Shiga toxin (Stx), a category B biothreat agent, is a ribosome inactivating protein and toxic to human and animals. Here, we designed and synthesized small molecules that block the active site of the Stx A subunit. On the basis of binding energy, 20 molecules were selected for synthesis and evaluation. These molecules were primarily screened using fluorescence-based thermal shift assay and in vitro in Vero cells. Among 32 molecules (including 12 reported), six molecules offered protection with IC of 2.60-23.90 μM. 4-Nitro-N-[2-(2-phenylsulfanylethylamino)ethyl]benzamide hydrochloride is the most potent inhibitor with IC at 7.96 μM and selectivity index of 22.23 and is better than any known small molecule inhibitor of Stx. Preincubation with Stx offered full protection against Shiga toxin in mice. Surface plasmon resonance assay further confirmed that these molecules bind specifically to Stx A subunit. Further optimization is continued to identify a potential candidate which will be in vivo effective.

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Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), etiological agents of the life threatening neuroparalytic disease botulism, are the most toxic substances currently known. The potential for the use as bioweapon makes the development of small-molecule inhibitor against these deadly toxins is a top priority. Currently, there are no approved pharmacological treatments for BoNT intoxication. Although an effective vaccine/immunotherapy is available for immuno-prophylaxis but this cannot reverse the effects of toxin inside neurons. A small-molecule pharmacological intervention, especially one that would be effective against the light chain protease, would be highly desirable. Similarity search was carried out from ChemBridge and NSC libraries to the hit (7-(phenyl(8-quinolinylamino)methyl)-8-quinolinol; NSC 84096) to mine its analogs. Several hits obtained were screened for in silico inhibition using AutoDock 4.1 and 19 new molecules selected based on binding energy and Ki. Among these, eleven quinolinol derivatives potently inhibited in vitro endopeptidase activity of botulinum neurotoxin type A light chain (rBoNT/A-LC) on synaptosomes isolated from rat brain which simulate the in vivo system. Five of these inhibitor molecules exhibited IC50 values ranging from 3.0 nM to 10.0 µM. NSC 84087 is the most potent inhibitor reported so far, found to be a promising lead for therapeutic development, as it exhibits no toxicity, and is able to protect animals from pre and post challenge of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A).

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