51
|
Stokes BH, Yoo E, Murithi JM, Luth MR, Afanasyev P, da Fonseca PCA, Winzeler EA, Ng CL, Bogyo M, Fidock DA. Covalent Plasmodium falciparum-selective proteasome inhibitors exhibit a low propensity for generating resistance in vitro and synergize with multiple antimalarial agents. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007722. [PMID: 31170268 PMCID: PMC6553790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutics with novel modes of action and a low risk of generating resistance are urgently needed to combat drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Here, we report that the peptide vinyl sulfones WLL-vs (WLL) and WLW-vs (WLW), highly selective covalent inhibitors of the P. falciparum proteasome, potently eliminate genetically diverse parasites, including K13-mutant, artemisinin-resistant lines, and are particularly active against ring-stage parasites. Selection studies reveal that parasites do not readily acquire resistance to WLL or WLW and that mutations in the β2, β5 or β6 subunits of the 20S proteasome core particle or in components of the 19S proteasome regulatory particle yield only <five-fold decreases in parasite susceptibility. This result compares favorably against previously published non-covalent inhibitors of the Plasmodium proteasome that can select for resistant parasites with >hundred-fold decreases in susceptibility. We observed no cross-resistance between WLL and WLW. Moreover, most mutations that conferred a modest loss of parasite susceptibility to one inhibitor significantly increased sensitivity to the other. These inhibitors potently synergized multiple chemically diverse classes of antimalarial agents, implicating a shared disruption of proteostasis in their modes of action. These results underscore the potential of targeting the Plasmodium proteasome with covalent small molecule inhibitors as a means of combating multidrug-resistant malaria. The spread of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria across Southeast Asia creates an imperative to develop new treatment options with compounds that are not susceptible to existing mechanisms of antimalarial drug resistance. Recent work has identified the P. falciparum proteasome as a promising drug target. Here, we report potent antimalarial activity of highly selective vinyl sulfone-conjugated peptide proteasome inhibitors, including against artemisinin-resistant P. falciparum early ring-stage parasites that are traditionally difficult to treat. Unlike many advanced antimalarial candidates, these covalent proteasome inhibitors do not readily select for resistance. Selection studies with cultured parasites reveal infrequent and minor decreases in susceptibility resulting from point mutations in components of the 26S proteasome, which we model using cryo-electron microscopy-based structural data. No parasites were observed to be cross-resistant to both compounds; in fact, partial resistance to one compound often created hypersensitivity to the other. We also document potent synergy between these covalent proteasome inhibitors and multiple classes of antimalarial agents, including dihydroartemisinin, the clinical candidate OZ439, and the parasite transmission-blocking agent methylene blue. Proteasome inhibitors have significant promise as components of novel combination therapies to treat multidrug-resistant malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara H. Stokes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Euna Yoo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - James M. Murithi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Madeline R. Luth
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Pavel Afanasyev
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paula C. A. da Fonseca
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth A. Winzeler
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Caroline L. Ng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CLN); (MB); (DAF)
| | - Matthew Bogyo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CLN); (MB); (DAF)
| | - David A. Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CLN); (MB); (DAF)
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Fagbami L, Deik AA, Singh K, Santos SA, Herman JD, Bopp SE, Lukens AK, Clish CB, Wirth DF, Mazitschek R. The Adaptive Proline Response in P. falciparum Is Independent of PfeIK1 and eIF2α Signaling. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:515-520. [PMID: 30773881 PMCID: PMC6747701 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We have previously identified the cytoplasmic prolyl tRNA synthetase in Plasmodium falciparum as the functional target of the natural product febrifugine and its synthetic analogue halofuginone (HFG), one of the most potent antimalarials discovered to date. However, our studies also discovered that short-term treatment of asexual blood stage P. falciparum with HFG analogues causes a 20-fold increase in intracellular proline, termed the adaptive proline response (APR), which renders parasites tolerant to HFG. This novel resistance phenotype lacks an apparent genetic basis but remains stable after drug withdrawal. On the basis of our findings that HFG treatment induces eIF2α phosphorylation, a sensitive marker and mediator of cellular stress, we here investigate if eIF2α-signaling is functionally linked to the APR. In our comparative studies using a parasite line lacking PfeIK1, the Plasmodium orthologue of the eIF2α-kinase GCN2 that mediates amino acid deprivation sensing, we show that HFG activity and the APR are independent from PfeIK1 and eIF2α signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lola Fagbami
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 Boston, MA 02115
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
- Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, 1350 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Amy A. Deik
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Kritika Singh
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 Boston, MA 02115
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Sofia A. Santos
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Jonathan D. Herman
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 Boston, MA 02115
| | - Selina E. Bopp
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 Boston, MA 02115
| | - Amanda K. Lukens
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Clary B. Clish
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Dyann F. Wirth
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 Boston, MA 02115
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Ralph Mazitschek
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 Boston, MA 02115
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
| |
Collapse
|
53
|
Abstract
Eukaryotic protozoan parasites, including the etiological agents of malaria, toxoplasmosis, and leishmaniasis, collectively cause significant mortality in humans. In a recent issue of Structure,Jain et al. (2017) identify a set of quinazolinone-based derivatives targeting the parasitic prolyl-tRNA synthetase enzyme as promising drugs for the clearance of diverse parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Wong
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
54
|
Nyamai DW, Tastan Bishop Ö. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases as malarial drug targets: a comparative bioinformatics study. Malar J 2019; 18:34. [PMID: 30728021 PMCID: PMC6366043 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2665-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment of parasitic diseases has been challenging due to evolution of drug resistant parasites, and thus there is need to identify new class of drugs and drug targets. Protein translation is important for survival of malarial parasite, Plasmodium, and the pathway is present in all of its life cycle stages. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases are primary enzymes in protein translation as they catalyse amino acid addition to the cognate tRNA. This study sought to understand differences between Plasmodium and human aminoacyl tRNA synthetases through bioinformatics analysis. METHODS Plasmodium berghei, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium fragile, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium yoelii and human aminoacyl tRNA synthetase sequences were retrieved from UniProt database and grouped into 20 families based on amino acid specificity. These families were further divided into two classes. Both families and classes were analysed. Motif discovery was carried out using the MEME software, sequence identity calculation was done using an in-house Python script, multiple sequence alignments were performed using PROMALS3D and TCOFFEE tools, and phylogenetic tree calculations were performed using MEGA vs 7.0 tool. Possible alternative binding sites were predicted using FTMap webserver and SiteMap tool. RESULTS Motif discovery revealed Plasmodium-specific motifs while phylogenetic tree calculations showed that Plasmodium proteins have different evolutionary history to the human homologues. Human aaRSs sequences showed low sequence identity (below 40%) compared to Plasmodium sequences. Prediction of alternative binding sites revealed potential druggable sites in PfArgRS, PfMetRS and PfProRS at regions that are weakly conserved when compared to the human homologues. Multiple sequence analysis, motif discovery, pairwise sequence identity calculations and phylogenetic tree analysis showed significant differences between parasite and human aaRSs proteins despite functional and structural conservation. These differences may provide a basis for further exploration of Plasmodium aminoacyl tRNA synthetases as potential drug targets. CONCLUSION This study showed that, despite, functional and structural conservation, Plasmodium aaRSs have key differences from the human homologues. These differences in Plasmodium aaRSs can be targeted to develop anti-malarial drugs with less toxicity to the host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy Wavinya Nyamai
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Özlem Tastan Bishop
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
Francklyn CS, Mullen P. Progress and challenges in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-based therapeutics. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:5365-5385. [PMID: 30670594 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev118.002956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are universal enzymes that catalyze the attachment of amino acids to the 3' ends of their cognate tRNAs. The resulting aminoacylated tRNAs are escorted to the ribosome where they enter protein synthesis. By specifically matching amino acids to defined anticodon sequences in tRNAs, ARSs are essential to the physical interpretation of the genetic code. In addition to their canonical role in protein synthesis, ARSs are also involved in RNA splicing, transcriptional regulation, translation, and other aspects of cellular homeostasis. Likewise, aminoacylated tRNAs serve as amino acid donors for biosynthetic processes distinct from protein synthesis, including lipid modification and antibiotic biosynthesis. Thanks to the wealth of details on ARS structures and functions and the growing appreciation of their additional roles regulating cellular homeostasis, opportunities for the development of clinically useful ARS inhibitors are emerging to manage microbial and parasite infections. Exploitation of these opportunities has been stimulated by the discovery of new inhibitor frameworks, the use of semi-synthetic approaches combining chemistry and genome engineering, and more powerful techniques for identifying leads from the screening of large chemical libraries. Here, we review the inhibition of ARSs by small molecules, including the various families of natural products, as well as inhibitors developed by either rational design or high-throughput screening as antibiotics and anti-parasitic therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S Francklyn
- From the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405
| | - Patrick Mullen
- From the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405
| |
Collapse
|
56
|
Hwang J, Jiang A, Fikrig E. A potent prolyl tRNA synthetase inhibitor antagonizes Chikungunya and Dengue viruses. Antiviral Res 2018; 161:163-168. [PMID: 30521835 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Arboviruses represent a group of pathogens that can spread efficiently throughout human populations by hematophagous arthropod vectors. The mosquito-borne (re)emerging Chikungunya and Dengue viruses belong to the alphavirus and flavivirus genus, respectively, with no approved therapeutics or safe vaccines for humans. Transmitted by the same vector Aedes spp., these viruses cause significant morbidity and mortality in endemic areas. Due to the increasing likelihood of co-circulation and co-infection with viruses, we aimed to identify a pharmacologically targetable host factor that can inhibit multiple viruses and show that a potent antagonist of prolyl tRNA synthetase (halofuginone) suppresses both Chikungunya and Dengue viruses. Host tRNA synthetase inhibition may signify an additional approach to combat present and future epidemic pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Hwang
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Alfred Jiang
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Erol Fikrig
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
57
|
Smullen S, McLaughlin NP, Evans P. Chemical synthesis of febrifugine and analogues. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:2199-2220. [PMID: 29681487 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The quinazolinone-containing 2,3-disubstituted piperidines febrifugine and isofebrifugine have been the subject of significant research efforts since their occurrence in Dichroa febrifuga and their anti-malarial actions were first described in the late 1940s. Subsequently they have also been shown to be present in other plants belonging to the hydrangea family and various analogues of febrifugine have been prepared in attempts to tune biological properties. The most notable analogue is termed halofuginone and a substantial body of work now demonstrates that this compound possesses potent human disease relevant activities. This review focuses on the literature associated with efforts dedicated towards uncovering the structures of febrifugine and isofebrifugine, the development of practical methods for their synthesis and the syntheses of structural analogues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaun Smullen
- Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Noel P McLaughlin
- Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Paul Evans
- Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Luth MR, Gupta P, Ottilie S, Winzeler EA. Using in Vitro Evolution and Whole Genome Analysis To Discover Next Generation Targets for Antimalarial Drug Discovery. ACS Infect Dis 2018; 4:301-314. [PMID: 29451780 PMCID: PMC5848146 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Although
many new anti-infectives have been discovered and developed solely
using phenotypic cellular screening and assay optimization, most researchers
recognize that structure-guided drug design is more practical and
less costly. In addition, a greater chemical space can be interrogated
with structure-guided drug design. The practicality of structure-guided
drug design has launched a search for the targets of compounds discovered
in phenotypic screens. One method that has been used extensively in
malaria parasites for target discovery and chemical validation is in vitro evolution and whole genome analysis (IVIEWGA).
Here, small molecules from phenotypic screens with demonstrated antiparasitic
activity are used in genome-based target discovery methods. In this
Review, we discuss the newest, most promising druggable targets discovered
or further validated by evolution-based methods, as well as some exceptions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline R. Luth
- Division of Host Pathogen Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Purva Gupta
- Division of Host Pathogen Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- Division of Host Pathogen Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Winzeler
- Division of Host Pathogen Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| |
Collapse
|
59
|
Targeting Prolyl-tRNA Synthetase to Accelerate Drug Discovery against Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Toxoplasmosis, Cryptosporidiosis, and Coccidiosis. Structure 2017; 25:1495-1505.e6. [PMID: 28867614 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2017.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Revised: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Developing anti-parasitic lead compounds that act on key vulnerabilities are necessary for new anti-infectives. Malaria, leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis and coccidiosis together kill >500,000 humans annually. Their causative parasites Plasmodium, Leishmania, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium and Eimeria display high conservation in many housekeeping genes, suggesting that these parasites can be attacked by targeting invariant essential proteins. Here, we describe selective and potent inhibition of prolyl-tRNA synthetases (PRSs) from the above parasites using a series of quinazolinone-scaffold compounds. Our PRS-drug co-crystal structures reveal remarkable active site plasticity that accommodates diversely substituted compounds, an enzymatic feature that can be leveraged for refining drug-like properties of quinazolinones on a per parasite basis. A compound we termed In-5 exhibited a unique double conformation, enhanced drug-like properties, and cleared malaria in mice. It thus represents a new lead for optimization. Collectively, our data offer insights into the structure-guided optimization of quinazolinone-based compounds for drug development against multiple human eukaryotic pathogens.
Collapse
|
60
|
Abstract
Malaria is caused in humans by five species of single-celled eukaryotic Plasmodium parasites (mainly Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax) that are transmitted by the bite of Anopheles spp. mosquitoes. Malaria remains one of the most serious infectious diseases; it threatens nearly half of the world's population and led to hundreds of thousands of deaths in 2015, predominantly among children in Africa. Malaria is managed through a combination of vector control approaches (such as insecticide spraying and the use of insecticide-treated bed nets) and drugs for both treatment and prevention. The widespread use of artemisinin-based combination therapies has contributed to substantial declines in the number of malaria-related deaths; however, the emergence of drug resistance threatens to reverse this progress. Advances in our understanding of the underlying molecular basis of pathogenesis have fuelled the development of new diagnostics, drugs and insecticides. Several new combination therapies are in clinical development that have efficacy against drug-resistant parasites and the potential to be used in single-dose regimens to improve compliance. This ambitious programme to eliminate malaria also includes new approaches that could yield malaria vaccines or novel vector control strategies. However, despite these achievements, a well-coordinated global effort on multiple fronts is needed if malaria elimination is to be achieved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9038, USA
| | | | | | | | - Wesley C Van Voorhis
- University of Washington, Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
61
|
Pharmaceutical prospects of naturally occurring quinazolinone and its derivatives. Fitoterapia 2017; 119:136-149. [PMID: 28495308 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Quinazolinones belong to a family of heterocyclic nitrogen compounds that have attracted increasing interest because of their broad spectrum of biological functions. This review describes three types of natural quinazolinones and their synthesized derivatives and summarizes their various pharmacological activities, including antifungal, anti-tumor, anti-malaria, anticonvulsant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and antihyperlipidemic activities. In addition, structure-activity relationships of quinazolinone derivatives are also reviewed.
Collapse
|
62
|
Jain V, Sharma A, Singh G, Yogavel M, Sharma A. Structure-Based Targeting of Orthologous Pathogen Proteins Accelerates Antiparasitic Drug Discovery. ACS Infect Dis 2017; 3:281-292. [PMID: 28195698 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases caused by eukaryotic pathogens impose significant health and economic burden worldwide. The level of research funding available for many parasitic diseases is insufficient in relation to their adverse social and economic impact. In this article, we discuss that extant 3D structural data on protein-inhibitor complexes can be harnessed to accelerate drug discovery against many related pathogens. Assessment of sequence conservation within drug/inhibitor-binding residues in enzyme-inhibitor complexes can be leveraged to predict and validate both new lead compounds and their molecular targets in multiple parasitic diseases. Hence, structure-based targeting of orthologous pathogen proteins accelerates the discovery of new antiparasitic drugs. This approach offers significant benefits for jumpstarting the discovery of new lead compounds and their molecular targets in diverse human, livestock, and plant pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vitul Jain
- Molecular Medicine Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Arvind Sharma
- Molecular Medicine Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Gajinder Singh
- Molecular Medicine Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Manickam Yogavel
- Molecular Medicine Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Amit Sharma
- Molecular Medicine Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110067, India
| |
Collapse
|
63
|
Gomes AR, Ravenhall M, Benavente ED, Talman A, Sutherland C, Roper C, Clark TG, Campino S. Genetic diversity of next generation antimalarial targets: A baseline for drug resistance surveillance programmes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2017; 7:174-180. [PMID: 28376349 PMCID: PMC5379905 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Drug resistance is a recurrent problem in the fight against malaria. Genetic and epidemiological surveillance of antimalarial resistant parasite alleles is crucial to guide drug therapies and clinical management. New antimalarial compounds are currently at various stages of clinical trials and regulatory evaluation. Using ∼2000 Plasmodium falciparum genome sequences, we investigated the genetic diversity of eleven gene-targets of promising antimalarial compounds and assessed their potential efficiency across malaria endemic regions. We determined if the loci are under selection prior to the introduction of new drugs and established a baseline of genetic variance, including potential resistant alleles, for future surveillance programmes. Genetic diversity of 11gene-targets of new antimalarial compounds was investigated. Genetic data was analysed for 18 malaria endemic countries. No signals of selective pressure was observed. A mutation linked to resistance to a new antimalarial was found in African parasites. Amino-acid changes close to reported antimalarial resistant mutations were detected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Gomes
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Matt Ravenhall
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Arthur Talman
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton Cambridge, UK
| | - Colin Sutherland
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Cally Roper
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Taane G Clark
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Susana Campino
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
64
|
Ottilie S, Goldgof GM, Calvet CM, Jennings GK, LaMonte G, Schenken J, Vigil E, Kumar P, McCall LI, Lopes ESC, Gunawan F, Yang J, Suzuki Y, Siqueira-Neto JL, McKerrow JH, Amaro RE, Podust LM, Durrant JD, Winzeler EA. Rapid Chagas Disease Drug Target Discovery Using Directed Evolution in Drug-Sensitive Yeast. ACS Chem Biol 2017; 12:422-434. [PMID: 27977118 PMCID: PMC5649375 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.6b01037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in cell-based, high-throughput phenotypic screening have identified new chemical compounds that are active against eukaryotic pathogens. A challenge to their future development lies in identifying these compounds' molecular targets and binding modes. In particular, subsequent structure-based chemical optimization and target-based screening require a detailed understanding of the binding event. Here, we use directed evolution and whole-genome sequencing of a drug-sensitive S. cerevisiae strain to identify the yeast ortholog of TcCyp51, lanosterol-14-alpha-demethylase (TcCyp51), as the target of MMV001239, a benzamide compound with activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. We show that parasites treated with MMV0001239 phenocopy parasites treated with another TcCyp51 inhibitor, posaconazole, accumulating both lanosterol and eburicol. Direct drug-protein binding of MMV0001239 was confirmed through spectrophotometric binding assays and X-ray crystallography, revealing a binding site shared with other antitrypanosomal compounds that target Cyp51. These studies provide a new probe chemotype for TcCyp51 inhibition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Ottilie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Gregory M Goldgof
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter Institute , La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Claudia Magalhaes Calvet
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Cellular Ultrastructure Laboratory, IOC, FIOCRUZ , Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21045-360
| | - Gareth K Jennings
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Greg LaMonte
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jake Schenken
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Edgar Vigil
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Prianka Kumar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Eduardo Soares Constantino Lopes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Paraná , Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil 80210-170
| | - Felicia Gunawan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jennifer Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Yo Suzuki
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter Institute , La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Jair L Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - James H McKerrow
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Rommie E Amaro
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| | - Larissa M Podust
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jacob D Durrant
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| |
Collapse
|
65
|
van Ooij C. Combining traditional medicine and modern chemistry to fight malaria. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2017; 4:550. [PMID: 28149911 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2016.12.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
|
66
|
Hewitt SN, Dranow DM, Horst BG, Abendroth JA, Forte B, Hallyburton I, Jansen C, Baragaña B, Choi R, Rivas KL, Hulverson MA, Dumais M, Edwards TE, Lorimer DD, Fairlamb AH, Gray DW, Read KD, Lehane AM, Kirk K, Myler PJ, Wernimont A, Walpole C, Stacy R, Barrett LK, Gilbert IH, Van Voorhis WC. Biochemical and Structural Characterization of Selective Allosteric Inhibitors of the Plasmodium falciparum Drug Target, Prolyl-tRNA-synthetase. ACS Infect Dis 2017; 3:34-44. [PMID: 27798837 PMCID: PMC5241706 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) prolyl-tRNA synthetase (ProRS) is one of the few chemical-genetically validated drug targets for malaria, yet highly selective inhibitors have not been described. In this paper, approximately 40,000 compounds were screened to identify compounds that selectively inhibit PfProRS enzyme activity versus Homo sapiens (Hs) ProRS. X-ray crystallography structures were solved for apo, as well as substrate- and inhibitor-bound forms of PfProRS. We identified two new inhibitors of PfProRS that bind outside the active site. These two allosteric inhibitors showed >100 times specificity for PfProRS compared to HsProRS, demonstrating this class of compounds could overcome the toxicity related to HsProRS inhibition by halofuginone and its analogues. Initial medicinal chemistry was performed on one of the two compounds, guided by the cocrystallography of the compound with PfProRS, and the results can instruct future medicinal chemistry work to optimize these promising new leads for drug development against malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Nakazawa Hewitt
- Center for Emerging
and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - David M. Dranow
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Beryllium Discovery Corporation, 7869 N.E. Day Road West, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110, United States
| | - Benjamin G. Horst
- Center for Emerging
and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Jan A. Abendroth
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Beryllium Discovery Corporation, 7869 N.E. Day Road West, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110, United States
| | - Barbara Forte
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug
Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Hallyburton
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug
Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Chimed Jansen
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug
Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Beatriz Baragaña
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug
Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan Choi
- Center for Emerging
and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Kasey L. Rivas
- Center for Emerging
and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Matthew A. Hulverson
- Center for Emerging
and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Mitchell Dumais
- Center for Emerging
and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Thomas E. Edwards
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Beryllium Discovery Corporation, 7869 N.E. Day Road West, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110, United States
| | - Donald D. Lorimer
- Beryllium Discovery Corporation, 7869 N.E. Day Road West, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110, United States
| | - Alan H. Fairlamb
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug
Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - David W. Gray
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug
Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin D. Read
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug
Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Adele M. Lehane
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Kiaran Kirk
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Peter J. Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Departments of Global Health and Biomedical
Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Amy Wernimont
- Structure-guided Drug Discovery Coalition (SDDC), Structural Genomic Consortium, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Chris Walpole
- Structure-guided Drug Discovery Coalition (SDDC), Structural Genomic Consortium, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Robin Stacy
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, 307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Lynn K. Barrett
- Center for Emerging
and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Ian H. Gilbert
- Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug
Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Wesley C. Van Voorhis
- Center for Emerging
and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| |
Collapse
|
67
|
Targeting Protein Translation in Organelles of the Apicomplexa. Trends Parasitol 2016; 32:953-965. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
68
|
Volkman SK, Herman J, Lukens AK, Hartl DL. Genome-Wide Association Studies of Drug-Resistance Determinants. Trends Parasitol 2016; 33:214-230. [PMID: 28179098 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Population genetic strategies that leverage association, selection, and linkage have identified drug-resistant loci. However, challenges and limitations persist in identifying drug-resistance loci in malaria. In this review we discuss the genetic basis of drug resistance and the use of genome-wide association studies, complemented by selection and linkage studies, to identify and understand mechanisms of drug resistance and response. We also discuss the implications of nongenetic mechanisms of drug resistance recently reported in the literature, and present models of the interplay between nongenetic and genetic processes that contribute to the emergence of drug resistance. Throughout, we examine artemisinin resistance as an example to emphasize challenges in identifying phenotypes suitable for population genetic studies as well as complications due to multiple-factor drug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Volkman
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Infectious Disease Initiative, Cambridge, MA, USA; Simmons College, School of Nursing and Health Science, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Jonathan Herman
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Boston, MA, USA; Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Amanda K Lukens
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Infectious Disease Initiative, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniel L Hartl
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Infectious Disease Initiative, Cambridge, MA, USA; Harvard University, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
69
|
Edwards RL, Odom John AR. Muddled mechanisms: recent progress towards antimalarial target identification. F1000Res 2016; 5:2514. [PMID: 27803804 PMCID: PMC5070598 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.9477.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, malaria rates have plummeted as a result of aggressive infection control measures and the adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). However, a potential crisis looms ahead. Treatment failures to standard antimalarial regimens have been reported in Southeast Asia, and devastating consequences are expected if resistance spreads to the African continent. To prevent a potential public health emergency, the antimalarial arsenal must contain therapeutics with novel mechanisms of action (MOA). An impressive number of high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns have since been launched, identifying thousands of compounds with activity against one of the causative agents of malaria,
Plasmodium falciparum. Now begins the difficult task of target identification, for which studies are often tedious, labor intensive, and difficult to interpret. In this review, we highlight approaches that have been instrumental in tackling the challenges of target assignment and elucidation of the MOA for hit compounds. Studies that apply these innovative techniques to antimalarial target identification are described, as well as the impact of the data in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Edwards
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Audrey R Odom John
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
70
|
Diversity-oriented synthesis yields novel multistage antimalarial inhibitors. Nature 2016; 538:344-349. [PMID: 27602946 DOI: 10.1038/nature19804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Antimalarial drugs have thus far been chiefly derived from two sources-natural products and synthetic drug-like compounds. Here we investigate whether antimalarial agents with novel mechanisms of action could be discovered using a diverse collection of synthetic compounds that have three-dimensional features reminiscent of natural products and are underrepresented in typical screening collections. We report the identification of such compounds with both previously reported and undescribed mechanisms of action, including a series of bicyclic azetidines that inhibit a new antimalarial target, phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase. These molecules are curative in mice at a single, low dose and show activity against all parasite life stages in multiple in vivo efficacy models. Our findings identify bicyclic azetidines with the potential to both cure and prevent transmission of the disease as well as protect at-risk populations with a single oral dose, highlighting the strength of diversity-oriented synthesis in revealing promising therapeutic targets.
Collapse
|
71
|
Manjunatha UH, Chao AT, Leong FJ, Diagana TT. Cryptosporidiosis Drug Discovery: Opportunities and Challenges. ACS Infect Dis 2016; 2:530-7. [PMID: 27626293 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium is the second most important diarrheal pathogen causing life-threatening diarrhea in children, which is also associated with long-term growth faltering and cognitive deficiency. Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease of public health concern caused by Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis. Currently, nitazoxanide is the only approved treatment for cryptosporidium infections. Unfortunately, it has limited efficacy in the most vulnerable patients, thus there is an urgent need for a safe and efficacious cryptosporidiosis drug. In this work, we present our current perspectives on the target product profile for novel cryptosporidiosis therapies and the perceived challenges and possible mitigation plans at different stages in the cryptosporidiosis drug discovery process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ujjini H. Manjunatha
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01, Singapore 138670
| | - Alexander T. Chao
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01, Singapore 138670
| | - F. Joel Leong
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01, Singapore 138670
| | - Thierry T. Diagana
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, #05-01, Singapore 138670
| |
Collapse
|
72
|
Dimerization of Arginyl-tRNA Synthetase by Free Heme Drives Its Inactivation in Plasmodium falciparum. Structure 2016; 24:1476-87. [PMID: 27502052 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2016.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Excess cellular heme is toxic, and malaria parasites regulate its levels during hemoglobin digestion. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are ubiquitous enzymes, and of these, arginyl-tRNA synthetase (RRS) is unique as its enzymatic product of charged tRNA is required for protein synthesis and degradation. We show that Plasmodium falciparum arginyl-tRNA synthetase (PfRRS) is an active, cytosolic, and monomeric enzyme. Its high-resolution crystal structure highlights critical structural differences with the human enzyme. We further show that hemin binds to and inhibits the aminoacylation activity of PfRRS. Hemin induces a dimeric form of PfRRS that is thus rendered enzymatically dead as it is unable to recognize its cognate tRNA(arg). Excessive hemin in chloroquine-treated malaria parasites results in significantly reduced charged tRNA(arg) levels, thus suggesting deceleration of protein synthesis. These data together suggest that the inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum arginyl-tRNA synthetase can now be synergized with existing antimalarials for more potent drug cocktails against malaria parasites.
Collapse
|
73
|
Corey VC, Lukens AK, Istvan ES, Lee MCS, Franco V, Magistrado P, Coburn-Flynn O, Sakata-Kato T, Fuchs O, Gnädig NF, Goldgof G, Linares M, Gomez-Lorenzo MG, De Cózar C, Lafuente-Monasterio MJ, Prats S, Meister S, Tanaseichuk O, Wree M, Zhou Y, Willis PA, Gamo FJ, Goldberg DE, Fidock DA, Wirth DF, Winzeler EA. A broad analysis of resistance development in the malaria parasite. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11901. [PMID: 27301419 PMCID: PMC4912613 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial resistance to chemotherapy has caused countless deaths where malaria is endemic. Chemotherapy may fail either due to pre-existing resistance or evolution of drug-resistant parasites. Here we use a diverse set of antimalarial compounds to investigate the acquisition of drug resistance and the degree of cross-resistance against common resistance alleles. We assess cross-resistance using a set of 15 parasite lines carrying resistance-conferring alleles in pfatp4, cytochrome bc1, pfcarl, pfdhod, pfcrt, pfmdr, pfdhfr, cytoplasmic prolyl t-RNA synthetase or hsp90. Subsequently, we assess whether resistant parasites can be obtained after several rounds of drug selection. Twenty-three of the 48 in vitro selections result in resistant parasites, with time to resistance onset ranging from 15 to 300 days. Our data indicate that pre-existing resistance may not be a major hurdle for novel-target antimalarial candidates, and focusing our attention on fast-killing compounds may result in a slower onset of clinical resistance. It is unclear whether new antimalarial compounds may rapidly lose effectiveness in the field because of parasite resistance. Here, Corey et al. investigate the acquisition of drug resistance and the extent to which common resistance mechanisms decrease susceptibility to a diverse set of 50 antimalarial compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria C Corey
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0741, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Amanda K Lukens
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Infectious Disease Program, The Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Eva S Istvan
- Department of Medicine and Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - Marcus C S Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Virginia Franco
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria DPU, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pamela Magistrado
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Olivia Coburn-Flynn
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Tomoyo Sakata-Kato
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Olivia Fuchs
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0741, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Nina F Gnädig
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Greg Goldgof
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0741, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Maria Linares
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria DPU, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria G Gomez-Lorenzo
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria DPU, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina De Cózar
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria DPU, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Jose Lafuente-Monasterio
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria DPU, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Prats
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria DPU, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephan Meister
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0741, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Olga Tanaseichuk
- The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John J Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Melanie Wree
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0741, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Yingyao Zhou
- The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John J Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Paul A Willis
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, PO Box 1826, 20 route de Pre-Bois, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Francisco-Javier Gamo
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Malaria DPU, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Department of Medicine and Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Dyann F Wirth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Infectious Disease Program, The Broad Institute, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0741, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
74
|
Khan S. Recent advances in the biology and drug targeting of malaria parasite aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Malar J 2016; 15:203. [PMID: 27068331 PMCID: PMC4828885 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1247-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Escalating drug resistance in malaria parasites and lack of vaccine entails the discovery of novel drug targets and inhibitor molecules. The multi-component protein translation machinery is a rich source of such drug targets. Malaria parasites contain three translational compartments: the cytoplasm, apicoplast and mitochondrion, of which the latter two are of the prokaryotic type. Recent explorations by many groups into the malaria parasite protein translation enzymes, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), have yielded many promising inhibitors. The understanding of the biology of this unique set of 36 enzymes has become much clearer in recent times. Current review discusses the advances made in understanding of crucial aaRSs from Plasmodium and also the specific inhibitors found against malaria aaRSs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sameena Khan
- Drug Discovery Research Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, PO box #04, Faridabad, 121001, India.
| |
Collapse
|
75
|
Fernández-Álvaro E, Hong WD, Nixon GL, O’Neill PM, Calderón F. Antimalarial Chemotherapy: Natural Product Inspired Development of Preclinical and Clinical Candidates with Diverse Mechanisms of Action. J Med Chem 2016; 59:5587-603. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Fernández-Álvaro
- Diseases of the Developing World, Tres
Cantos Medicines Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, c/Severo Ochoa, 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - W. David Hong
- Robert Robinson
Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, U.K
| | - Gemma L. Nixon
- Robert Robinson
Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, U.K
| | - Paul M. O’Neill
- Robert Robinson
Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, U.K
| | - Félix Calderón
- Diseases of the Developing World, Tres
Cantos Medicines Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, c/Severo Ochoa, 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
76
|
Cochrane RVK, Norquay AK, Vederas JC. Natural products and their derivatives as tRNA synthetase inhibitors and antimicrobial agents. MEDCHEMCOMM 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6md00274a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The tRNA synthetase enzymes are promising targets for development of therapeutic agents against infections by parasitic protozoans (e.g. malaria), fungi and yeast, as well as bacteria resistant to current antibiotics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - A. K. Norquay
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Alberta
- Edmonton
- T6G 2G2 Canada
| | - J. C. Vederas
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Alberta
- Edmonton
- T6G 2G2 Canada
| |
Collapse
|