Selenides bearing benzenesulfonamide show potent inhibition activity against carbonic anhydrases from pathogenic bacteria Vibrio cholerae and Burkholderia pseudomallei.

A series of selenides bearing benzenesulfonamide moieties was evaluated as carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors against the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio cholerae (VchCAα and VchCAβ) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (BpsCAβ) enzymes. The molecules represent an interesting lead for antibacterial agents with a possibly new mechanism of action showing excellent inhibitory action and selectivity for inhibiting VchCAα and BpsCAβ over the human (h) off-target isoforms hCA I and II. Identification of potent and possibly selective inhibitors of bacteria CAs over the human counterparts may lead to pharmacological tools useful for understanding the physiological role(s) of these under-investigated proteins.