The "NATPHERA" project aims to develop innovative anti-infective agents to combat serious infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The project focuses on creating a new class of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) with antibacterial properties. These inhibitors will be based on novel compounds that integrate two biologically active components: terpenoids and sulfonamides. Chiral terpenoids, known for their broad-spectrum biological activity, will be combined with sulfonamide moieties—potent enzyme inhibitors—on a central pyrrol-2-one core.
The unique combination of these components is expected to enhance antibacterial activity by targeting multiple pathways, including enzyme inhibition and disruption of bacterial metabolism. The goal is to develop multifunctional molecules capable of binding to the bacterial CA enzyme and inhibiting its function, providing a polypharmacological approach that reduces the likelihood of bacterial resistance.

By exploring innovative synthetic pathways, optimizing structure-activity relationships, and conducting thorough biological evaluations, "NATPHERA" aims to generate new antibacterial agents that could significantly impact the fight against antimicrobial resistance, offering a novel therapeutic approach for multidrug-resistant infections.