Pipecolic Acid Derivatives As Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the Legionella MIP Protein

The macrophage infectivity potentiator (MIP) protein is a major virulence factor of Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease MIP belongs to the FK506-binding proteins (FKBP) and is necessary for optimal intracellular survival and lung tissue dissemination of L pneumophila We aimed to identify new small-molecule inhibitors of MIP by starting from known FKBP12 ligands Computational analysis, synthesis, and biological testing of pipecolic acid derivatives revealed a promising scaffold for new MIP inhibitors