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Previti S, Ettari R, Calcaterra E, Di Chio C, Ravichandran R, Zimmer C, Hammerschmidt S, Wagner A, Bogacz M, Cosconati S, Schirmeister T, Zappalà M. Development of Urea-Bond-Containing Michael Acceptors as Antitrypanosomal Agents Targeting Rhodesain. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1083-1090. [PMID: 35859868 PMCID: PMC9290002 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
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Human African Trypanosomiasis
(HAT) is a neglected tropical disease
widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. Rhodesain, a cysteine protease of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, has been identified as a
valid target for the development of anti-HAT agents. Herein, we report
a series of urea-bond-containing Michael acceptors, which were demonstrated
to be potent rhodesain inhibitors with Ki values ranging from 0.15 to 2.51 nM, and five of them showed comparable k2nd values to that of K11777, a potent antitrypanosomal
agent. Moreover, most of the urea derivatives exhibited single-digit
micromolar activity against the protozoa, and the presence of substituents
at the P3 position appears to be essential for the antitrypanosomal
effect. Replacement of Phe with Leu at the P2 site kept unchanged
the inhibitory properties. Compound 7 (SPR7) showed the
best compromise in terms of rhodesain inhibition, selectivity, and
antiparasitic activity, thus representing a new lead compound for
future SAR studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Elsa Calcaterra
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Carla Di Chio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Rahul Ravichandran
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Collin Zimmer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Hammerschmidt
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Annika Wagner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry & Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Marta Bogacz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry & Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
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Previti S, Ettari R, Di Chio C, Ravichandran R, Bogacz M, Hellmich UA, Schirmeister T, Cosconati S, Zappalà M. Development of Reduced Peptide Bond Pseudopeptide Michael Acceptors for the Treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27123765. [PMID: 35744891 PMCID: PMC9229991 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27123765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is an endemic protozoan disease widespread in the sub-Saharan region that is caused by T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense. The development of molecules targeting rhodesain, the main cysteine protease of T. b. rhodesiense, has led to a panel of inhibitors endowed with micro/sub-micromolar activity towards the protozoa. However, whilst impressive binding affinity against rhodesain has been observed, the limited selectivity towards the target still remains a hard challenge for the development of antitrypanosomal agents. In this paper, we report the synthesis, biological evaluation, as well as docking studies of a series of reduced peptide bond pseudopeptide Michael acceptors (SPR10–SPR19) as potential anti-HAT agents. The new molecules show Ki values in the low-micro/sub-micromolar range against rhodesain, coupled with k2nd values between 1314 and 6950 M−1 min−1. With a few exceptions, an appreciable selectivity over human cathepsin L was observed. In in vitro assays against T. b. brucei cultures, SPR16 and SPR18 exhibited single-digit micromolar activity against the protozoa, comparable to those reported for very potent rhodesain inhibitors, while no significant cytotoxicity up to 70 µM towards mammalian cells was observed. The discrepancy between rhodesain inhibition and the antitrypanosomal effect could suggest additional mechanisms of action. The biological characterization of peptide inhibitor SPR34 highlights the essential role played by the reduced bond for the antitrypanosomal effect. Overall, this series of molecules could represent the starting point for further investigations of reduced peptide bond-containing analogs as potential anti-HAT agents
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Affiliation(s)
- Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (R.E.); (C.D.C.)
- Correspondence: (S.P.); (M.Z.); Tel.: +39-090-676-6411 (M.Z.)
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (R.E.); (C.D.C.)
| | - Carla Di Chio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (R.E.); (C.D.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Rahul Ravichandran
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (R.R.); (S.C.)
| | - Marta Bogacz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry & Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; (M.B.); (U.A.H.)
| | - Ute A. Hellmich
- Institute of Organic Chemistry & Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; (M.B.); (U.A.H.)
- Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, Max von Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (R.R.); (S.C.)
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (R.E.); (C.D.C.)
- Correspondence: (S.P.); (M.Z.); Tel.: +39-090-676-6411 (M.Z.)
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Kumar R, Gupta S, Bhutia WD, Vaid RK, Kumar S. Atypical human trypanosomosis: Potentially emerging disease with lack of understanding. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:259-276. [PMID: 35355422 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomes are the hemoflagellate kinetoplastid protozoan parasites affecting a wide range of vertebrate hosts having insufficient host specificity. Climatic change, deforestation, globalization, trade agreements, close association and genetic selection in links with environmental, vector, reservoir and potential susceptible hosts' parameters have led to emergence of atypical human trypanosomosis (a-HT). Poor recording of such neglected tropical disease, low awareness in health professions and farming community has approached a serious intimidation for mankind. Reports of animal Trypanosoma species are now gradually increasing in humans, and lack of any compiled literature has diluted the issue. In the present review, global reports of livestock and rodent trypanosomes reported from human beings are assembled and discrepancies with the available literature are discussed along with morphological features of Trypanosoma species. We have described 21 human cases from the published information. Majority of cases 10 (47%) are due to T. lewisi, followed by 5 (24%) cases of T. evansi, 4 (19%) cases of T. brucei and 1 (5%) case each of T. vivax and T. congolense. Indian subcontinent witnessed 13 cases of a-HT, of which 9 cases are reported from India, which includes 7 cases of T. lewisi and 2 cases of T. evansi. Apart from, a-HT case reports, epidemiological investigation and treatment aspects are also discussed. An attempt has been made to provide an overview of the current situation of atypical human trypanosomosis caused by salivarian animal Trypanosoma globally. The probable role of Trypanosoma lytic factors (TLF) present in normal human serum (NHS) in providing innate immunity against salivarian animal Trypanosoma species and the existing paradox in medical science after the finding on intact functional apolipoprotein L1 (ApoL1) in Vietnam T. evansi Type A case is also discussed to provide an update on all aspects of a-HT. Insufficient data and poor reporting in Asian and African countries are the major hurdle resulting in under-reporting of a-HT, which is a potential emerging threat. Therefore, concerted efforts must be directed to address attentiveness, preparedness and regular surveillance in suspected areas with training of field technicians, medical health professionals and veterinarians. Enhancing a one health approach is specifically important in case of trypanosomosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajender Kumar
- Parasitology Lab, ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India
| | - Snehil Gupta
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, India
| | | | | | - Sanjay Kumar
- Parasitology Lab, ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India
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