Efficacy of sulfonamides targeting malic enzyme in an animal model of Chagas disease.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Even after a century since its discovery, Chagas disease remains a major public health concern. Benznidazole and nifurtimox are the only approved treatments, but their limited efficacy and adverse effects highlight the urgent need for new therapies. In the last decade, several phenotypic screenings performed by pharmaceuticals and academic groups revealed new promising compounds. In a previous study, we identified the T. cruzi malic enzyme (TcME) as the molecular target for the sulfonamide TCMDC-143108, a phenotypic hit made public available through the Chagas Box collection. Indeed, we determined crystallographic structures for TcME-inhibitor complexes and synthesized new molecules with improved activity against intracellular T. cruzi forms.

Aim

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SUBMITTER: Dos Santos TCF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12698583 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature