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Ahmed U, Anwar A, Ong SK, Anwar A, Khan NA. Applications of medicinal chemistry for drug discovery against Acanthamoeba infections. Med Res Rev 2021; 42:462-512. [PMID: 34472107 DOI: 10.1002/med.21851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is a genus of free-living amoebae, pervasively found in the environment. Most of its pathogenic species are the causative agent of sight-threatening Acanthamoeba keratitis and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Despite the advancements in the field of chemotherapy, treating Acanthamoeba infections is still challenging due to incomplete knowledge of the complicated pathophysiology. In case of infection, the treatment regimen for the patients is often ineffective due to delayed diagnosis, poor specificity, and side-effects. Besides the resistance of Acanthamoeba cysts to most of the drugs, the recurrence of infection further complicates the recovery. Thus, it is necessary to develop an effective treatment which can eradicate these rare, but serious infections. Based on various computational and in vitro studies, it has been established that the synthetic scaffolds such as heterocyclic compounds may act as potential drug leads for the development of antiamoebic drugs. In this review, we report different classes of synthetic compounds especially heterocyclic compounds which have shown promising results against Acanthamoeba. Moreover, the antiamoebic activities of synthetic compounds with their possible mode of actions against Acanthamoeba, have been summarized and discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Usman Ahmed
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ayaz Anwar
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Seng-Kai Ong
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Areeba Anwar
- Faculty of Defence Science and Technology, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
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Abstract
Background:In microbial keratitis, infection of the cornea can threaten vision through permanent corneal scarring and even perforation resulting in the loss of the eye. A literature review was conducted by Karsten, Watson and Foster (2012) to determine the spectrum of microbial keratitis. Since this publication, there have been over 2600 articles published investigating the causative pathogens of microbial keratitis.Objective:To determine the current spectrum of possible pathogens implicated in microbial keratitis relative to the 2012 study.Methods:An exhaustive literature review was conducted of all the peer-reviewed articles reporting on microbial pathogens implicated in keratitis. Databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science were searched utilising their entire year limits (1950-2019).Results:Six-hundred and eighty-eight species representing 271 genera from 145 families were implicated in microbial keratitis. Fungal pathogens, though less frequent than bacteria, demonstrated the greatest diversity with 393 species from 169 genera that were found to cause microbial keratitis. There were 254 species of bacteria from 82 genera, 27 species of amoeba from 11 genera, and 14 species of virus from 9 genera, which were also identified as pathogens of microbial keratitis.Conclusion:The spectrum of pathogens implicated in microbial keratitis is extremely diverse. Bacteria were most commonly encountered and in comparison, to the review published in 2012, further 456 pathogens have been identified as causative pathogens of microbial keratitis. Therefore, the current review provides an important update on the potential spectrum of microbes, to assist clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of microbial keratitis.
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López-Arencibia A, Reyes-Batlle M, Freijo MB, Sifaoui I, Bethencourt-Estrella CJ, Rizo-Liendo A, Chiboub O, McNaughton-Smith G, Lorenzo-Morales J, Abad-Grillo T, Piñero JE. In vitro activity of 1H-phenalen-1-one derivatives against Leishmania spp. and evidence of programmed cell death. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:601. [PMID: 31870406 PMCID: PMC6929359 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3854-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The in vitro activity against Leishmania spp. of a novel group of compounds, phenalenone derivatives, is described in this study. Previous studies have shown that some phenalenones present leishmanicidal activity, and induce a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential in L. amazonensis parasites, so in order to elucidate the evidence of programmed cell death occurring inside the promastigote stage, different assays were performed in two different species of Leishmania. Methods We focused on the determination of the programmed cell death evidence by detecting the characteristic features of the apoptosis-like process, such as phosphatidylserine exposure, mitochondrial membrane potential, and chromatin condensation among others. Results The results showed that four molecules activated the apoptosis-like process in the parasite. All the signals observed were indicative of the death process that the parasites were undergoing. Conclusions The present results highlight the potential use of phenalenone derivatives against Leishmania species and further studies should be undertaken to establish them as novel leishmanicidal therapeutic agents.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Atteneri López-Arencibia
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain. .,Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
| | - María Reyes-Batlle
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - Mónica B Freijo
- Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica 'Antonio González', Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Fco. Sánchez 2, 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - Ines Sifaoui
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - Carlos J Bethencourt-Estrella
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - Aitor Rizo-Liendo
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - Olfa Chiboub
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain.,Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, La Marsa, University of Carthage, Carthage, Tunisia
| | - Grant McNaughton-Smith
- Centro Atlántico del Medicamento S.A (CEAMED S.A.), PCTT, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain.,Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Teresa Abad-Grillo
- Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica 'Antonio González', Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Fco. Sánchez 2, 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - José E Piñero
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203, La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain. .,Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
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Mungroo MR, Anwar A, Khan NA, Siddiqui R. Brain-eating Amoebae Infection: Challenges and Opportunities in Chemotherapy. Mini Rev Med Chem 2019; 19:980-987. [PMID: 30868950 DOI: 10.2174/1389557519666190313161854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic free-living amoeba are known to cause a devastating infection of the central nervous system and are often referred to as "brain-eating amoebae". The mortality rate of more than 90% and free-living nature of these amoebae is a cause for concern. It is distressing that the mortality rate has remained the same over the past few decades, highlighting the lack of interest by the pharmaceutical industry. With the threat of global warming and increased outdoor activities of public, there is a need for renewed interest in identifying potential anti-amoebic compounds for successful prognosis. Here, we discuss the available chemotherapeutic options and opportunities for potential strategies in the treatment and diagnosis of these life-threatening infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ridwane Mungroo
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ayaz Anwar
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
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Koutsogiannis Z, MacLeod ET, Maciver SK. G418 induces programmed cell death in Acanthamoeba through the elevation of intracellular calcium and cytochrome c translocation. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:641-651. [PMID: 30617503 PMCID: PMC6349814 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-6192-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is a widely distributed opportunistic parasite which causes a vision-threatening keratitis and a life-threatening encephalitis. The cyst stage of this amoeba is especially resistant to currently used therapeutics and so alternative agents are urgently required. Growing evidence supports the existence of a programmed cell death system (PCD) in Acanthamoeba and while some features are shared by higher eukaryote cells, others differ. It is hoped that by understanding these differences we can exploit them as targets for novel drug intervention to activate PCD pathways in the amoebae but not the invaded human tissue. Here, we use the aminoglycoside G418 to activate PCD in Acanthamoeba. This drug caused a shape change in the treated amoebae. Cells rounded up and contracted, and after 6 h fragments of cells resembling the ‘apoptotic bodies’ of vertebrate cells were observed. G418 causes an increase in intracellular calcium from a resting level of 24 nM to 60 nM after 6 h of treatment. Mitochondrial function as assayed by the ΔΨm reporting dye JC-1 and CTC a redox dye becomes inhibited during treatment and we have found that cytochrome c is released from the mitochondria. Cells stained with Hoechst showed first an alteration in chromatin structure and then a vesiculation of the nucleus with G418 treatment, although we found no obvious breakdown in genomic DNA in the early stages of PCD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ewan T MacLeod
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 9XD, UK
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Bresolí-Obach R, Gispert I, Peña DG, Boga S, Gulias Ó, Agut M, Vázquez ME, Nonell S. Triphenylphosphonium cation: A valuable functional group for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2018; 11:e201800054. [PMID: 29882394 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.201800054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Light-mediated killing of pathogens by cationic photosensitisers is a promising antimicrobial approach that avoids the development of resistance inherent to the use of antimicrobials. In this study, we demonstrate that modification of different photosensitisers with the triphenylphosphonium cation yields derivatives with excellent photoantimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (ie, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis). Thus, the triphenylphosphonium functional group should be considered for the development of photoantimicrobials for the selective killing of Gram-positive bacteria in the presence of Gram-negative species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ignacio Gispert
- Institut Químic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego G Peña
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Sonia Boga
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Óscar Gulias
- Institut Químic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montserrat Agut
- Institut Químic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Eugenio Vázquez
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Santi Nonell
- Institut Químic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
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