Targeting the polyamine biosynthetic enzymes: a promising approach to therapy of African sleeping sickness, Chagas' disease, and leishmaniasis

Modulation of the arginase pathway in the context of microbial pathogenesis: a metabolic enzyme moonlighting as an immune modulator

Arginine is a crucial amino acid that serves to modulate the cellular immune response during infection. Arginine is also a common substrate for both inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase. The generation of nitric oxide from arginine is responsible for efficient immune response and cytotoxicity of host cells to kill the invading pathogens. On the other hand, the conversion of arginine to ornithine and urea via the arginase pathway can support the growth of bacterial and parasitic pathogens. The competition between iNOS and arginase for arginine can thus contribute to the outcome of several parasitic and bacterial infections. There are two isoforms of vertebrate arginase, both of which catalyze the conversion of arginine to ornithine and urea, but they differ with regard to tissue distribution and subcellular localization. In the case of infection with Mycobacterium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Helicobacter, Schistosoma, and Salmonella spp., arginase isoforms have been shown to modulate the pathology of infection by various means. Despite the existence of a considerable body of evidence about mammalian arginine metabolism and its role in immunology, the critical choice to divert the host arginine pool by pathogenic organisms as a survival strategy is still a mystery in infection biology.

Endocellular polyamine availability modulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and unfolded protein response in MDCK cells

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in embryonic development as well as in several pathological conditions. Literature indicates that polyamine availability may affect transcription of c-myc, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1, MMP2, TGFbeta(1), and collagen type I mRNA. The aim of this study was to elucidate polyamines role in EMT in vitro. Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were subjected to experimental manipulation of intracellular levels of polyamines. Acquisition of mesenchymal phenotype was evaluated by means of immunofluorescence, western blots, and zymograms. MDCK cells were then subjected to 2D gel proteomic study and incorporation of a biotinilated polyamine (BPA). Polyamine endocellular availability modulated EMT process. Polyamine-depleted cells treated with TGFbeta(1) showed enhanced EMT with a marked decrease of E-cadherin expression at plasma membrane level and an increased expression of mesenchymal markers such as fibronectin and alpha-smooth muscle actin. Polyamine-depleted cells showed a twofold increased expression of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress proteins GRP78, GRP94, and HSP90 alpha/beta in 2D gels. The latter data were confirmed by western blot analysis. Administration of BPA showed that polyamines are covalently linked, within the cell, to ER-stress proteins. Intracellular polyamine availability affects EMT in MDCK cells possibly through the modulation of ER-stress protein homeostasis.

Polyamine biosynthesis in Phytomonas: biochemical characterisation of a very unstable ornithine decarboxylase

The metabolism of polyamines as well as their functions as growth regulators in plants have been extensively studied for many years. However, almost nothing is known about the biosynthesis and roles of these substances in Phytomonas spp., parasites of several plants. We have used HPLC and electrophoretic analyses to investigate the presence and metabolism of polyamines in Phytomonas Jma strain, detecting both putrescine and spermidine but not spermine. Experiments carried out by incubation of intact parasites with labelled ornithine or putrescine showed the formation of radioactive putrescine or spermidine, respectively. These results indicated that Phytomonas Jma can synthesise these polyamines through the action of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and spermidine synthase. On the other hand, we could not detect the conversion of arginine to agmatine, suggesting the absence of arginine decarboxylase (ADC) in Phytomonas. However, we cannot ensure the complete absence of this enzymatic activity in the parasite. Phytomonas ODC required pyridoxal 5'-phosphate for maximum activity and was specifically inhibited by α-difluoromethylornithine. The metabolic turnover of the enzyme was very high, with a half-life of 10-15 min, one of the shortest found among all ODC enzymes studied to date. The parasite proteasome seems to be involved in degradation of the enzyme, since Phytomonas ODC can be markedly stabilized by MG-132, a well known proteasome inhibitor. The addition of polyamines to Phytomonas cultures did not decrease ODC activity, strongly suggesting the possible absence of antizyme in this parasite.

Emerging trends in the diagnosis of Human African Trypanosomiasis

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness is caused by protozoan parasitesTrypanosoma brucei gambienseandT. b. rhodesiense. Despite the enormous technological progress in molecular parasitology in recent years, the diagnosis of HAT is still problematic due to the lack of specific tools. To date, there are two realities when it comes to HAT; the first one being the world of modern experimental laboratories, equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology, and the second being the world of HAT diagnosis, where the latest semi-commercial test was introduced 30 years ago (Magnuset al.1978). Hence, it appears that the lack of progress in HAT diagnosis is not primarily due to a lack of scientific interest or a lack of research funds, but mainly results from the many obstacles encountered in the translation of basic research into field-applicable diagnostics. This review will provide an overview of current diagnostic methods and highlight specific difficulties in solving the shortcomings of these methods. Future perspectives for accurate, robust, affordable diagnostics will be discussed as well.

Synthetic Medicinal Chemistry in Chagas' Disease: Compounds at The Final Stage of "Hit-To-Lead" Phase

Chagas' disease, or American trypanosomosiasis, has been the most relevant illness produced by protozoa in Latin America. Synthetic medicinal chemistry efforts have provided an extensive number of chemodiverse hits at the "active-to-hit" stage. However, only a more limited number of these have been studied in vivo in models of Chagas' disease. Herein, we survey some of the cantidates able to surpass the "hit-to-lead" stage discussing their limitations or merit to enter in clinical trials in the short term.

A high-affinity putrescine-cadaverine transporter from Trypanosoma cruzi

Whereas mammalian cells and most other organisms can synthesize polyamines from basic amino acids, the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is incapable of polyamine biosynthesis de novo and therefore obligatorily relies upon putrescine acquisition from the host to meet its nutritional requirements. The cell surface proteins that mediate polyamine transport into T. cruzi, as well as most eukaryotes, however, have by-in-large eluded discovery at the molecular level. Here we report the identification and functional characterization of two polyamine transporters, TcPOT1.1 and TcPOT1.2, encoded by alleles from two T. cruzi haplotypes. Overexpression of the TcPOT1.1 and TcPOT1.2 genes in T. cruzi epimastigotes revealed that TcPOT1.1 and TcPOT1.2 were high-affinity transporters that recognized both putrescine and cadaverine but not spermidine or spermine. Furthermore, the activities and subcellular locations of both TcPOT1.1 and TcPOT1.2 in intact parasites were profoundly influenced by extracellular putrescine availability. These results establish TcPOT1.1 and TcPOT1.2 as key components of the T. cruzi polyamine transport pathway, an indispensable nutritional function for the parasite that may be amenable to therapeutic manipulation.

Metabolism of N-alkylated spermine analogues by polyamine and spermine oxidases

N-alkylated polyamine analogues have potential as anticancer and antiparasitic drugs. However, their metabolism in the host has remained incompletely defined thus potentially limiting their utility. Here, we have studied the degradation of three different spermine analogues N,N'-bis-(3-ethylaminopropyl)butane-1,4-diamine (DESPM), N-(3-benzyl-aminopropyl)-N'-(3-ethylaminopropyl)butane-1,4-diamine (BnEtSPM) and N,N'-bis-(3-benzylaminopropyl)butane-1,4-diamine (DBSPM) and related mono-alkylated derivatives as substrates of recombinant human polyamine oxidase (APAO) and spermine oxidase (SMO). APAO and SMO metabolized DESPM to EtSPD [K(m(APAO)) = 10 microM, k(cat(APAO)) = 1.1 s(-1) and K(m(SMO)) = 28 microM, k(cat(SMO)) = 0.8 s(-1), respectively], metabolized BnEtSPM to EtSPD [K(m(APAO)) = 0.9 microM, k(cat(APAO)) = 1.1 s(-1) and K(m(SMO)) = 51 microM, k(cat(SMO)) = 0.4 s(-1), respectively], and metabolized DBSPM to BnSPD [K(m(APAO)) = 5.4 microM, k(cat(APAO)) = 2.0 s(-1) and K(m(SMO)) = 33 microM, k(cat(SMO)) = 0.3 s(-1), respectively]. Interestingly, mono-alkylated spermine derivatives were metabolized by APAO and SMO to SPD [EtSPM K(m(APAO)) = 16 microM, k(cat(APAO)) = 1.5 s(-1); K(m(SMO)) = 25 microM, k(cat(SMO)) = 8.2 s(-1); BnSPM K(m(APAO) )= 6.0 microM, k(cat(APAO)) = 2.8 s(-1); K(m(SMO)) = 19 muM, k(cat(SMO)) = 0.8 s(-1), respectively]. Surprisingly, EtSPD [K(m(APAO)) = 37 microM, k(cat(APAO)) = 0.1 s(-1); K(m(SMO)) = 48 microM, k(cat(SMO)) = 0.05 s(-1)] and BnSPD [K(m(APAO)) = 2.5 microM, k(cat(APAO)) = 3.5 s(-1); K(m(SMO)) = 60 microM, k(cat(SMO)) = 0.54 s(-1)] were metabolized to SPD by both the oxidases. Furthermore, we studied the degradation of DESPM, BnEtSPM or DBSPM in the DU145 prostate carcinoma cell line. The same major metabolites EtSPD and/or BnSPD were detected both in the culture medium and intracellularly after 48 h of culture. Moreover, EtSPM and BnSPM were detected from cell samples. Present data shows that inducible SMO parallel with APAO could play an important role in polyamine based drug action, i.e. degradation of parent drug and its metabolites, having significant impact on efficiency of these drugs, and hence for the development of novel N-alkylated polyamine analogues.

African trypanosomiasis and antibodies: implications for vaccination, therapy and diagnosis

African trypanosomiasis causes devastating effects on human populations and livestock herds in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Control of the disease is hampered by the lack of any efficient vaccination results in a field setting, and the severe side effects of current drug therapies. In addition, with the exception of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infections, the diagnosis of trypanosomiasis has to rely on microscopic analysis of blood samples, as other specific tools are nonexistent. However, new developments in biotechnology, which include loop-mediated isothermal amplification as an adaptation to conventional PCR, as well as the antibody engineering that has allowed the development of Nanobody technology, offer new perspectives in both the detection and treatment of trypanosomiasis. In addition, recent data on parasite-induced B-cell memory destruction offer new insights into mechanisms of vaccine failure, and should lead us towards new strategies to overcome trypanosome defenses operating against the host immune system.

Effect of polyamine-deficient chow on Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in rats

Polyamines are essential for proliferation of Trypanosoma brucei brucei, and feeding rats polyamine-deficient chow (PDC) decreases their blood polyamine concentrations. Proliferation of T. b. brucei (IL-tat 1.4 strain) (IL) is not restrained within PDC-fed rats. However, symptoms of IL-infected rats such as anemia decrease by PDC feeding. We reported cytokine and nitric oxide (NO) production of T. b. gambiense (Wellcome strain [WS])-infected rats were affected by PDC feeding, and WS proliferation was restrained. Therefore, we investigated whether the change in production of cytokines and NO by PDC feeding affects IL proliferation and decreases symptoms in vivo. In IL-infected PDC-fed rats, NO, interleukin (IL)-12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production increased while interferon-gamma and IL-10 decreased compared to normal chow-fed rats. IL proliferation was restrained by NO production when it was co-cultured with spleen cells harvested from uninfected rats. In contrast, IL proliferation in infected rats was not changed by PDC feeding, although NO production was increased. The results suggest that changes in cytokines and NO production in IL-infected rats by PDC feeding have little influence on IL proliferation. However, they may serve to decrease symptoms.

Polyamine metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi: studies on the expression and regulation of heterologous genes involved in polyamine biosynthesis

Biochemical studies have shown that Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii are the only eukaryotic organisms so far described which are auxotrophic for polyamines. Both parasites are unable to carry out the de novo biosynthesis of putrescine, and therefore they need the addition of exogenous polyamines to the culture medium for their normal proliferation. Further investigations at the molecular level have demonstrated that the wild-type T. cruzi genome does not contain ornithine or arginine decarboxylase-like nucleic acid sequences, and that the corresponding genes have been presumably lost during evolution. Since T. cruzi behaves as a deletion mutant for ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and arginine decarboxylase (ADC) genes, this parasite has been selected to study the regulation of the expression of heterologous genes involved in polyamine biosynthesis in other organisms. The resulting transgenic parasites have been useful tools to analyze the different stages of gene expression after transformation, as well as the mechanisms of drug resistance induction and the post-translational processing of enzyme precursors.

Design of polyamine-based therapeutic agents: new targets and new directions

Enzymes in the biosynthetic and catabolic polyamine pathway have long been considered targets for drug development, and early drug discovery efforts in the polyamine area focused on the design and development of specific inhibitors of the biosynthetic pathway, or polyamine analogues that specifically bind DNA. More recently, it has become clear that the natural polyamines are involved in numerous known and unknown cellular processes, and disruption of polyamine functions at their effector sites can potentially produce beneficial therapeutic effects. As new targets for polyamine drug discovery continue to evolve, the rational design of polyamine analogues will result in more structurally diverse agents. In addition, the physical linkage of polyamine-like structures to putative drug molecules can have beneficial effects resulting from increases in DNA affinity and selective cellular uptake. The present chapter will summarize recent advances in the development of alkylpolyamine analogues as antitumour agents, and describe subsequent advances that have resulted from incorporating polyamine character into more diverse drug molecules. Specifically, new polyamine analogues, and the role of polyamine fragments in the design of antiparasitic agents, antitumour metal complexes, histone deacetylase inhibitors and lysine-specific demethylase 1 inhibitors, will be described.

Polyamine catabolism and disease

In addition to polyamine homoeostasis, it has become increasingly clear that polyamine catabolism can play a dominant role in drug response, apoptosis and the response to stressful stimuli, and contribute to the aetiology of several pathological states, including cancer. The highly inducible enzymes SSAT (spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase) and SMO (spermine oxidase) and the generally constitutively expressed APAO (N1-acetylpolyamine oxidase) appear to play critical roles in many normal and disease processes. The dysregulation of polyamine catabolism frequently accompanies several disease states and suggests that such dysregulation may both provide useful insight into disease mechanism and provide unique druggable targets that can be exploited for therapeutic benefit. Each of these enzymes has the potential to alter polyamine homoeostasis in response to multiple cell signals and the two oxidases produce the reactive oxygen species H2O2 and aldehydes, each with the potential to produce pathological states. The activity of SSAT provides substrates for APAO or substrates for the polyamine exporter, thus reducing the intracellular polyamine concentration, the net effect of which depends on the magnitude and rate of any increase in SSAT. SSAT may also influence cellular metabolism via interaction with other proteins and by perturbing the content of acetyl-CoA and ATP. The goal of the present review is to cover those aspects of polyamine catabolism that have an impact on disease aetiology or treatment and to provide a solid background in this ever more exciting aspect of polyamine biology.

Antiprotozoal activity of 1-phenethyl-4-aminopiperidine derivatives

A series of 44 4-aminopiperidine derivatives was screened in vitro against four protozoan parasites (Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania donovani, and Plasmodium falciparum). This screening identified 29 molecules selectively active against bloodstream-form T. b. rhodesiense trypomastigotes, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) ranging from 0.12 to 10 microM, and 33 compounds active against the chloroquine- and pyrimethamine-resistant K1 strain of P. falciparum (IC50 range, 0.17 to 5 microM). In addition, seven compounds displayed activity against intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes in the same range as the reference drug benznidazole (IC50, 1.97 microM) but were also cytotoxic to L-6 cells, showing little selectivity for T. cruzi. None of the molecules tested showed interesting antileishmanial activity against axenic amastigotes of L. donovani. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the antitrypanosomal activity of molecules bearing the 4-aminopiperidine skeleton.

The activity of Plasmodium falciparum arginase is mediated by a novel inter-monomer salt-bridge between Glu295-Arg404

A recent study implicated a role for Plasmodium falciparum arginase in the systemic depletion of arginine levels, which in turn has been associated with human cerebral malaria pathogenesis. Arginase (EC 3.5.3.1) is a multimeric metallo-protein that catalyses the hydrolysis of arginine to ornithine and urea by means of a binuclear spin-coupled Mn(2+) cluster in the active site. A previous report indicated that P. falciparum arginase has a strong dependency between trimer formation, enzyme activity and metal co-ordination. Mutations that abolished Mn(2+) binding also caused dissociation of the trimer; conversely, mutations that abolished trimer formation resulted in inactive monomers. By contrast, the monomers of mammalian (and therefore host) arginase are also active. P. falciparum arginase thus appears to be an obligate trimer and interfering with trimer formation may therefore serve as an alternative route to enzyme inhibition. In the present study, the mechanism of the metal dependency was explored by means of homology modelling and molecular dynamics. When the active site metals are removed, loss of structural integrity is observed. This is reflected by a larger equilibration rmsd for the protein when the active site metal is removed and some loss of secondary structure. Furthermore, modelling revealed the existence of a novel inter-monomer salt-bridge between Glu295 and Arg404, which was shown to be associated with the metal dependency. Mutational studies not only confirmed the importance of this salt-bridge in trimer formation, but also provided evidence for the independence of P. falciparum arginase activity on trimer formation.

Leishmania major lacking arginase (ARG) are auxotrophic for polyamines but retain infectivity to susceptible BALB/c mice

Polyamines are essential metabolites in eukaryotes participating in a variety of proliferative processes, and in trypanosomatid protozoa play an additional role in the synthesis of the critical thiol trypanothione. Whereas the polyamine biosynthesis arising from L-ornithine has been well studied in protozoa, the metabolic origin(s) of L-ornithine have received less attention. Arginase (EC 3.5.3.1) catalyzes the enzymatic hydrolysis of L-arginine to L-ornithine and urea, and we tested the role of arginase in polyamine synthesis by the generation of an arg(?) knockout in Leishmania major by double targeted gene replacement. This mutant lacked arginase activity and required the nutritional provision of polyamines or L-ornithine for growth. A complemented line (arg(?)/+ARG) expressing arginase from a multi-copy expression vector showed 30-fold elevation of arginase activity, similar polyamine and ornithine levels as the wild-type, and resistance to the inhibitors ?-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and N(?)-hydroxy-l-arginine (NOHA). This established that arginase is the major route of polyamine synthesis in promastigotes cultured in vitro. The arg(?) parasites retained the ability to differentiate normally to the infective metacyclic stage, and were able to induce progressive disease following inoculation into susceptible BALB/c mice, albeit less efficiently than WT parasites. These data suggest that the infective amastigote form of Leishmania, which normally resides within an acidified parasitophorous vacuole, can survive in vivo through salvage of host polyamines and/or other molecules, aided by the tendency of acidic compartments to concentrate basic metabolites. This may thus contribute to the relative resistance of Leishmania to ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitors. The availability of infective, viable, arginase-deficient parasites should prove useful in dissecting the role of l-arginine metabolism in both pro- and anti-parasitic responses involving host nitric oxide synthase, which requires L-arginine to generate NO.

Genomic-scale prioritization of drug targets: the TDR Targets database

The increasing availability of genomic data for pathogens that cause tropical diseases has created new opportunities for drug discovery and development. However, if the potential of such data is to be fully exploited, the data must be effectively integrated and be easy to interrogate. Here, we discuss the development of the TDR Targets database (http://tdrtargets.org), which encompasses extensive genetic, biochemical and pharmacological data related to tropical disease pathogens, as well as computationally predicted druggability for potential targets and compound desirability information. By allowing the integration and weighting of this information, this database aims to facilitate the identification and prioritization of candidate drug targets for pathogens.

Insights into the redox biology of Trypanosoma cruzi: Trypanothione metabolism and oxidant detoxification

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of Chagas' disease, an infection that affects several million people in Latin America. With no immediate prospect of a vaccine and problems associated with current chemotherapies, the development of new treatments is an urgent priority. Several aspects of the redox metabolism of this parasite differ enough from those in the mammalian host to be considered targets for drug development. Here, we review the information about a trypanosomatid-specific molecule centrally involved in redox metabolism, the dithiol trypanothione, and the main effectors of cellular antioxidant defense. We focus mainly on data from T. cruzi, making comparisons with other trypanosomatids whenever possible. In these parasites trypanothione participates in crucial thiol-disulfide exchange reactions and serves as electron donor in different metabolic pathways, from synthesis of DNA precursors to oxidant detoxification. Interestingly, the levels of several enzymes involved in trypanothione metabolism and oxidant detoxification increase during the transformation of T. cruzi to its mammalian-infective form and the overexpression of some of them has been associated with increased resistance to macrophage-dependent oxidative killing. Together, the evidence suggests a central role of the trypanothione-dependent antioxidant systems in the infection process.

Peroxidases of trypanosomatids

This article provides an overview about the recent advances in the dissection of the peroxide metabolism of Trypanosomatidae. This family of protozoan organisms comprises the medically relevant parasites Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania spp. Over the past 10 years, three major families of peroxidases have been identified in these organisms: (a) 2-cysteine peroxiredoxins, (b) nonselenium glutathione peroxidases, and (c) ascorbate peroxidases. In trypanosomatids, these enzymes display the unique feature of using reducing equivalents derived from trypanothione, a dithiol found exclusively in these protozoa. The electron transfer between trypanothione and the peroxidases is mediated by a redox shuttle, which can either be tryparedoxin, ascorbate, or even glutathione. The preference for the intermediate molecule differs among each peroxidase and so does the specificity for the peroxide substrate. These observations, added to the fact that these peroxidases are distributed throughout different subcellular compartments, point to the existence of an elaborate peroxide metabolism in trypanosomatids. With the completion of the trypanosomatids genome, other molecules displaying peroxidase activity might be added to this list in the future.

Leishmania trypanothione synthetase-amidase structure reveals a basis for regulation of conflicting synthetic and hydrolytic activities

The bifunctional trypanothione synthetase-amidase catalyzes biosynthesis and hydrolysis of the glutathione-spermidine adduct trypanothione, the principal intracellular thiol-redox metabolite in parasitic trypanosomatids. These parasites are unique with regard to their reliance on trypanothione to determine intracellular thiol-redox balance in defense against oxidative and chemical stress and to regulate polyamine levels. Enzymes involved in trypanothione biosynthesis provide essential biological activities, and those absent from humans or for which orthologues are sufficiently distinct are attractive targets to underpin anti-parasitic drug discovery. The structure of Leishmania major trypanothione synthetase-amidase, determined in three crystal forms, reveals two catalytic domains. The N-terminal domain, a cysteine, histidine-dependent amidohydrolase/peptidase amidase, is a papain-like cysteine protease, and the C-terminal synthetase domain displays an ATP-grasp family fold common to C:N ligases. Modeling of substrates into each active site provides insight into the specificity and reactivity of this unusual enzyme, which is able to catalyze four reactions. The domain orientation is distinct from that observed in a related bacterial glutathionylspermidine synthetase. In trypanothione synthetase-amidase, the interactions formed by the C terminus, binding in and restricting access to the amidase active site, suggest that the balance of ligation and hydrolytic activity is directly influenced by the alignment of the domains with respect to each other and implicate conformational changes with amidase activity. The potential inhibitory role of the C terminus provides a mechanism to control relative levels of the critical metabolites, trypanothione, glutathionylspermidine, and spermidine in Leishmania.

Kinetoplastids: related protozoan pathogens, different diseases

Kinetoplastids are a group of flagellated protozoans that include the species Trypanosoma and Leishmania, which are human pathogens with devastating health and economic effects. The sequencing of the genomes of some of these species has highlighted their genetic relatedness and underlined differences in the diseases that they cause. As we discuss in this Review, steady progress using a combination of molecular, genetic, immunologic, and clinical approaches has substantially increased understanding of these pathogens and important aspects of the diseases that they cause. Consequently, the paths for developing additional measures to control these "neglected diseases" are becoming increasingly clear, and we believe that the opportunities for developing the drugs, diagnostics, vaccines, and other tools necessary to expand the armamentarium to combat these diseases have never been better.

Target assessment for antiparasitic drug discovery

Drug discovery is a high-risk, expensive and lengthy process taking at least 12 years and costing upwards of US$500 million per drug to reach the clinic. For neglected diseases, the drug discovery process is driven by medical need and guided by pre-defined target product profiles. Assessment and prioritisation of the most promising targets for entry into screening programmes is crucial for maximising the chances of success. Here, we describe criteria used in our drug discovery unit for target assessment and introduce the 'traffic-light' system as a prioritisation and management tool. We hope this brief review will stimulate basic scientists to acquire additional information necessary for drug discovery.