Title:Small Molecule Efflux Pump Inhibitors in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A Rational Drug Design Perspective
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Author(s): Erika Kapp, Sarel F. Malan*, Jacques Joubert and Samantha L. Sampson
Affiliation:
- University of the Western Cape, School of Pharmacy Bellville, Bellville,south africa
Keywords:
Active efflux, antimicrobial active transport systems, drug resistance, efflux pump inhibitor, Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
rational drug design.
Abstract: Drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) complicates management
of tuberculosis. Efflux pumps contribute to low level resistance and acquisition of additional high level
resistance mutations through sub-therapeutic concentrations of intracellular antimycobacterials. Various
efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) have been described for M. tuberculosis but little is known regarding
the mechanism of efflux inhibition. As knowledge relating to the mechanism of action and drug target
is central to the rational drug design of safe and sufficiently selective EPIs, this review aims to examine
recent developments in the study of EPIs in M. tuberculosis from a rational drug development perspective
and to provide an overview to facilitate systematic development of therapeutically effective
EPIs. Review of literature points to a reduction in cellular energy or direct binding to the efflux pump
as likely mechanisms for most EPIs described for M. tuberculosis. This review demonstrates that,
where a direct interaction with efflux pumps is expected, both molecular structure and general physicochemical
properties should be considered to accurately predict efflux pump substrates and inhibitors.
Non-competitive EPIs do not necessarily demonstrate the same requirements as competitive inhibitors
and it is therefore essential to differentiate between competitive and non-competitive inhibition
to accurately determine structure activity relationships for efflux pump inhibition. It is also evident that
there are various similarities between inhibitors of prokaryotic and eukaryotic efflux pumps but, depending
on the specific chemical scaffolds under investigation, it may be possible to design EPIs that
are less prone to inhibition of human P-glycoprotein, thereby reducing side effects and drug-drug interactions.
