B-CYCLODEXTRIN DERIVATIVES AND THEIR USE AGAINST ANTHRAX LETHAL TOXIN

Abstract

The invention provides low molecular weight compounds that block the pore formed by protective antigen and inhibit anthrax toxin action. Structures of the compounds are derivatives of β-cyclodextrin. Per-substituted alkylamino derivatives displayed inhibitory activity, and they were protective against anthrax lethal toxin action at low micromolar concentrations. Also, the addition of one of the alkylamino derivatives to the bilayer lipid membrane with multiple PA channels caused a significant decrease in membrane conductance. Thus, the invention also provides methods for protection against anthrax toxicity.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/539,577, filed Jan. 29, 2004.

This work was supported by grant 1R43AI052894-01 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The government has certain rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to protection against Anthrax-mediated biotoxicity.

2. Summary of the Related Art

Bacillus anthracis is one of the most dangerous potential biological weapons. Currently, there is no effective treatment for inhalational anthrax, beyond the administration of antibiotics shortly after exposure. Time delay reduces the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment. Dixon et al., Anthrax. N. Engl. J. Med.: 341, 815-826 (1999) teaches that major factors playing a role in anthrax infection are the cytotoxic effect of anthrax toxin, and bacteremia leading to oxygen and nutritional substance deprivation, accumulation of various bacterial and host toxic products with eventual organ failure and death.

Brossier et al., Toxicon. 39: 1747-1755 (2001) teaches that the two anthrax toxins are formed by three different proteins: protective antigen (PA) which either combines with lethal factor (LF) to form lethal toxin (LeTx), or with edema factor (EF) to form edema toxin (EdTx). LF and EF are enzymes targeting substrates within the cytosol, and PA facilitates their transport across the cell membrane forming a heptameric pore. PA assembles into a ring-shaped heptamer with a negatively charged lumen and exposes a hydrophobic surface for binding of LF and EF. Petosa et al., Nature 385: 833-838 (1997) teaches the three-dimensional structure of the PA pore.

Karginov et al., FEMS Immun. Med. Microb. 40: 71-74 (2004) teaches that treatment of Bacillus anthracis infected mice with a combination of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin and partially purified antibodies against anthrax protective antigen dramatically increased survival rates in comparison with antibiotic treatment alone.

Although promising, antibodies are less attractive as potential drugs in comparison with low molecular weight compounds, which offer potentially better penetration through membranes and are not sensitive to proteases.

Therefore, there is a need for new safe and efficient treatments to supplement to traditional antibiotic intervention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides new safe and efficient treatments to supplement to traditional antibiotic intervention.

In a first aspect, the invention provides low molecular weight compounds designed to block the pore formed by PA, which can inhibit anthrax toxin action. The high-affinity blockers of PA according to the invention are derivatives of beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD), which is a cyclic molecule comprising seven D-glucose units and having sevenfold symmetry, like the PA pore.

In a second aspect, the invention provides methods for inhibiting the toxic effects of Bacillus anthrasis. The methods according to this aspect of the invention comprise contacting a cell with a compound according to the first aspect of the invention.

In a third aspect, the invention provides novel methods for making certain derivatives of —CD.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows embodiments of compounds according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows protection of RAW 264.7 cells from LeTx-induced cell death by β-CD derivatives.

FIG. 3 shows inhibition of cytopathic effect of LeTx expressed as percentage of the LeTx effect induced in cells not treated with inhibitor.

FIG. 4 shows typical tracks of ion conductance for PA channels reconstituted into planar lipid membranes. The downward arrow indicates the addition of PrAmBC to the cis side of the membrane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention relates to protection against Anthrax-mediated biotoxicity. The invention provides new safe and efficient treatments to supplement to traditional antibiotic intervention. The references cited herein reflect the level of knowledge in the field and are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the case of a conflict between the teachings of the cited references and the present specification, any such conflict shall be resolved in favor of the latter.

In a first aspect, the invention provides low molecular weight compounds designed to block the pore formed by PA, which can inhibit anthrax toxin action. The high-affinity blockers of PA according to the invention are preferably derivatives of beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD), which is a cyclic molecule comprising seven D-glucose units and having sevenfold symmetry, like the PA pore. Alternatively, molecules similar to β-CD, cyclic molecules having sevenfold symmetry, like the PA pore may be used. The outside diameter of β-CD—15.3 Å—is comparable with the diameter of the PA channel lumen, which is 20-35 Å according to X-ray analysis data, and about 12 Å at its most narrow point according to the measurement of current flow through the channel. Alternative cyclic molecules should be of similar size.

Preferred derivatives of β-CD include hepta-6-alkylamino derivatives of β-cyclodextrin. β-CD substituted with positively charged groups of various sizes because the lumen of the PA pore is mostly negatively charged. Also, the positively charged groups might alter the local pH inside the lumen, inhibiting the conformational change required for the formation of the transmembrane channel.

Preferred compounds have the formula

wherein R₂ is H, OH, OAc, OMe, or O(CH₂CH₂O); R₃ is H, OH, OAc, OMe, OSO₃Na, or NH₂; and R₆ is H, NH₂, SCH₂CH₂NH₂, SCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂, SCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂, I, N₃, SH, lower alkyl, S-alkylguanidyl, O-alkylguanidyl, S-aminoalkyl, O-aminoalkyl, aminoalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring(s), or OSO₃Na. Most preferably, R₆ is H, NH₂, SCH₂CH₂NH₂, SCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂, or SCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂.

For purposes of the invention, the term “lower alkyl” means an alkyl group from 1 to 7 carbon atoms. The terms “alkyl” and “aryl” include alkyl or aryl groups which may be substituted or unsubstituted. Preferred substitutions include, without limitation, substitution with nitrogen containing moieties, including amino groups, which may be mono or disubstituted, preferably with alkyl or aryl groups. Also, for purposes of the invention the term “alkyl” includes chains of 1-7 atoms with one or more nitrogen atoms and the remainder carbon atoms.

Particularly preferred derivatives of β-CD are shown in FIG. 1.

In a second aspect, the invention provides methods for inhibiting the toxic effects of Bacillus anthrasis. The methods according to this aspect of the invention comprise contacting a cell with a compound according to the first aspect of the invention. Preferably, the cell is in a mammal, most preferably in a human.

The four hepta-6-alkylamino derivatives of β-cyclodextrin suggested by our structure-based evaluation were synthesized. These and some other β-cyclodextrin derivatives synthesized by us or obtained elsewhere (FIG. 2) were tested for their ability to inhibit cytotoxic effect of LeTx on mouse macrophage-like cells RAW 264.7.

Surprisingly, only the alkylamino derivatives originally suggested based on structure-based design, displayed inhibitory activity, and they were protective against LeTx action at low micromolar concentrations (FIG. 3). These experiments also showed that the compounds were not toxic to RAW 264.7 cells up to 25 μM concentration, while their IC₅₀ were as low as 4.4 μM (FIG. 3). The rest of the compounds presented in FIG. 1 displayed no inhibitory activity at concentrations 100 μM and lower.

One of the alkylamino derivatives—PrAmBC—was tested for the ability to block ion conductance through PA channels reconstituted into planar bilayer lipid membranes. It was demonstrated that the addition of PrAmBC to the bilayer lipid membrane with multiple PA channels (about 60) caused a significant step-like decrease in membrane conductance at 3 nM concentration of the compound (FIG. 4).

Persubstituted β-cyclodextrin derivatives can potentially also be utilized for blocking of other toxins that form heptameric transmembrane channels, such as staphylococcal α-hemolysin. Derivatives of hexameric α-cyclodextrin may also find utility against targets such as Helicobacter pylori VacA toxin or hepatitis C virus p7 protein, which form hexameric channels and are considered to be important virulence factors in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease and HCV infection, respectively.

In a third aspect, the invention provides novel methods for making certain derivatives of β-CD. The introduction of an alkylamino group at the primary position of β-cyclodextrins proved to be a challenge. The direct alkylation of per-iodo-β-cyclodextrin with an alcolate nucleophile (derived from an azidoalkanol for example) would pose some problems since the basic alcolate may induce elimination or intramolecular substitutions. Nucleophilic displacement of iodide anions from per-6-iodo-β-cyclodextrins, employing poor nucleophiles or elevated temperatures favors the intramolecular substitution reaction, resulting in the formation of 3,6-anhydro-D-glucopyranose residues within the structure of per-6-iodo-β-cyclodextrin. Taking advantage of the higher nucleophilicity of a sulfur atom over an oxygen atom, we utilized the introduction of a sulfur atom at the primary position of the β-cyclodextrin followed by a selective alkylation of the mercapto group, with a halogenopropionitrile to provide directly a precursor of the target compound 19. In this case, no supplementary protection and deprotection steps are required.

Thus the invention provides an improved method for synthesizing a substituted β-cyclodextrin, wherein the improvement comprises introducing a sulfur atom at the primary position of the β-cyclodextrin followed by a selective alkylation of the mercapto group, with a halogenopropionitrile.

The following examples are intended to illustrate certain particularly preferred embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1

Synthesis of β-cyclodextrin derivatives

Reagents. β-cyclodextrin derivatives 1-7 listed in Table 1 were synthesized at Pinnacle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Charlottesville, Va.). Compounds 12 and 13 were purchased from Cytrea Ltd (Dublin, Ireland). Sulfo derivatives of β-cyclodextrin 8-11 were kindly provided by Dr. Gyula Vigh (Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex.). β-cyclodextrin 14 was purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, Mo.). Most chemical reagents were purchased from Aldrich Chemicals or Fisher Scientific and used without further purification. Acetonitrile and dichloromethane were distilled from CaH₂. DMF was distilled from CaH₂ under diminished pressure. Triethylamine was distilled from P205.

Analysis. ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra were recorded on a General Electric QE-300 or a Varian 300 spectrometer. Moisture sensitive reactions were conducted under argon in oven-dried glassware. Analytical thin-layer chromatography was performed on Merk 60F₂₅₄ precoated silica gel plates. Visualization was performed by ultraviolet light and/or by staining with phosphomolybdic acid or sulfuric acid. Flash chromatography was performed using (40-60 μm) silica gel.

Synthesis. Cyclodextrins 2, 3, 4 and 5 were prepared according to standard procedures.

(2-Phthalimidoethyl)isothiouronium hydrobromide (9). A suspension of N-(2-bromoethyl)phthalimide (6) (3.0 g, 11.8 mmol) and thiourea (1.82 g, 23.96 mmol) in absolute EtOH (5.7 mL) was stirred at reflux for 18 h after which the product crystallized. After cooling to room temperature the product was collected by filtration, washing with small amounts of chilled absolute EtOH and dried under vacuum. Compound 9 (4.0 g, quantitative yield) was obtained as colorless crystals; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 9.04 (brs, 2H), 7.91 (m, 2H); 7.11 (brs, 1H); 3.89 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 2H); 3.52 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 2H).

(3-Phthalimidopropyl)isothiouronium hydrobromide (10). A suspension of N-(3-bromopropyl)phthalimide (7) (3.0 g, 11 mmol) and thiourea (1.7 g, 22.37 mmol) in absolute EtOH (5.3 mL) was stirred at reflux for 18 h after which the product crystallized. After cooling to room temperature the product was collected by filtration, washing with small amounts of chilled absolute EtOH (2×10 mL) and ether (10 mL) and dried under vacuum. Compound 10 (3.95 g, quantitative yield) was obtained as colorless crystals. ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 9.01 (brs, 2H), 7.90 (m, 2H); 3.50 (t, J=6.2 Hz, 2H); 3.20 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 2H); 1.75 (m, 2H).

(4-Phthalimidobutyl)isothiouronium hydrobromide (11). A suspension of N-(4-bromobutyl)phthalimide (8) (1.0 g, 3.5 mmol) and thiourea (540 mg, 7.08 mmol) in absolute EtOH (1.7 mL) was stirred at reflux for 18 h. The product did not crystallize as expected. However, upon cooling to room temperature, the syrupy mixture started crystallizing after a quick shaking and stirring. Ether (4 mL) was added and the mixture stirred for 15 min. before collecting the product by filtration, washing with small amounts of chilled EtOH. Compound 11 (1.22 g, 96%) was obtained as colorless solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 9.02 (brs, 2H), 7.89 (m, 4H); 7.13 (brs, 1H); 3.60 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H); 3.17 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 2H); 1.67 (m, 4H).

Heptakis (2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-6-iodo)cyclomaltoheptaose (14). (See Baer et al., Carbohydr. Res. 228: 307 1992). To a solution of per-6-iodo-β-cyclodextrin (2) (1.0 g, 0.52 mmol) in dry pyridine (5 mL was added Ac₂O (7.5 mL) and a catalytic amount of DMAP (6.5 mg, 0.05 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature under argon for 48 h. The reaction was quenched by addition of MeOH (15 mL) and the solvents evaporated under diminished pressure. Coevaporation with small amounts of MeOH (3×4 mL) and toluene (3×4 mL) gave a brown residue, which was purified on a silica gel column (20×3 cm). Elution with a gradient Hexane-EtOAc (1:1 to 1:4) gave compound 14 (1.06 g, 81%) as a colorless solid, which crystallized upon trituration with diethyl ether; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 5.33 (brt, J=8.4 Hz, 1H); 5.2 (d, J=3.6 Hz, 1H); 4.83 (dd, J=3.9, 9.9 Hz, 1H); 3.58-3.81 (complex m, 4H); 2.09 (s, 3H); 2.05 (s, 3H); mass spectrum (MALDI), calcd. for C₇₀H₉₁I₇NaO₄₂ m/z 2514.8 found 2514.9 [M+Na] (100%).

Heptakis [2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-6-(2-phthalimidoethyl)-thio]cyclomaltoheptaose (15). To a solution of heptakis (2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-6-iodo)cyclomaltoheptaose (14) (0.5 g, 0.2 mmol) and (2-phthalimidoethyl)isothiouronium hydrobromide (9) (0.99 g, 3.0 mmol) in dry DMF (20 mL) was added Cs₂CO₃ (1.63 g, 5.0 mmol) and the mixture stirred at room temperature under argon for 48 h. The mixture was poured into ice (40 g) and 0.5 N HCl (200 mL) was added. The aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane (3×50 mL). The combined organic phases were washed successively with 0.5 N HCl (200 mL) and brine (100 mL), dried (MgSO₄) and evaporated under diminished pressure. The residue was purified on a silica gel column (21×3 cm) eluting with EtOAc to give compound 15 (145 mg, 23%) as a colorless solid. Another fraction (165 mg) was obtained in a slightly impure form. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.73 (m, 2H); 7.62 (m, 2H); 5.25 (t, 1H, J=8.7 Hz); 5.10 (brs, 1H); 4.80 (m, 1H); 4.15 (m, 1H); 3.87 (t, 1H, J=8.4 Hz); 3.63 (m, 2H); 3.03 (m, 2H); 2.64 (m, 2H); 2.05 (s, 3H); 2.01 (s, 3H).

Heptakis [2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-6-(3-phthalimidopropyl)-thio]cyclomaltoheptaose (16). To a solution of heptakis (2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-6-iodo)cyclomaltoheptaose (14) (250 mg, 0.1 mmol) and (3-phthalimidopropyl) isothiouronium hydrobromide (10) (472 mg, 1.37 mmol) in dry DMF (10 mL) was added Cs₂CO₃ (687 mg, 2.11 mmol) and the mixture stirred at room temperature under argon for 68 h. The mixture was poured into ice (50 g) and 0.5 N HCl (100 mL) was added. The aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane (3×50 mL). The combined organic phases were washed successively with 0.5 N HCl (100 mL) and brine (100 mL), dried (MgSO₄) and evaporated under diminished pressure. The residue was purified on a silica gel column (14×3 cm) eluting with EtOAc to give compound 15 (188 mg, 59%) as a colorless foam; ¹H-NMR (300 MHz) δ 7.70 (dd, 2H, J=3.0 Hz, J=5.5 Hz); 7.58 (dd, 2H, J=3.1 Hz, J=5.4 Hz); 5.23 (dd, 1H, J=8.3 Hz, J=9.6 Hz); 5.06 (d, 1H, J=3.8 Hz); 4.80 (dd, 1H, J=3.8 Hz, J=9.7 Hz); 4.12 (m, 1H); 3.84 (t, 1H); 3.66 (t, 2H, J=6.9 Hz); 3.03 (m, 2H); 2.60 (m, 2H, J=5.9 Hz, J=12.9 Hz); 2.05 (s, 3H); 2.02 (s, 3H); 1.91 (m, 2H; mass spectrum (MALDI), calcd. for C₁₄₇H₁₆₁N₇NaO₅₆S₇ m/z 3166.8 found 3166.8 [M+Na] (40%), 3168.8 (100%) and 3167.8 (80%).

Heptakis [2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-6-(4-phthalimidobutyl)-thio]cyclomaltoheptaose (17). To a solution of heptakis (2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-deoxy-6-iodo)cyclomaltoheptaose (14) (404 mg, 0.16 mmol) and (4-phthalimidobutyl) isothiouronium hydrobromide (11) (870 mg, 2.42 mmol) in dry DMF (16 mL) was added Cs₂CO₃ (1.32 g, 4.04 mmol) and the mixture stirred at room temperature under argon for 48 h. The mixture was poured into ice (50 g) and 0.5 N HCl (200 mL) was added. The aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane (3×50 mL). The combined organic phases were washed successively with 0.5 N HCl (100 mL) and brine (100 mL), dried (MgSO₄) and evaporated under diminished pressure. The residue was purified on a silica gel column (18×3 cm) eluting with EtOAc to give compound 17 (125 mg, 24%) as a colorless solid. Another fraction (132 mg) was obtained in a slightly impure form. ¹H-NMR (CDCl₃) δ 7.74 (m, 2H); 7.64 (m, 2H); 5.26 (m, 1H); 5.12 (d, 1H, J=3.6 Hz); 4.80 (dd, 1H, J=3.7 Hz, J=9.8 Hz); 4.15 (m, 1H); 3.88 (m, 1H); 3.63 (m, 2H); 3.03 (m, 2H); 2.65 (m, 2H); 2.06 (s, 3H); 2.02 (s, 3H); 1.73 (m, 2H); 1.61 (m, 2H); mass spectrum (MALDI), calcd. for C₁₅₄H₁₇₅N₇NaO₅₆S₇ m/z 3267.5 found 3267.3 [M+Na] (40%).

Per-6-(2-aminoethylthio)-β-cyclodextrin (18). A mixture of compound 15 (100 mg, 31.92 μmol) and hydrazine monohydrate (1.55 mL, 31.92 mmol) in EtOH—H₂O 1:1 (1.5 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 18 h. The solvents were evaporated under diminished pressure to give a solid, which was suspended in 1N HCl (5 mL) and stirred at rt for 8 h. The insoluble material was filtered and the filtrate diluted with acetone (25 mL) until the product precipitated. The supernatant was removed by centrifugation and the product washed with acetone (4×25 mL) and dried under vacuum. The product 18 (46 mg, 89%) was obtained as a colorless solid. Mass spectrum (MALDI), calcd. for C₅₆H₁₀₅N₇O₂₈S₇ m/z 1548.9 found 1548.8 [M] (100%).

Per-6-(3-aminopropylthio)-α-cyclodextrin (19). A mixture of compound 16 (100 mg, 31.38 μmol) and hydrazine monohydrate (1.54 mL, 31.78 mmol) in EtOH—H₂O 1:1 (1.5 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 16 h. The solvents were evaporated under diminished pressure to give a solid, which was suspended in 1N HCl (5 mL) and stirred at rt for 4 h. The insoluble material was filtered and the filtrate diluted with acetone (25 mL) until the product precipitated. The supernatant was removed by centrifugation and the product washed with acetone (4×25 mL) and dried under vacuum. Compound 19 (53 mg, 85% yield) was obtained as a colorless solid. ¹³C-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 102.09, 84.52, 72.48, 72.23, 71.41, 37.79, 33.03, 29.71, 26.85; mass spectrum (MALDI), calcd. for C₆₃H₁₁₉N₇NaO₂₈S₇ m/z 1668.60 found 1668.82 [M+Na] (100%).

Per-6-(4-aminobutylthio)-β-cyclodextrin (20). A mixture of compound 17 (80 mg, 25.31 μmol) and hydrazine monohydrate (1.22 mL, 25.31 mmol) in EtOH—H₂O 1:1 (1.2 mL) was stirred at 60° C. for 24 h. The solvents were evaporated under diminished pressure to give a solid, which was suspended in 1N HCl (5 mL) and stirred at rt for 4 h. The insoluble material was filtered and the filtrate diluted with acetone (25 mL) until the product precipitated. The supernatant was removed by centrifugation and the product washed with acetone (4×25 mL) and dried under vacuum. The product 20 (40 mg, 94%) was obtained as a colorless solid. ¹³C-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 102.05, 84.43, 72.47, 72.22, 71.49, 38.40, 32.85, 32.15, 26.12; mass spectrum (MALDI), calcd. for C₇₀H₁₃₃N₇O₂₈S₇ m/z 1745.3 found 1745.9 [M+Na] (100%).

Example 2

Protection of Cells from Cytotoxicity

Recombinant B. anthracis lethal factor (rLF), edema factor (rEF), and protective antigen (rPA) were acquired from List Biological Laboratories, Inc. (Campbell, Calif.). Murine RAW 264.7 monocyte-macrophage cell line ATCC TIB-71 was obtained from American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, Va., USA). The cells were cultured in phenol free Dulbecco's Modification of Eagle's Medium/Ham's F-12 50/50 Mix (Mediatech, Inc., Hermdon, Va., USA) supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 100 units/ml: 100 μg/ml penicillin-streptomycin, 0.1 mM non-essential amino acids, and 0.5 mM 2-mercaptoethanol at 37° C. in 5% CO₂. The cells were harvested using Cellstripper™ from Mediatech, Inc. and then were washed once with media to remove the non-enzymatic dissociation solution. RAW 264.7 cells were plated in 96-well flat-bottomed tissue culture plates from Becton Dickinson (San Jose, Calif., USA) at a concentration of 10⁵ cells/well in the DMEM medium mentioned above and incubated overnight at 37° C. in 5% CO₂. RAW 264.7 cells were pre-incubated with different concentrations of tested compounds in DMEM medium for 1 hr at 37° C. in a 5% CO₂ atmosphere. Then DMEM medium or LeTx (LF=32 ng/ml; PA=500 ng/ml) in the media were added, and the plate was incubated under the same condition for 4 hrs. Cell viability was estimated using a MTS kit from Promega (Madison, Wis., USA). A μ Quant spectrophotometer from Bio-Tek Instruments, Inc. (Winooski, Vt., USA) was used to obtain OD₅₇₀ readings.

Example 3

Inhibition of Ion Conductance

Ion conductance experiments were performed according to Montal and Mueller [1,4] with modifications [15,16]. PA channels were reconstituted into planar lipid membranes formed from DPhPC; the membrane bathing solution contained 0.1M KCl, 1 mM EDTA at pH 6.6. Ion conductance through PA channels was measured in the presence of PrAmBC.

Claims

1-3. (canceled)

4. A method for inhibiting anthrax toxicity in a cell, comprising contacting the cell with a compound according to the formula wherein R2 is H, OH, OAc, OMe, or O(CH2CH2O)n; R3 is H, OH, OAc, OMe, OSO3Na, or NH2; and R6 is H, NH2, SCH2CH2NH2, SCH2CH2CH2NH2, SCH2CH2CH2CH2NH2, I, N3, SH, lower alkyl, S-alkylguanidyl, O-alkylguanidyl, S-aminoalkyl, O-aminoalkyl, aminoalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring(s), or OSO3Na.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein R6 is NH2, SCH2CH2NH2, SCH2CH2CH2NH2, or SCH2CH2CH2CH2 NH2.

6. A method for inhibiting anthrax toxicity in a cell, comprising contacting the cell with a compound shown in FIG. 1.

7. (canceled)

8. A method for inhibiting anthrax toxin activity comprising administering a cyclic compound with a sevenfold symmetry and a diameter between 12 Å and 35 Å.

9. A method for inhibiting a virulence factor that is a protein forming a trans-membrane channel with sevenfold symmetry for α-toxin of S. aureus comprising contacting a cell with a compound according to the formula

wherein R2 is H, OH, OAc, OMe, or O(CH2CH2O)n; R3 is H, OH, OAc, OMe, OSO3Na, or NH2; and R6 is H, NH2, SCH2CH2NH2, SCH2CH2CH2NH2, SCH2CH2CH2CH2NH2, I, N3, SH, lower alkyl, S-alkylguanidyl, O-alkylguanidyl, S-aminoalkyl, O-aminoalkyl, aminoalkyl, aralkyl, aryl, heterocyclic ring(s), or OSO3Na.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein R6 is NH2, SCH2 CH2NH2, SCH2CH2CH2NH2, or SCH2CH2CH2CH2NH2.

11. A method for inhibiting a virulence factor that is a protein forming a trans-membrane channel with sevenfold symmetry for α-toxin of S. aureus comprising contacting a cell with a compound shown in FIG. 1.

12. A method for inhibiting a virulence factor that is a protein forming a trans-membrane channel with sixfold symmetry for Heliobacter pylori Vac A toxin comprising contacting a cell with a derivative of hexameric β-cyclodextrin.

13. A method for inhibiting a virulence factor that is a protein forming a trans-membrane channel with sixfold symmetry for Hepatitis C virus p7 protein comprising contacting a cell with a derivative of hexameric β-cyclodextrin.