Repositioning FDA-Approved Sulfonamide-Based Drugs as Potential Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors in <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>: Virtual Screening and In Vitro Studies.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: α-carbonic anhydrase (α-TcCA) has emerged as a promising drug target in T. cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease in the Americas. Sulfonamides, known inhibitors of CAs, bind to the zinc ion on the enzyme's active site. This study proposes the repositioning of sulfonamide-based drugs to identify new trypanocidal agents. Method: Ligand-based virtual screening and molecular docking analysis were performed on FDA-approved drugs targeting α-TcCA. These compounds were evaluated in vitro and ex vivo against the A1 and NINOA strains, followed by enzymatic assays. Results: Four sulfonylureas were selected: glimepiride (Glim), acetohexamide (Ace), gliclazide (Glic), and tolbutamide (Tol). Ace and Tol had half-maximal inhibitory concentration

SUBMITTER: Ortiz-Perez E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12114598 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature