cold chase revealed little difference in stability of proteins expressed from mH5 or pSyn promoter constructs. We conclude that maintenance of genetic stability which is achieved using mH5, though not with pSyn promoters, is linked to timing, not the magnitude of expression levels of foreign antigen, which is more closely associated with immunogenicity of the vaccine.

Abstract: Enantiomerically pure cyclopentyl cytosine [(-)-carbodine 1] was synthesized from d-ribose and evaluated for its anti-influenza activity in vitro in comparison to the (+)-carbodine, (+/-)-carbodine and ribavirin. (-)-Carbodine 1 exhibited potent antiviral activity against various strains of influenza A and B viruses.

Abstract: We have developed a murine model expressing the rhesus macaque (RM) Mamu-A01 MHC allele to characterize immune responses and vaccines based on antigens of importance to human disease processes. Towards that goal, transgenic (Tg) mice expressing chimeric RM (alpha1 and alpha2 Mamu-A01 domains) and murine (alpha3, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic H-2K(b) domains) MHC Class I molecules were derived by transgenesis of the H-2K(b)D(b) double MHC Class I knockout strain. After immunization of Mamu-A01/K(b) Tg mice with rVV-SIVGag-Pol, the mice generated CD8(+) T-cell IFN-gamma responses to several known Mamu-A01 restricted epitopes from the SIV Gag and Pol antigen sequence. Fusion peptides of highly recognized CTL epitopes from SIV Pol and Gag and a strong T-help epitope were shown to be immunogenic and capable of limiting an rVV-SIVGag-Pol challenge. Mamu-A01/K(b) Tg mice provide a model system to study the Mamu-A01 restricted T-cell response for various infectious diseases which are applicable to a study in RM.

Abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B RNA polymerase is crucial for replicating the HCV RNA genome and is an attractive target for developing anti-HCV drugs. A novel series of 2,3-diaryl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one derivatives were evaluated for their ability to inhibit HCV NS5B. Of this series, compounds 4c, 5b, 5c and 6 emerged as more potent, displaying over 95% inhibition of NS5B RNA polymerase activity in vitro. The two most active compounds 4c and 5c exhibited an IC(50) of 31.9 microM and 32.2 microM, respectively, against HCV NS5B.

Abstract: Transgenic (Tg) mice expressing HLA class I alleles and lacking murine MHC class I represent a useful model for the pre-clinical evaluation of human vaccines, which focus on induction of CD8(+) T-cell responses. We have developed a platform to be used in Tg mice for exploring the immunogenicity of T-cell targets, whose immunologic epitopes have yet to be defined. To test the attributes of the evaluation system in the context of an important human pathogen, we have explored multiple antigens from cytomegalovirus (CMV). A panel of recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vectors, expressing various CMV proteins (CMV-MVA) was used to immunize HLA-A*0201, B*0702 and A*1101 Tg mice. Immune splenocytes were in vitro stimulated (IVS) either using syngeneic lipo-polysaccharide activated lymphoblasts or Tg HLA-I matched human EBV-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cells (LCL), both loaded with peptide libraries, encompassing the CMV protein under investigation. IVS performed with peptide library loaded lymphoblasts failed to provide a reliable stimulation. In contrast, the usage of LCL as antigen presenting cells (APC) of CMV peptide libraries resulted in a consistent and specific amplification of the Tg T-cell response in animals immunized with CMV-MVAs. The LCL IVS method reliably allowed defining the immunogenicity and immunodominant CD8(+) T-cell regions of uncharacterized CMV antigens. The combination of CMV-MVA vectors, unbiased pools of CMV-specific peptide libraries presented by Tg HLA-I matched LCL constitutes a valid tool for the pre-clinical evaluation of model candidate vaccines. This convenient method could find application to investigate the immunogenicity profile of cancer antigens or proteins from infectious human pathogens.

Abstract: A series of 2-(2,6-dibromophenyl)-3-heteroaryl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones were designed, synthesized and evaluated as selective human immunodeficiency virus type-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) enzyme inhibitors. The results of the HIV-1 RT kit and in vitro cell based assay showed that eight compounds effectively inhibited HIV-1 replication at 20-320 nM concentrations with minimal cytotoxicity in MT-4 as well as in CEM cells.

Abstract: A diversity of novel 2-aryl-3-heteroaryl-2-ylmethyl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones were designed and synthesized by reacting heteroaryl-2-ylmethyl amine with various 2,6-dihalosubstituted benzaldehydes and mercaptoacetic acid. The title compounds were evaluated for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitory activity. The results of in vitro assays showed that some of the compounds were effective inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme at micromolar concentrations with less cytotoxicity in both MT-4 cells as well as acutely infected human T-lymphoid CEM cells. Compounds 4h and 4k emerged as moderately more potent with EC(50) are at 0.20 and 0.21 microM as compared to reference parent compound thiazolobenzimidazoles EC(50) 0.35 microM in MT-4 cells.

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Abstract: A series of 1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones and metathiazanones were synthesized and evaluated as anti-HIV agents. The results of the in vitro assays showed that some of the synthesized compounds were effective inhibitor of reverse transcriptase enzyme of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) at micromolar concentrations with less cytotoxicity in MT-4 cells as compared to thiazolobenzimidazole (TBZ). Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the nature of the substituents at the 2 and 3 positions of the thiazolidin-4-one nucleus had a significant impact on the in vitro anti-HIV activity of this class of antiretroviral agents. One of the compounds, 1, inhibited the enzyme at 0.204 microM concentrations with minimal cytotoxicity to MT-4 cells.

Abstract: Flexible docking simulations were performed on two series of 4-thiazolidinones as HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) inhibitors. This was done by analyzing the interaction of these compounds with the allosteric site of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme. The binding scores for these compounds were also congruent with their anti-HIV activity. A good correlation between the predicted binding free energies and the experimentally observed inhibitory activities (EC(50)) suggest that the identified binding conformations of these inhibitors are reliable. The results of docking studies provide an insight into the pharmacophoric structural requirements for the HIV-1 RT inhibitory activity of this class of molecules.

Abstract: A series of 2-(2,6-dihalophenyl)-3-(substituted pyrimidinyl)-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones were designed on the prediction of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies, synthesized, and evaluated as HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Our attempts in correlating the identified molecular surface features related properties for modeling the HIV-1 RT inhibitory activity resulted in some statistically significant QSAR models with good predictive ability. The results showed that compounds 4m and 4n were highly active in inhibiting HIV-1 replication with EC(50) values in the range of 22-28 nM in MT-4 as well as in CEM cells with selectivity indexes of >10,000. The derived models collectively suggest that the compounds should be compact without bulky substitution on its peripheries for better HIV-1 RT inhibitory activity. These models also indicate a preference for hydrophobic compounds to obtain good HIV-1 RT inhibitory activity.

Abstract: Compounds having isothiourea or thiourea functional group have shown high anti-HIV-1 activity. Therefore, a series of 2-aryl-3-heteroaryl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anti-HIV-1 RT activity. The results of in vitro tests showed that the compound 9 exhibited EC50 at 0.26 microM with minimal toxicity in MT-4 cells as compared to 0.35 microM for thiazobenzimidazole (TBZ). It may be inferred from the present data that majority of compounds in this series exhibit higher selectivity index than TBZ.

Abstract: In the title mol­ecule, C18H12Cl2N2OS, the thia­zolidinone ring is planar and the quinoline and dichloro­benzene planes are twisted from it by 11.6 (1) and 85.2 (1)°, respectively. The crystal structure reveals the presence of π–π, C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Cl inter­actions, along with S⋯Cl short contacts.

Abstract: The HIV-1 RT inhibitory activity of 2-(2,6-dihalophenyl)-3-(substituted pyridin-2-yl)-thiazolidin-4-ones has been analyzed with different topological descriptors obtained from DRAGON software. Here, simple topological descriptors (TOPO), Galvez topological charge indices (GVZ) and 2D autocorrelation descriptors (2DAUTO) have been found to yield good predictive models for the activity of these compounds. The correlations obtained from the TOPO class descriptors suggest that less extended or compact saturated structural templates would be better for the activity. The participating GVZ class descriptors suggest that they have same degree of influence on the activity. In 2DAUTO class, the large participation of descriptors of lags seven and three indicate the association of activity information with the seven and three centered structural fragments of these compounds. The physicochemical weighting components of these descriptors suggest homogeneous influence of mass, volume, electronegativity and/ or polarizability on the activity.

Abstract: Selected 4-thiazolidinone have been synthesized and tested as anti-HIV activity. The results of the in vitro tests showed that one of the compounds, 5, inhibited the enzyme at 0.204 microM concentration with minimal toxicity to MT-4 cell. Furthermore, the QSAR studies indicated the role of PMIZ, Ovality and Total energy content of the compounds in rationalizing the activity.

Abstract: A series of 4-thiazolidinones were evaluated as selective inhibitors of the HIV-RT enzyme. Our attempt in correlating the derived physicochemical properties with the HIV-RT inhibitory activity resulted in some statistically significant QSAR models with good predictive ability. The QSAR studies indicated the role of lipophilicity, dipole moment and out-of-plane potential energy of the compounds in rationalizing the activity. One of the compounds, 1, inhibited the enzyme at 0.204 microM concentration with minimal toxicity to MT-4 cells.

Abstract: Abstract 10.1002/qsar.200330854.abs A detailed structure-activity relationship study of the HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase (RT) inhibitory activity of two series of compounds, 2-(2,6-dihalo phenyl)-3-(substituted pyridin-2-yl)-thiazolidin-4-ones and 2-(2,6-Dihalophenyl)-3-(substituted phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-ones, belonging to 2,3-diaryl-thiazolidin-4-ones in terms of physicochemical and structural descriptors have been carried out using combinatorial protocol interfaced multiple linear regression (CP-MLR) and partial least squares (PLS) analysis. The models developed in the study indicate a preference for hydrophobic compounds for better inhibitory activity. Also, a positive regression coefficient of I2,3, an indicator descriptor meant for the joint disposition of substituents of 2,3-diaryl moieties of thiazolidinones to address their ability in taking a butterfly like conformation, is in agreement with all earlier observations that compounds having the ability to take butterfly like conformation will be showing better inhibitory activity. The identified models suggest that the meta-positions of 3-aryl moiety has the ability to accommodate hydrophobic/ steric groups. The replacement of C2″ of 3-phenyl by nitrogen resulted in 3-pyridyl variants of these analogues. Even though from geometry point of view, the phenyls and pyridyls span almost the same structural space and steric features, presence of nitrogen in pyridyls gave them a blend of polarity, electronic features and a different hydrophobicity profile when compared to corresponding phenyl analogue. Furthermore the PLS models, developed from those descriptors took part in CP-MLR models, indicate that most of the descriptors have almost equal influence in accounting for the variation in the activity of these compounds. This suggests that the factors responsible for the variation in the activity have been uniformly distributed across the varying centers of the molecule. The study suggests that thiazolidinones with 3-(pyridin-2-yl) moiety provide scope for further substituent variation to modulate the HIV-1 RT inhibitory activity.

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