Acyl selenoureido benzensulfonamides show potent inhibitory activity against carbonic anhydrases from the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

A series of acyl selenoureido benzensulfonamides was evaluated as carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors against two Vibrio cholerae such enzymes (VchCAα over VchCAβ) belonging to the α- and β-classes, potential novel targets for anti-infective drugs development. These compounds showed strong inhibitory action against VchCAα over VchCAβ and excellent selectivity over the human (h) off-target isoforms hCA I and II. Identification of potent and possibly selective inhibitors of VchCAα and/or VchCAβ over the human counterparts may lead to pharmacological tools useful for understanding the physiological role(s) of these under-investigated proteins, possibly involved in the virulence of the bacterium and colonization of the host in bicarbonate rich regions of the gastro-intestinal tract.