Dr Salvatore Ferla

Research Highlights

1. Romagnoli, R., Oliva, P., Salvador, M., Manfredini, S., Padroni, C., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Maccarinelli, F., Rruga, F., Mariotto, E., Viola, G., & Bortolozzi, R. (2021). A facile synthesis of diaryl pyrroles led to the discovery of potent colchicine site antimitotic agents. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 214, 113229

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113229, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56244
2. Bauer, L., Manganaro, R., Zonsics, B., Hurdiss, D., Zwaagstra, M., Donselaar, T., Welter, N., Kleef, R., Lopez, M., Bevilacqua, F., Raman, T., Ferla, S., Bassetto, M., Neyts, J., Strating, J., Westerink, R., Brancale, A., & Kuppeveld, F. (2020). Rational design of highly potent broad-spectrum enterovirus inhibitors targeting the nonstructural protein 2C. PLOS Biology, 18(11), e3000904

   https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000904, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55886
3. Pasqualetto, G., Schepelmann, M., Varricchio, C., Pileggi, E., Khogali, C., Morgan, S., Boostrom, I., Rozanowska, M., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., & Bassetto, M. (2020). Computational Studies towards the Identification of Novel Rhodopsin-Binding Compounds as Chemical Chaperones for Misfolded Opsins. Molecules, 25(21), 4904

   https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25214904, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55537
4. Oliva, P., Romagnoli, R., Manfredini, S., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Maccarinelli, F., Giacomini, A., Rruga, F., Mariotto, E., Viola, G., & Bortolozzi, R. (2020). Design, synthesis, in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation of 2-amino-3-aroylbenzo[b]furan derivatives as highly potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 200, 112448

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112448, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55226

   http://orca.cf.ac.uk/131812/
5. Zhao, F., Masci, D., Ferla, S., Varricchio, C., Brancale, A., Colonna, S., Black, G., Turner, N., & Castagnolo, D. (2020). Monoamine Oxidase (MAO-N) Biocatalyzed Synthesis of Indoles from Indolines Prepared via Photocatalytic Cyclization/Arylative Dearomatization. ACS Catalysis, 10(11), 6414-6421.

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.0c01351, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55225

   http://orca.cf.ac.uk/133403/
6. Manganaro, R., Zonsics, B., Bauer, L., Lopez, M., Donselaar, T., Zwaagstra, M., Saporito, F., Ferla, S., Strating, J., Coutard, B., Hurdiss, D., Kuppeveld, F., & Brancale, A. (2020). Synthesis and antiviral effect of novel fluoxetine analogues as enterovirus 2C inhibitors. Antiviral Research, 178, 104781

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104781, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55229

   http://orca.cf.ac.uk/130902/
7. Oliva, P., Onnis, V., Balboni, E., Hamel, E., Estévez-Sarmiento, F., Quintana, J., Estévez, F., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Manfredini, S., & Romagnoli, R. (2020). Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-Substituted Benzyl-/Phenylethylamino-4-amino-5-aroylthiazoles as Apoptosis-Inducing Anticancer Agents. Molecules, 25(9), 2177

   https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25092177, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55227
8. Ferla, S., Ferla, S., Manganaro, R., Benato, S., Paulissen, J., Neyts, J., Jochmans, D., Brancale, A., & Bassetto, M. (2020). Rational modifications, synthesis and biological evaluation of new potential antivirals for RSV designed to target the M2-1 protein. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 28(8), 115401

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115401, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53723
9. Romagnoli, R., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Cacciari, B., Balzarini, J., Liekens, S., Hamel, E., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Manfredini, S., Zurlo, M., Finotti, A., & Gambari, R. (2020). Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New Antitubulin Agents Containing 2-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyanilino)-3,6-disubstituted-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-c]pyridine Scaffold. Molecules, 25(7), 1690

   https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25071690, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55228
10. Romagnoli, R., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Salvador, M., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Viola, G., Bortolozzi, R., Persoons, L., Balzarini, J., Liekens, S., & Schols, D. (2020). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-alkoxycarbonyl-3-anilinoindoles as a new class of potent inhibitors of tubulin polymerization. Bioorganic Chemistry, 97, 103665

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103665, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54944
11. Albulescu, I., White-Scholten, L., Tas, A., Hoornweg, T., Ferla, S., Kovacikova, K., Smit, J., Brancale, A., Snijder, E., & Hemert, M. (2020). Suramin Inhibits Chikungunya Virus Replication by Interacting with Virions and Blocking the Early Steps of Infection. Viruses, 12(3), 314

    https://doi.org/10.3390/v12030314, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55231
12. Giancotti, G., Rigo, I., Pasqualetto, G., Young, M., Neyts, J., Rocha-Pereira, J., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., & Bassetto, M. (2019). A new antiviral scaffold for human norovirus identified with computer-aided approaches on the viral polymerase. Scientific Reports, 9(1)

    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54903-7, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52974
13. Whatley, K., Padalino, G., Whiteland, H., Geyer, K., Hulme, B., Chalmers, I., Forde-Thomas, J., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., & Hoffmann, K. (2019). The repositioning of epigenetic probes/inhibitors identifies new anti-schistosomal lead compounds and chemotherapeutic targets. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 13(11), e0007693

    https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0007693, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55234
14. Romagnoli, R., Oliva, P., Salvador, M., Camacho, M., Padroni, C., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Grillo, E., Bortolozzi, R., Rruga, F., Mariotto, E., & Viola, G. (2019). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel vicinal diaryl-substituted 1H-Pyrazole analogues of combretastatin A-4 as highly potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 181, 111577

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111577, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55235
15. Pertusati, F., Ferla, S., Bassetto, M., Brancale, A., Khandil, S., Westwell, A., & McGuigan, C. (2019). A new series of bicalutamide, enzalutamide and enobosarm derivatives carrying pentafluorosulfanyl (SF5) and pentafluoroethyl (C2F5) substituents: Improved antiproliferative agents against prostate cancer. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 180, 1-14.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.07.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52218

    http://orca.cf.ac.uk/124785/
16. Płaszczyca, A., Scaturro, P., Neufeldt, C., Cortese, M., Cerikan, B., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Pichlmair, A., & Bartenschlager, R. (2019). A novel interaction between dengue virus nonstructural protein 1 and the NS4A-2K-4B precursor is required for viral RNA replication but not for formation of the membranous replication organelle. PLOS Pathogens, 15(5), e1007736

    https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1007736, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55237
17. Romagnoli, R., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Baraldi, S., Baraldi, P., Ortega, S., Chayah, M., Salvador, M., Lopez-Cara, L., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Bortolozzi, R., Mariotto, E., Mattiuzzo, E., & Viola, G. (2019). Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 6-Substituted Thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine Analogues as Dual Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Kinase and Microtubule Inhibitors. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 62(3), 1274-1290.

    https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01391, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55238

    http://orca.cf.ac.uk/120345/
18. Padalino, G., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Chalmers, I., & Hoffmann, K. (2018). Combining bioinformatics, cheminformatics, functional genomics and whole organism approaches for identifying epigenetic drug targets in Schistosoma mansoni. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 8(3), 559-570.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.005, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55465
19. Romagnoli, R., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Baraldi, S., Baraldi, P., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Bortolozzi, R., & Viola, G. (2018). 3-Aryl/Heteroaryl-5-amino-1-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzoyl)-1,2,4-triazoles as antimicrotubule agents. Design, synthesis, antiproliferative activity and inhibition of tubulin polymerization. Bioorganic Chemistry, 80, 361-374.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2018.06.037, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55466

    http://orca.cf.ac.uk/113241/
20. Yarova, P., Schepelmann, M., Ferla, S., Huang, P., Telezhkin, V., Kidd, E., Ford, W., Broadley, K., Ward, J., Corrigan, C., Kemp, P., Brancale, A., & Riccardi, D. (2018). Development of a new calcilytic for the treatment of inflammatory lung disease. European Respiratory Journal, 52(suppl 62)

    https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.congress-2018.pa1060, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55467
21. Bauer, L., Ferla, S., Head, S., Bhat, S., Pasunooti, K., Shi, W., Albulescu, L., Liu, J., Brancale, A., Kuppeveld, F., & Strating, J. (2018). Structure-activity relationship study of itraconazole, a broad-range inhibitor of picornavirus replication that targets oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP). Antiviral Research, 156, 55-63.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.05.010, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55468
22. Ferla, S., Netzler, N., Ferla, S., Veronese, S., Tuipulotu, D., Guccione, S., Brancale, A., White, P., & Bassetto, M. (2018). In silico screening for human norovirus antivirals reveals a novel non-nucleoside inhibitor of the viral polymerase. Scientific Reports, 8(1)

    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-22303-y, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52215
23. Slusarczyk, M., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., & McGuigan, C. (2018). Synthesis and biological evaluation of 6-substituted-5-fluorouridine ProTides. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 26(3), 551-565.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2017.11.037, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55469

    http://orca.cf.ac.uk/107477/
24. Ferrara, M., Sessa, G., Fiore, M., Bernard, F., Asteriti, I., Cundari, E., Colotti, G., Ferla, S., Desideri, M., Buglioni, S., Trisciuoglio, D., Bufalo, D., Brancale, A., & Degrassi, F. (2018). Small molecules targeted to the microtubule–Hec1 interaction inhibit cancer cell growth through microtubule stabilization. Oncogene, 37(2), 231-240.

    https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2017.320, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55488
25. Romagnoli, R., Salvador, M., Ortega, S., Baraldi, P., Oliva, P., Baraldi, S., Lopez-Cara, L., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Balzarini, J., Liekens, S., Mattiuzzo, E., Basso, G., & Viola, G. (2018). 2-Alkoxycarbonyl-3-arylamino-5-substituted thiophenes as a novel class of antimicrotubule agents: Design, synthesis, cell growth and tubulin polymerization inhibition. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 143, 683-698.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.11.096, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55477

    http://orca.cf.ac.uk/107819/
26. Lauder, S., Allen-Redpath, K., Slatter, D., Aldrovandi, M., O’Connor, A., Farewell, D., Percy, C., Molhoek, J., Rannikko, S., Tyrrell, V., Ferla, S., Milne, G., Poole, A., Thomas, C., Obaji, S., Taylor, P., Jones, S., Groot, P., Urbanus, R...., & O’Donnell, V. (2017). Networks of enzymatically oxidized membrane lipids support calcium-dependent coagulation factor binding to maintain hemostasis. Science Signaling, 10(507), eaan2787

    https://doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aan2787, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55491
27. Netzler, N., Tuipulotu, D., Eltahla, A., Lun, J., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Urakova, N., Frese, M., Strive, T., Mackenzie, J., & White, P. (2017). Broad-spectrum non-nucleoside inhibitors for caliciviruses. Antiviral Research, 146, 65-75.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.07.014, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55489

    http://orca.cf.ac.uk/104974/
28. Romagnoli, R., Baraldi, P., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Baraldi, S., Salvador, M., Lopez-Cara, L., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Bortolozzi, R., Mariotto, E., Porcù, E., Basso, G., & Viola, G. (2017). Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-Methyl-4,5-Disubstituted Oxazoles as a Novel Class of Highly Potent Antitubulin Agents. Scientific Reports, 7(1)

    https://doi.org/10.1038/srep46356, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55492
29. Bassetto, M., Ferla, S., Giancotti, G., Pertusati, F., Westwell, A., Brancale, A., & McGuigan, C. (2017). Rational design and synthesis of novel phenylsulfonyl-benzamides as anti-prostate cancer agents. MedChemComm, 8(7), 1414-1420.

    https://doi.org/10.1039/C7MD00164A, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52212
30. Brancale, A., Shailubhai, K., Ferla, S., Ricci, A., Bassetto, M., & Jacob, G. (2017). Therapeutically targeting guanylate cyclase-C: computational modeling of plecanatide, a uroguanylin analog. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 5(2), e00295

    https://doi.org/10.1002/prp2.295, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52211
31. Scuotto, M., Abdelnabi, R., Collarile, S., Schiraldi, C., Delang, L., Massa, A., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Leyssen, P., Neyts, J., & Filosa, R. (2017). Discovery of novel multi-target indole-based derivatives as potent and selective inhibitors of chikungunya virus replication. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 25(1), 327-337.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmc.2016.10.037, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55490
32. Ferla, S., Bassetto, M., Ferla, S., Pertusati, F., Kandil, S., Westwell, A., Brancale, A., & McGuigan, C. (2016). Design and synthesis of novel bicalutamide and enzalutamide derivatives as antiproliferative agents for the treatment of prostate cancer. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 118, 230-243.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.04.052, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52205
33. Ferla, S., Bassetto, M., Pertusati, F., Kandil, S., Westwell, A., Brancale, A., & McGuigan, C. (2016). Rational design and synthesis of novel anti-prostate cancer agents bearing a 3,5-bis-trifluoromethylphenyl moiety. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 26(15), 3636-3640.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.06.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54208

    http://orca.cf.ac.uk/91515/
34. Romagnoli, R., Baraldi, P., Prencipe, F., Oliva, P., Baraldi, S., Tabrizi, M., Lopez-Cara, L., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Hamel, E., Ronca, R., Bortolozzi, R., Mariotto, E., Basso, G., & Viola, G. (2016). Design and Synthesis of Potent in Vitro and in Vivo Anticancer Agents Based on 1-(3′,4′,5′-Trimethoxyphenyl)-2-Aryl-1H-Imidazole. Scientific Reports, 6(1)

    https://doi.org/10.1038/srep26602, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55498
35. Brancale, A., Shailubhai, K., Ferla, S., Ricci, A., Bassetto, M., Jacob, G., Ferla, S., & Bassetto, M. (2016). Mo1316 Structural and Dynamic Features of Plecanatide: Insights From Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Gastroenterology, 150(4), S695

    https://doi.org/10.1016/s0016-5085(16)32373-3, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55497
36. Grande, F., Parisi, O., Mordocco, R., Rocca, C., Puoci, F., Scrivano, L., Quintieri, A., Cantafio, P., Ferla, S., Brancale, A., Saturnino, C., Cerra, M., Sinicropi, M., & Angelone, T. (2016). Quercetin derivatives as novel antihypertensive agents: Synthesis and physiological characterization. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 82, 161-170.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2015.11.021, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55496
37. Bassetto, M., Ferla, S., Leyssen, P., Neyts, J., Yerukhimovich, M., Frick, D., O’Donnell, R., & Brancale, A. (2015). Novel symmetrical phenylenediamines as potential anti-hepatitis C virus agents. Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy, 24(5-6), 155-160.

    https://doi.org/10.1177/2040206616676353, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52208
38. Bassetto, M., Ferla, S., & Pertusati, F. (2015). Polyfluorinated groups in medicinal chemistry. Future Medicinal Chemistry, 7(4), 527-546.

    https://doi.org/10.4155/fmc.15.5, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52202
39. Bassetto, M., Ferla, S., Leyssen, P., Neyts, J., Yerukhimovich, M., Frick, D., O’Donnell, R., & Brancale, A. (2015). Novel symmetrical phenylenediamines as potential anti-hepatitis C virus agents. Antiviral Chemistry and Chemotherapy, 24(5-6), 155-160.

    https://doi.org/10.1177/2040206616676353, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55499
40. Ferla, S., Gomaa, M., Brancale, A., Zhu, J., Ochalek, J., DeLuca, H., & Simons, C. (2014). Novel styryl-indoles as small molecule inhibitors of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1): Synthesis and biological evaluation. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 87, 39-51.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.09.035, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55495
41. Ferla, S., Aboraia, A., Brancale, A., Pepper, C., Zhu, J., Ochalek, J., DeLuca, H., & Simons, C. (2014). Small-Molecule Inhibitors of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D-24-Hydroxylase (CYP24A1): Synthesis and Biological Evaluation. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 57(18), 7702-7715.

    https://doi.org/10.1021/jm5009314, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55494
42. Ferla, S. (2013). Small molecule inhibitors of CYP24A1 for treatment of various cancers

    SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55493

    http://orca.cf.ac.uk/53626/
43. Flude, B., Nannetti, G., Mitchell, P., Compton, N., Richards, C., Heurich, M., Brancale, A., Ferla, S., & Bassetto, M. (2021). Targeting the Complement Serine Protease MASP-2 as a Therapeutic Strategy for Coronavirus Infections. Viruses, 13(2), 312

    https://doi.org/10.3390/v13020312, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56279

All Research

• Untitled (current)

  MSc

  Other supervisor: Dr Jonathan Mullins

• PM-009 Fundamentals of organic chemistry

  The module aims to provide a broad understanding of the fundamentals of organic chemistry. Building upon the introduction to organic compounds given in PM-000 Foundation Biological Chemistry, this module introduces the principal functional groups present in organic molecules and covers the main reactions which they are likely to undergo.

• PM-344 Capstone Project

  The aim of this module is to provide a capstone experience to students¿ learning, through participating in their own enquiry-based research project. The project may be laboratory or non-laboratory based, but it will always involve a research question that is drawn from the literature, and focused on a topic relevant to medical science. It will ask a novel research question and involve the critical analysis of research findings. Students will refine their oral and written communication skills to a graduate level through creating an introductory presentation on the project background, and a written dissertation and oral presentation on their research conclusions.

• Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel CD200, PD-1 and CTLA-4 small-molecule inhibitors as potential cancer treatment 2019 - 2022

  Cancer Research Wales for support of projects in cancer research-PhD studentship, with Professor A. Brancale (Cardiff University) Dr G. Patel (Cardiff University), £100,000

• Sêr Cymru Research Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University

  June 2018 - July 2020

• Research Associate, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University

  June 2017 - June 2018

• Research Associate, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University

  January 2015 - May 2017

• Research Assistant, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University

  September 2013 - December 2014

• PhD student, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University

  October 2009 - September 2013

• Co-supervisor of pharmaceutical production, CHIESI Farmaceutici S.P.A. Parma, Italy

  October 2008 - April 2009