Design and synthesis of novel benzimidazole linked thiazole derivatives as promising inhibitors of drug-resistant tuberculosis

Despite combination therapy is effective in treating tuberculosis (TB) caused by susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains, overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a problem. As a result, it is critical to continue developing new chemotherapeutic drugs with unique mechanisms of action. A variety of benzimidazole-linked thiazole compounds was designed and developed for the treatment of Mtb in this work using a molecular hybridization approach. The newly synthesized compounds demonstrated potent anti-TB action against drug-resistant Mtb strains. Compounds 4g and 4h are more effective against MDR clinical isolates (CDCT-16 and CDCT-27) than isoniazid, with MIC ranges ranging from 3.68 to 8.15 mu M. Other derivatives demonstrated moderate to good anti-TB efficacy against MDR clinical isolates. The cytotoxicity findings recommend that this class of compounds is rated as low. Further SAR analysis reveals that electron-withdrawing groups on the thiazole ring of the compounds are essential. The findings were also connected with molecular docking studies, which provided models for the inhibitors strong interactions with the mycobacterial membrane protein large 3 (MmpL3), which is a critical member in the formation of the Mtb stiffcell wall. Compounds potential ADMET descriptors, drug score and drug-likeness properties were validated by in-silico predictions. (C) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study successfully developed a new class of benzimidazole-linked thiazole compounds as chemotherapeutic drugs with anti-tuberculosis activity. Some of these compounds showed high antimicrobial effects against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. The study also revealed some structure-activity relationships and demonstrated the interaction of the compounds with the key protein MmpL3 through molecular docking studies. In addition, the potential drug properties of these compounds were validated through in-silico predictions.