Compounds with a benzo [a]carbazole structure for use in the prevention and/or treatment of infectious diseases

The invention relates to the use of compounds with a benzo[a]carbazole structure of formula (I), also described in patent application no. WO2019/049024, in the prevention and/or treatment of infectious diseases caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. The compounds according to the invention act with an indirect action mechanism against the infecting agent, but directly against the infected host cell, preventing inactivation of transcription factor P53 which controls the cell response to stress, inducing arrest of the cell cycle or apoptosis. In practice, the compounds according to the invention prevent P53 inactivation mediated by oncogenic proteins such as MDM2 (and/or MDM4). In the infected cells, the compounds according to the invention bind to the binding site on MDM2 for gene P53, and prevent MDM2-P53 coupling. This stabilises the levels of protein P53, reducing degradation mediated by the MDM2-P53 bond, and also induces a considerable increase in transcription of P53. Surprisingly, there is a powerful effect of permanent arrest of the cell cycle with an apoptotic effect that prevents propagation of the infection, with an increase in free P53 levels in the infected cell. The compounds according to the invention did not exhibit any antibacterial activity when tested directly on a culture of Staphylococcus aureus. Said compounds therefore do not act on the infecting agent but on the infected host cells, and do not produce the effects of resistance to the treatment typical of the various classes of antibacterials, antivirals, antifungals and antiprotozoals. The compounds according to the invention can also be used in combination with other classes of medicaments in infections caused by pathogens of various kinds, and in the labelling of cells and tissues infected by pathogens in medical diagnostics.