My research focuses on diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease with high prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): The design and synthesis of HIV-integrase inhibitors
In the past quarter century, there has been tremendous progress in the discovery of antiretroviral therapy, making HIV/AIDS a manageable chronic disease. However, the HIV virus is relentless and continues to evolve under drug pressure to escape control and continue infection. The enzyme HIV integrase is responsible for the incorporation of viral double stranded DNA into a host chromosomal DNA and has recently become an attractive target in combating HIV resistance. Raltegravir (RAL), elvitegravir (EVG) and dolutegravir (DTG) are three clinically approved active-site integrase inhibitors. Unfortunately, mutations of the enzyme observed in patients have resulted in resistance to the drug in the clinic. A new approach to targeting integrase (IN) is the development of allosteric inhibitors that specifically target the protein-protein interaction between IN and its cellular cofactor LEDGF/p75. Fragment Based Approach (FBDD), High Throughput Screen (HTS) and scaffold hopping approaches have been employed towards the discovery of novel and potent HIV-integrase inhibitors
Leishmaniasis, a Neglected Tropical disease: Synthesis of anti-leishmania agents
Leishmaniasis is classified as an NTD because it inflicts significant health burdens on some of the world’s poorest populations, and treatments have not been limited due lack of funding and infrastructure in those countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “The leishmaniases are a group of diseases caused by protozoan parasites from more than 20 Leishmania species. These parasites are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female phlebotomine sandfly.”
There are about 30,000 cases of the most severe form of Leishmaniasis, Visceral Leishmaniasis, found annually, according to the WHO. When left untreated visceral Leishmaniasis can lead to death.
Current treatment for Leishmaniasis have adverse effect and there is therefore the need to find novel drug that can treat the disease. This is the heart of the research project