Publications

Artemisinin inspired synthetic endoperoxide drug candidates: Design, synthesis, and mechanism of action studies. (Review Article)

Woodley, C. M., Amado, P. S. M., Cristiano, M. L. S., & O'Neill, P. M. (2021). Artemisinin inspired synthetic endoperoxide drug candidates: Design, synthesis, and mechanism of action studies. MEDICINAL RESEARCH REVIEWS, 41(6), 3062-3095. doi:10.1002/med.21849

Enantioselective Synthesis and Profiling of Potent, Nonlinear Analogues of Antimalarial Tetraoxanes E209 and N205. (Journal Article)

Woodley, C. M., Nixon, G. L., Basilico, N., Parapini, S., Hong, W. D., Ward, S. A., . . . O'Neill, P. M. (2021). Enantioselective Synthesis and Profiling of Potent, Nonlinear Analogues of Antimalarial Tetraoxanes E209 and N205. ACS MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS, 12(7), 1077-1085. doi:10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00031

Antimalarial activity of primaquine operates via a two-step biochemical relay. (Journal Article)

Camarda, G., Jirawatcharadech, P., Priestley, R. S., Saif, A., March, S., Wong, M. H. L., . . . Biagini, G. A. (2019). Antimalarial activity of primaquine operates via a two-step biochemical relay. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 10. doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11239-0

A tetraoxane-based antimalarial drug candidate that overcomes PfK13-C580Y dependent artemisinin resistance. (Journal Article)

O'Neill, P. M., Amewu, R. K., Charman, S. A., Sabbani, S., Gnädig, N. F., Straimer, J., . . . Ward, S. A. (2017). A tetraoxane-based antimalarial drug candidate that overcomes PfK13-C580Y dependent artemisinin resistance. Nature Communications, 8. doi:10.1038/ncomms15159

Molecular Mechanism of Action of Antimalarial Benzoisothiazolones: Species-Selective Inhibitors of the Plasmodium spp. MEP Pathway enzyme, IspD. (Journal Article)

Price, K. E., Armstrong, C. M., Imlay, L. S., Hodge, D. M., Pidathala, C., Roberts, N. J., . . . Odom John, A. R. (2016). Molecular Mechanism of Action of Antimalarial Benzoisothiazolones: Species-Selective Inhibitors of the Plasmodium spp. MEP Pathway enzyme, IspD. Scientific Reports, 6. doi:10.1038/srep36777

A Click Chemistry-Based Proteomic Approach Reveals that 1,2,4-Trioxolane and Artemisinin Antimalarials Share a Common Protein Alkylation Profile. (Journal Article)

Ismail, H. M., Barton, V. E., Panchana, M., Charoensutthivarakul, S., Biagini, G. A., Ward, S. A., & O'Neill, P. M. (2016). A Click Chemistry-Based Proteomic Approach Reveals that 1,2,4-Trioxolane and Artemisinin Antimalarials Share a Common Protein Alkylation Profile. ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION, 55(22), 6401-6405. doi:10.1002/anie.201512062

Artemisinin activity-based probes identify multiple molecular targets within the asexual stage of the malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. (Journal Article)

Ismail, H. M., Barton, V., Phanchana, M., Charoensutthivarakul, S., Wong, M. H. L., Hemingway, J., . . . Ward, S. A. (2016). Artemisinin activity-based probes identify multiple molecular targets within the asexual stage of the malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 113(8), 2080-2085. doi:10.1073/pnas.1600459113

Recent Advances of DprE1 Inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Computational Analysis of Physicochemical and ADMET Properties. (Journal Article)

Amado, P. S. M., Woodley, C., Cristiano, M. L. S., & O'Neill, P. M. (2022). Recent Advances of DprE1 Inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Computational Analysis of Physicochemical and ADMET Properties. ACS OMEGA. doi:10.1021/acsomega.2c05307

Identification of 2-Aryl-Quinolone Inhibitors of Cytochrome bd and Chemical Validation of Combination Strategies for Respiratory Inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. (Journal Article)

Jeffreys, L. N., Ardrey, A., Hafiz, T. A., Dyer, L. -A., Warman, A. J., Mosallam, N., . . . Biagini, G. A. (2023). Identification of 2-Aryl-Quinolone Inhibitors of Cytochrome bd and Chemical Validation of Combination Strategies for Respiratory Inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES. doi:10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00283

Rational Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Heterocyclic Quinolones Targeting the respiratory chain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. (Journal Article)

 Hong, W. D., Gibbons, P. D., Leung, S. C., Amewu, R., Stocks, P. A., Stachulski, A. V., . . . Nixon, G. L. (2017). Rational Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Heterocyclic Quinolones Targeting the respiratory chain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Journal of medicinal chemistry, 60(9), 3703-3726. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01718

We have a fully equipped laboratory for synthetic medicinal chemistry and the necessary hardware and software for molecular modelling, some of which employs the University of Liverpool’s high performance computing clusters. Our facilities also feature a microwave-assisted automated peptide synthesiser and a parallel peptide synthesiser capable of producing multiple peptides simultaneously. 

Through our collaborators we have access to biological screening for malaria (Professor Steven Ward), tuberculosis (Professor Giancarlo Biagini), filiriasis (Professor Mark Taylor), vector biology (Dr Mark Paine, Professor Hilary Ranson and Dr Victoria Ingham), pancreatitis (Professor Robert Sutton), snake venom (Professor Nicholas Casewell), Cryptococcus neoformans (Professor William Hope), motor neurone disease (Professor Samar Hasnain, Dr Svetlana Antonyuk, and Dr Raheela Awais), breast cancer (Professor Philip Rudland), and bacterial strains (Professor Jo Fothergill, Dr Daniel Neil and Dr Adam Roberts). Through our collaborations with Professor Lu-Yun Lian we have access to a range of biophysical techniques including high field NMR spectrometers, X-ray crystallography, isothermal calorimetry and surface plasmon resonance.‌

Inhibition mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 main protease by ebselen and its derivatives. (Journal Article)

Amporndanai, K., Meng, X., Shang, W., Jin, Z., Zhao, Y., Rao, Z., . . . Rogers, M. (2021). Inhibition mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 main protease by ebselen and its derivatives. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 12(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-021-23313-7

Novel Selenium-based compounds with therapeutic potential for SOD1-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (Journal Article)

Amporndanai, K., Rogers, M., Watanabe, S., Yamanaka, K., O'Neill, P. M., & Hasnain, S. S. (2020). Novel Selenium-based compounds with therapeutic potential for SOD1-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. EBIOMEDICINE, 59. doi:10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102980

Ebselen astemplate for stabilization of A4V mutant dimer for motor neuron disease therapy. (Journal Article)

Chantadul, V., Wright, G. S. A., Amporndanai, K., Shahid, M., Antonyuk, S. V., Washbourn, G., . . . Hasnain, S. S. (2020). Ebselen astemplate for stabilization of A4V mutant dimer for motor neuron disease therapy. COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, 3(1). doi:10.1038/s42003-020-0826-3

The cysteine-reactive small molecule ebselen facilitates effective SOD1 maturation. (Journal Article)

Capper, M. J., Wright, G. S. A., Barbieri, L., Luchinat, E., Mercatelli, E., McAlary, L., . . . Hasnain, S. S. (2018). The cysteine-reactive small molecule ebselen facilitates effective SOD1 maturation. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 9. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-04114-x

Analyzing mechanisms of action of antimicrobial peptides on bacterial membranes requires multiple complimentary assays and different bacterial strains. (Journal Article)

Wang, X., van Beekveld, R. A. M., Xu, Y., Parmar, A., Das, S., Singh, I., & Breukink, E. (2023). Analyzing mechanisms of action of antimicrobial peptides on bacterial membranes requires multiple complimentary assays and different bacterial strains. Biochimica et biophysica acta. Biomembranes, 184160. doi:10.1016/j.bbamem.2023.184160 doi:10.1016/j.bbamem.2023.184160

Super-rapid formation of a novel super-supramolecular hydrogel with excellent antimicrobial activity. (Journal Article)

Guo, S., Fan, Y., Hong, W. D., Liang, J., Luo, Z., Zheng, W., . . . Zhang, K. (2021). Super-rapid formation of a novel super-supramolecular hydrogel with excellent antimicrobial activity. COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS, 28. doi:10.1016/j.coco.2021.100955 doi:10.1016/j.coco.2021.100955

Mode of action of teixobactins in cellular membranes. (Journal Article)

Shukla, R., Medeiros-Silva, J., Parmar, A., Vermeulen, B. J. A., Das, S., Paioni, A. L., . . . Weingarth, M. (2020). Mode of action of teixobactins in cellular membranes. Nature Communications, 11(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16600-2 doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16600-2

Small Molecule Inhibitors of Cyclophilin D To Protect Mitochondrial Function as a Potential Treatment for Acute Pancreatitis. (Journal Article)

Shore, E. R., Awais, M., Kershaw, N. M., Gibson, R. R., Pandalanen, S., Latawiec, D., . . . Sutton, R. (2016). Small Molecule Inhibitors of Cyclophilin D To Protect Mitochondrial Function as a Potential Treatment for Acute Pancreatitis. JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, 59(06), 2596-2611. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01801

Synthesis of Non-symmetrical Dispiro-1,2,4,5-Tetraoxanes and Dispiro-1,2,4-Trioxanes Catalyzed by Silica Sulfuric Acid. (Journal Article)

Amado, P. S. M., Frija, L. M. T., Coelho, J. A. S., O'Neill, P. M., & Cristiano, M. L. S. (2021). Synthesis of Non-symmetrical Dispiro-1,2,4,5-Tetraoxanes and Dispiro-1,2,4-Trioxanes Catalyzed by Silica Sulfuric Acid. JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, 86(15), 10608-10620. doi:10.1021/acs.joc.1c01258

Synthesis of MeBmt and related derivatives via syn-selective ATH-DKR. (Journal Article)

Rolt, A., O'Neill, P. M., Liang, T. J., & Stachulski, A. V. (2019). Synthesis of MeBmt and related derivatives via syn-selective ATH-DKR. RSC ADVANCES, 9(69), 40336-40339. doi:10.1039/c9ra08256e

Thiazolide Prodrug Esters and Derived Peptides: Synthesis and Activity. (Journal Article)

Stachulski, A. V., Rossignol, J. -F., Pate, S., Taujanskas, J., Iggo, J. A., Aerts, R., . . . O'Neill, P. M. (2023). Thiazolide Prodrug Esters and Derived Peptides: Synthesis and Activity. ACS bio & med chem Au, 3(4), 327-334. doi:10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.2c00083

Modification of the cyclopropyl moiety of abacavir provides insight into the structure activity relationship between HLA‐B*57:01 binding and T‐cell activation. (Journal Article)

Thomson, P. J., Illing, P. T., Farrell, J., Alhaidari, M., Bell, C. C., Berry, N., . . . Naisbitt, D. J. (2020). Modification of the cyclopropyl moiety of abacavir provides insight into the structure activity relationship between HLA‐B*57:01 binding and T‐cell activation. ALLERGY, 75(3), 636-647. doi:10.1111/all.14057