Cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate (1), isolated from bacterial culture, has previously been shown to be effective in restoring normal function of molybdenum enzymes in molybdenum cofactor (MoCo)-deficient mice and human patients. Described here is a synthesis of 1 hydrobromide (1·HBr) employing in the key step a Viscontini reaction between 2,5,6-triamino-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-4-one dihydrochloride and D-galactose phenylhydrazone to give the pyranopterin (5aS,6R,7R,8R,9aR)-2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-8-(hydroxymethyl)-3H,4H,5H,5aH,6H,7H,8H,9aH,10H-pyrano[3,2-g]pteridin-4-one (10) and establishing all four stereocenters found in 1. Compound 10, characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography, was transformed through a selectively protected tri-tert-butoxycarbonylamino intermediate into a highly crystalline tetracyclic phosphate ester (15). The latter underwent a Swern oxidation and then deprotection to give 1·HBr. Synthesized 1·HBr had in vitro efficacy comparable to that of 1 of bacterial origin as demonstrated by its enzymatic conversion into mature MoCo and subsequent reconstitution of MoCo-free human sulfite oxidase-molybdenum domain yielding a fully active enzyme. The described synthesis has the potential for scale up.
Background and objectives
Because of its beneficial off‐target effects against non‐mycobacterial infectious diseases, bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination might be an accessible early intervention to boost protection against novel pathogens. Multiple epidemiological studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are investigating the protective effect of BCG against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Using samples from participants in a placebo‐controlled RCT aiming to determine whether BCG vaccination reduces the incidence and severity of COVID‐19, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of BCG on in vitro immune responses to SARS‐CoV‐2.
Methods
This study used peripheral blood taken from participants in the multicentre RCT and BCG vaccination to reduce the impact of COVID‐19 on healthcare workers (BRACE trial). The whole blood taken from BRACE trial participants was stimulated with γ‐irradiated SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected or mock‐infected Vero cell supernatant. Cytokine responses were measured by multiplex cytokine analysis, and single‐cell immunophenotyping was made by flow cytometry.
Results
BCG vaccination, but not placebo vaccination, reduced SARS‐CoV‐2‐induced secretion of cytokines known to be associated with severe COVID‐19, including IL‐6, TNF‐α and IL‐10. In addition, BCG vaccination promoted an effector memory phenotype in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and an activation of eosinophils in response to SARS‐CoV‐2.
Conclusions
The immunomodulatory signature of BCG’s off‐target effects on SARS‐CoV‐2 is consistent with a protective immune response against severe COVID‐19.
Kinetic resolution of racemic C-3 substituted pyrrolidine-2,5-diones has been achieved for the first time using highly efficient oxazaborolidine catalysts derived from cis-1-amino-indan-2-ol.
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