1
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Dans MG, Boulet C, Watson GM, Nguyen W, Dziekan JM, Evelyn C, Reaksudsan K, Mehra S, Razook Z, Geoghegan ND, Mlodzianoski MJ, Goodman CD, Ling DB, Jonsdottir TK, Tong J, Famodimu MT, Kristan M, Pollard H, Stewart LB, Brandner-Garrod L, Sutherland CJ, Delves MJ, McFadden GI, Barry AE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Rogers KL, Cowman AF, Tham WH, Sleebs BE, Gilson PR. Aryl amino acetamides prevent Plasmodium falciparum ring development via targeting the lipid-transfer protein PfSTART1. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5219. [PMID: 38890312 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49491-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
With resistance to most antimalarials increasing, it is imperative that new drugs are developed. We previously identified an aryl acetamide compound, MMV006833 (M-833), that inhibited the ring-stage development of newly invaded merozoites. Here, we select parasites resistant to M-833 and identify mutations in the START lipid transfer protein (PF3D7_0104200, PfSTART1). Introducing PfSTART1 mutations into wildtype parasites reproduces resistance to M-833 as well as to more potent analogues. PfSTART1 binding to the analogues is validated using organic solvent-based Proteome Integral Solubility Alteration (Solvent PISA) assays. Imaging of invading merozoites shows the inhibitors prevent the development of ring-stage parasites potentially by inhibiting the expansion of the encasing parasitophorous vacuole membrane. The PfSTART1-targeting compounds also block transmission to mosquitoes and with multiple stages of the parasite's lifecycle being affected, PfSTART1 represents a drug target with a new mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G Dans
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia.
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Coralie Boulet
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1206, Switzerland
| | - Gabrielle M Watson
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - William Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Jerzy M Dziekan
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Cindy Evelyn
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Kitsanapong Reaksudsan
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Somya Mehra
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Zahra Razook
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Niall D Geoghegan
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Michael J Mlodzianoski
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | | | | | - Thorey K Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, 901 87, Sweden
- The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå, Sweden
| | - Joshua Tong
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Mufuliat Toyin Famodimu
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT, London, UK
| | - Mojca Kristan
- Wellcome Trust Human Malaria Transmission Facility, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Harry Pollard
- Wellcome Trust Human Malaria Transmission Facility, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Lindsay B Stewart
- Wellcome Trust Human Malaria Transmission Facility, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Luke Brandner-Garrod
- Wellcome Trust Human Malaria Transmission Facility, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Colin J Sutherland
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT, London, UK
- Wellcome Trust Human Malaria Transmission Facility, Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Michael J Delves
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, WC1E 7HT, London, UK
| | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Alyssa E Barry
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
- Monash University, 3800, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tania F de Koning-Ward
- Institute of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Kelly L Rogers
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Alan F Cowman
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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2
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Mamudu CO, Tebamifor ME, Sule MO, Dokunmu TM, Ogunlana OO, Iheagwam FN. Apicoplast-Resident Processes: Exploiting the Chink in the Armour of Plasmodium falciparum Parasites. Adv Pharmacol Pharm Sci 2024; 2024:9940468. [PMID: 38765186 PMCID: PMC11101256 DOI: 10.1155/2024/9940468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery of a relict plastid, also known as an apicoplast (apicomplexan plastid), that houses housekeeping processes and metabolic pathways critical to Plasmodium parasites' survival has prompted increased research on identifying potent inhibitors that can impinge on apicoplast-localised processes. The apicoplast is absent in humans, yet it is proposed to originate from the eukaryote's secondary endosymbiosis of a primary symbiont. This symbiotic relationship provides a favourable microenvironment for metabolic processes such as haem biosynthesis, Fe-S cluster synthesis, isoprenoid biosynthesis, fatty acid synthesis, and housekeeping processes such as DNA replication, transcription, and translation, distinct from analogous mammalian processes. Recent advancements in comprehending the biology of the apicoplast reveal it as a vulnerable organelle for malaria parasites, offering numerous potential targets for effective antimalarial therapies. We provide an overview of the metabolic processes occurring in the apicoplast and discuss the organelle as a viable antimalarial target in light of current advances in drug discovery. We further highlighted the relevance of these metabolic processes to Plasmodium falciparum during the different stages of the lifecycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collins Ojonugwa Mamudu
- Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
- Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication Africa Centre of Excellence, Ota, Nigeria
| | - Mercy Eyitomi Tebamifor
- Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
- Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication Africa Centre of Excellence, Ota, Nigeria
| | - Mary Ohunene Sule
- Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi, Nigeria
| | - Titilope Modupe Dokunmu
- Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
- Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication Africa Centre of Excellence, Ota, Nigeria
| | - Olubanke Olujoke Ogunlana
- Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
- Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication Africa Centre of Excellence, Ota, Nigeria
- Covenant University Public Health and Wellbeing Research Cluster, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
| | - Franklyn Nonso Iheagwam
- Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
- Covenant University Public Health and Wellbeing Research Cluster, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
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3
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Nguyen W, Boulet C, Dans MG, Loi K, Jarman KE, Watson GM, Tham WH, Fairhurst KJ, Yeo T, Fidock DA, Wittlin S, Chowdury M, de Koning-Ward TF, Chen G, Yan D, Charman SA, Baud D, Brand S, Jackson PF, Cowman AF, Gilson PR, Sleebs BE. Activity refinement of aryl amino acetamides that target the P. falciparum STAR-related lipid transfer 1 protein. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 270:116354. [PMID: 38554474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating disease that causes significant morbidity worldwide. The development of new antimalarial chemotypes is urgently needed because of the emergence of resistance to frontline therapies. Independent phenotypic screening campaigns against the Plasmodium asexual parasite, including our own, identified the aryl amino acetamide hit scaffold. In a prior study, we identified the STAR-related lipid transfer protein (PfSTART1) as the molecular target of this antimalarial chemotype. In this study, we combined structural elements from the different aryl acetamide hit subtypes and explored the structure-activity relationship. It was shown that the inclusion of an endocyclic nitrogen, to generate the tool compound WJM-715, improved aqueous solubility and modestly improved metabolic stability in rat hepatocytes. Metabolic stability in human liver microsomes remains a challenge for future development of the aryl acetamide class, which was underscored by modest systemic exposure and a short half-life in mice. The optimized aryl acetamide analogs were cross resistant to parasites with mutations in PfSTART1, but not to other drug-resistant mutations, and showed potent binding to recombinant PfSTART1 by biophysical analysis, further supporting PfSTART1 as the likely molecular target. The optimized aryl acetamide analogue, WJM-715 will be a useful tool for further investigating the druggability of PfSTART1 across the lifecycle of the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | | | - Madeline G Dans
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Katie Loi
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Gabrielle M Watson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Kate J Fairhurst
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA; Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123, Allschwi, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mrittika Chowdury
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia; Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Tania F de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia; Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Gong Chen
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Dandan Yan
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Susan A Charman
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Delphine Baud
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephen Brand
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul F Jackson
- Global Public Health, Janssen R&D LLC, La Jolla, 92121, USA
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
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4
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Agrawal P, Kumari S, Mohmmed A, Malhotra P, Sharma U, Sahal D. Identification of Novel, Potent, and Selective Compounds against Malaria Using Glideosomal-Associated Protein 50 as a Drug Target. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:38506-38523. [PMID: 37867646 PMCID: PMC10586260 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Phylum apicomplexan consists of parasites, such as Plasmodium and Toxoplasma. These obligate intracellular parasites enter host cells via an energy-dependent process using specialized machinery, called the glideosome. In the present study, we used Plasmodium falciparum GAP50, a glideosome-associated protein, as a target to screen 951 different compounds from diverse chemical libraries. Using different screening methods, eight compounds (Hayatinine, Curine, MMV689758 (Bedaquiline), MMV1634402 (Brilacidin), and MMV688271, MMV782353, MMV642550, and USINB4-124-8) were identified, which showed promising binding affinity (KD < 75 μM), along with submicromolar range antiparasitic efficacy and selectivity index > 100 fold for malaria parasite. These eight compounds were effective against Chloroquine-resistant PfINDO and Artemisinin-resistant PfCam3.1R359T strains. Studies on the effect of these compounds at asexual blood stages showed that these eight compounds act differently at different developmental stages, indicating the binding of these compounds to other Plasmodium proteins, in addition to PfGAP50. We further studied the effects of compounds (Bedaquiline and USINB4-124-8) in an in vivoPlasmodium berghei mouse model of malaria. Importantly, the oral delivery of Bedaquiline (50 mg/kg b. wt.) showed substantial suppression of parasitemia, and three out of seven mice were cured of the infection. Thus, our study provides new scaffolds for the development of antimalarials that can act at multiple Plasmodium lifecycle stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakhar Agrawal
- International
Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Surekha Kumari
- Chemical
Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan
Bioresource Technology, Palampur 176061, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
| | - Asif Mohmmed
- International
Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Pawan Malhotra
- International
Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Upendra Sharma
- Chemical
Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan
Bioresource Technology, Palampur 176061, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India
| | - Dinkar Sahal
- International
Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India
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5
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Ling DB, Nguyen W, Looker O, Razook Z, McCann K, Barry AE, Scheurer C, Wittlin S, Famodimu MT, Delves MJ, Bullen HE, Crabb BS, Sleebs BE, Gilson PR. A Pyridyl-Furan Series Developed from the Open Global Health Library Block Red Blood Cell Invasion and Protein Trafficking in Plasmodium falciparum through Potential Inhibition of the Parasite's PI4KIIIB Enzyme. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1695-1710. [PMID: 37639221 PMCID: PMC10496428 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
With the resistance increasing to current antimalarial medicines, there is an urgent need to discover new drug targets and to develop new medicines against these targets. We therefore screened the Open Global Health Library of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, of 250 compounds against the asexual blood stage of the deadliest malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, from which eight inhibitors with low micromolar potency were found. Due to its combined potencies against parasite growth and inhibition of red blood cell invasion, the pyridyl-furan compound OGHL250 was prioritized for further optimization. The potency of the series lead compound (WEHI-518) was improved 250-fold to low nanomolar levels against parasite blood-stage growth. Parasites selected for resistance to a related compound, MMV396797, were also resistant to WEHI-518 as well as KDU731, an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol kinase PfPI4KIIIB, suggesting that this kinase is the target of the pyridyl-furan series. Inhibition of PfPI4KIIIB blocks multiple stages of the parasite's life cycle and other potent inhibitors are currently under preclinical development. MMV396797-resistant parasites possess an E1316D mutation in PfPKI4IIIB that clusters with known resistance mutations of other inhibitors of the kinase. Building upon earlier studies that showed that PfPI4KIIIB inhibitors block the development of the invasive merozoite parasite stage, we show that members of the pyridyl-furan series also block invasion and/or the conversion of merozoites into ring-stage intracellular parasites through inhibition of protein secretion and export into red blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawson B. Ling
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of
Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria3052,
Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The
University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - Oliver Looker
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
| | - Zahra Razook
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and
Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University,
Waurn Ponds, Victoria3216, Australia
| | - Kirsty McCann
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and
Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University,
Waurn Ponds, Victoria3216, Australia
| | - Alyssa E. Barry
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and
Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University,
Waurn Ponds, Victoria3216, Australia
| | - Christian Scheurer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health
Institute, Allschwil, 4123Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel,
4001Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health
Institute, Allschwil, 4123Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel,
4001Switzerland
| | - Mufuliat Toyin Famodimu
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious
Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Kepel
Street, London, WC1E 7HT, U.K.
| | - Michael J Delves
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious
Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Kepel
Street, London, WC1E 7HT, U.K.
| | - Hayley E. Bullen
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology,
Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria3800,
Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of
Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria3052,
Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The
University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
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6
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Miyazaki Y, Vos MW, Geurten FJA, Bigeard P, Kroeze H, Yoshioka S, Arisawa M, Inaoka DK, Soulard V, Dechering KJ, Franke-Fayard B, Miyazaki S. A versatile Plasmodium falciparum reporter line expressing NanoLuc enables highly sensitive multi-stage drug assays. Commun Biol 2023; 6:713. [PMID: 37438491 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05078-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgenic luciferase-expressing Plasmodium falciparum parasites have been widely used for the evaluation of anti-malarial compounds. Here, to screen for anti-malarial drugs effective against multiple stages of the parasite, we generate a P. falciparum reporter parasite that constitutively expresses NanoLuciferase (NanoLuc) throughout its whole life cycle. The NanoLuc-expressing P. falciparum reporter parasite shows a quantitative NanoLuc signal in the asexual blood, gametocyte, mosquito, and liver stages. We also establish assay systems to evaluate the anti-malarial activity of compounds at the asexual blood, gametocyte, and liver stages, and then determine the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of several anti-malarial compounds. Through the development of this robust high-throughput screening system, we identify an anti-malarial compound that kills the asexual blood stage parasites. Our study highlights the utility of the NanoLuc reporter line, which may advance anti-malarial drug development through the improved screening of compounds targeting the human malarial parasite at multiple stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukiko Miyazaki
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 852-8523, Nagasaki, Japan.
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
| | - Martijn W Vos
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Transistorweg 5, 6534 AT, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Fiona J A Geurten
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre Bigeard
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Hans Kroeze
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Shohei Yoshioka
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Arisawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 565-0871, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 852-8523, Nagasaki, Japan
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Valerie Soulard
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, CIMI-Paris, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Koen J Dechering
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Transistorweg 5, 6534 AT, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Blandine Franke-Fayard
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Shinya Miyazaki
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Department of Cellular Architecture Studies, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, 852-8523, Nagasaki, Japan.
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7
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Parkyn Schneider M, Looker O, Rebelo M, Khoury DS, Dixon MWA, Oeuvray C, Crabb BS, McCarthy J, Gilson PR. The delayed bloodstream clearance of Plasmodium falciparum parasites after M5717 treatment is attributable to the inability to modify their red blood cell hosts. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1211613. [PMID: 37457953 PMCID: PMC10340534 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1211613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
M5717 is a promising antimalarial drug under development that acts against multiple stages of the life cycle of Plasmodium parasites by inhibiting the translation elongation factor 2 (PfeEF2), thereby preventing protein synthesis. The parasite clearance profile after drug treatment in preclinical studies in mice, and clinical trials in humans showed a notable delayed clearance phenotype whereby parasite infected red blood cells (iRBCs) persisted in the bloodstream for a significant period before eventual clearance. In a normal P. falciparum infection iRBCs sequester in the deep circulation by cytoadherence, allowing them to avoid surveillance and clearance in the spleen. We found that M5717 blocks parasite modification of their host red blood cells (RBCs) by preventing synthesis of new exported proteins, rather than by directly blocking the export of these proteins into the RBC compartment. Using in vitro models, we demonstrated that M5717 treated ring/trophozoite stage iRBCs became less rigid, and cytoadhered less well compared to untreated iRBCs. This indicates that in vivo persistence of M5717 treated iRBCs in the bloodstream is likely due to reduced cytoadherence and splenic clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maria Rebelo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David S. Khoury
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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8
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Mbye H, Bojang F, Jaiteh FK, Jawara A, Njie B, Correa S, D'Alessandro U, Amambua-Ngwa A. Stepwise in vitro screening of MMV pathogen box compounds against Plasmodium falciparum to identify potent antimalarial candidates. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2023; 22:81-87. [PMID: 37329848 PMCID: PMC10394470 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Development of resistance to deployed antimalarial drugs is inevitable and needs prompt and continuous discovery of novel candidate drugs. Therefore, the antimalarial activity of 125 compounds from the Medicine for Malaria Ventures (MMV) pathogen box was determined. Combining standard IC50 and normalised growth rate inhibition (GR50) analyses, we found 16 and 22 compounds had higher potencies than CQ respectively. Seven compounds with relatively high potencies (low GR50 and IC50) against P. falciparum 3D7 were further analysed. Three of these were tested on 10 natural P. falciparum isolates from The Gambia using our newly developed parasite survival rate assay (PSRA). According to the IC50, GR50 and PSRA analyses, compound MMV667494 was most potent and highly cytotoxic to parasites. MMV010576 was slow acting but more potent than dihydroartemisinin (DHA) 72 h after exposure. MMV634140 was potent against the laboratory-adapted 3D7 isolate, but 4 out of 10 natural Gambian isolates survived and replicated slowly despite 72 h of exposure to the compound, suggesting potential drug tolerance and risk of resistance development. These results emphasise the usefulness of in vitro testing as a starting point for drug discovery. Improved approaches to data analyses and the use of natural isolates will facilitate the prioritisation of compounds for further clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haddijatou Mbye
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P. O. Box 273, Banjul, the Republic of the Gambia; West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Legon, P. O Box LG 54, Accra, Ghana
| | - Fatoumata Bojang
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P. O. Box 273, Banjul, the Republic of the Gambia
| | - Fatou Kene Jaiteh
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P. O. Box 273, Banjul, the Republic of the Gambia
| | - Aminata Jawara
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P. O. Box 273, Banjul, the Republic of the Gambia
| | - Bekai Njie
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P. O. Box 273, Banjul, the Republic of the Gambia
| | - Simon Correa
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P. O. Box 273, Banjul, the Republic of the Gambia
| | - Umberto D'Alessandro
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P. O. Box 273, Banjul, the Republic of the Gambia
| | - Alfred Amambua-Ngwa
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, P. O. Box 273, Banjul, the Republic of the Gambia.
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9
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Dans MG, Piirainen H, Nguyen W, Khurana S, Mehra S, Razook Z, Geoghegan ND, Dawson AT, Das S, Parkyn Schneider M, Jonsdottir TK, Gabriela M, Gancheva MR, Tonkin CJ, Mollard V, Goodman CD, McFadden GI, Wilson DW, Rogers KL, Barry AE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Sleebs BE, Kursula I, Gilson PR. Sulfonylpiperazine compounds prevent Plasmodium falciparum invasion of red blood cells through interference with actin-1/profilin dynamics. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002066. [PMID: 37053271 PMCID: PMC10128974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
With emerging resistance to frontline treatments, it is vital that new antimalarial drugs are identified to target Plasmodium falciparum. We have recently described a compound, MMV020291, as a specific inhibitor of red blood cell (RBC) invasion, and have generated analogues with improved potency. Here, we generated resistance to MMV020291 and performed whole genome sequencing of 3 MMV020291-resistant populations. This revealed 3 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in 2 genes; 2 in profilin (N154Y, K124N) and a third one in actin-1 (M356L). Using CRISPR-Cas9, we engineered these mutations into wild-type parasites, which rendered them resistant to MMV020291. We demonstrate that MMV020291 reduces actin polymerisation that is required by the merozoite stage parasites to invade RBCs. Additionally, the series inhibits the actin-1-dependent process of apicoplast segregation, leading to a delayed death phenotype. In vitro cosedimentation experiments using recombinant P. falciparum proteins indicate that potent MMV020291 analogues disrupt the formation of filamentous actin in the presence of profilin. Altogether, this study identifies the first compound series interfering with the actin-1/profilin interaction in P. falciparum and paves the way for future antimalarial development against the highly dynamic process of actin polymerisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G Dans
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Henni Piirainen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - William Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sachin Khurana
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Somya Mehra
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zahra Razook
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Sujaan Das
- Ludwig Maximilian University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thorey K Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maria R Gancheva
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Vanessa Mollard
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kelly L Rogers
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alyssa E Barry
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tania F de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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10
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Barnes CBG, Dans MG, Jonsdottir TK, Crabb BS, Gilson PR. PfATP4 inhibitors in the Medicines for Malaria Venture Malaria Box and Pathogen Box block the schizont-to-ring transition by inhibiting egress rather than invasion. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1060202. [PMID: 36530423 PMCID: PMC9747762 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1060202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The cation efflux pump Plasmodium falciparum ATPase 4 (PfATP4) maintains Na+ homeostasis in malaria parasites and has been implicated in the mechanism of action of many structurally diverse antimalarial agents, including >7% of the antimalarial compounds in the Medicines for Malaria Venture's 'Malaria Box' and 'Pathogen Box'. Recent screens of the 'Malaria Box' and 'Pathogen Box' revealed that many PfATP4 inhibitors prevent parasites from exiting their host red blood cell (egress) or entering new host cells (invasion), suggesting that these compounds may have additional molecular targets involved in egress or invasion. Here, we demonstrate that five PfATP4 inhibitors reduce egress but not invasion. These compounds appear to inhibit egress by blocking the activation of protein kinase G, an enzyme that, once stimulated, rapidly activates parasite egress. We establish a direct link between egress and PfATP4 function by showing that the inhibition of egress is attenuated in a Na+-depleted environment and in parasites with a mutation in pfatp4. Finally, we show that PfATP4 inhibitors induce host cell lysis when administered prior to the completion of parasite replication. Since host cell lysis mimics egress but is not followed by invasion, this phenomenon likely explains why several PfATP4 inhibitors were previously classified as invasion inhibitors. Collectively, our results confirm that PfATP4-mediated Na+ efflux is critical to the regulation of parasite egress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia B. G. Barnes
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Madeline G. Dans
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Thorey K. Jonsdottir
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Life Sciences, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia,*Correspondence: Paul R. Gilson,
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11
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Mbye H, Mane K, Diop MF, Demba MA, Bojang F, Mohammed NI, Jeffries D, Quashie NB, D'Alessandro U, Amambua-Ngwa A. Plasmodium falciparum merozoite invasion ligands, linked antimalarial resistance loci and ex vivo responses to antimalarials in The Gambia. J Antimicrob Chemother 2022; 77:2946-2955. [PMID: 35904009 PMCID: PMC9616547 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artemether/lumefantrine is the most commonly used artemisinin-based combination treatment (ACT) for malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Drug resistance to ACT components is a major threat to malaria elimination efforts. Therefore, rigorous monitoring of drug efficacy is required for adequate management of malaria and to sustain the effectiveness of ACTs. OBJECTIVES This study identified and described genomic loci that correlate with differences in ex vivo responses of natural Plasmodium falciparum isolates from The Gambia to antimalarial drugs. METHODS Natural P. falciparum isolates from The Gambia were assayed for IC50 responses to four antimalarial drugs (artemether, dihydroartemisinin, amodiaquine and lumefantrine). Genome-wide SNPs from 56 of these P. falciparum isolates were applied to mixed-model regression and network analyses to determine linked loci correlating with drug responses. Genomic regions of shared haplotypes and positive selection within and between Gambian and Cambodian P. falciparum isolates were mapped by identity-by-descent (IBD) analysis of 209 genomes. RESULTS SNPs in 71 genes, mostly involved in stress and drug resistance mechanisms correlated with drug responses. Additionally, erythrocyte invasion and permeability loci, including merozoite surface proteins (Pfdblmsp, Pfsurfin), and high-molecular-weight rhoptry protein 2 (Pfrhops2) were correlated with responses to multiple drugs. Haplotypes of pfdblmsp2 and known drug resistance loci (pfaat1, pfcrt and pfdhfr) from The Gambia showed high IBD with those from Cambodia, indicating co-ancestry, with significant linkage disequilibrium between their alleles. CONCLUSIONS Multiple linked genic loci correlating with drug response phenotypes suggest a genomic backbone may be under selection by antimalarials. This calls for further analysis of molecular pathways to drug resistance in African P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haddijatou Mbye
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Karim Mane
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Mouhamadou Fadel Diop
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Martha Anita Demba
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Fatoumata Bojang
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | | | - David Jeffries
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | | | - Umberto D'Alessandro
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Alfred Amambua-Ngwa
- Medical Research Council at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
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12
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Looker O, Dans MG, Bullen HE, Sleebs BE, Crabb BS, Gilson PR. The Medicines for Malaria Venture Malaria Box contains inhibitors of protein secretion in
Plasmodium falciparum
blood stage parasites. Traffic 2022; 23:442-461. [PMID: 36040075 PMCID: PMC9543830 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum parasites which cause malaria, traffic hundreds of proteins into the red blood cells (RBCs) they infect. These exported proteins remodel their RBCs enabling host immune evasion through processes such as cytoadherence that greatly assist parasite survival. As resistance to all current antimalarial compounds is rising new compounds need to be identified and those that could inhibit parasite protein secretion and export would both rapidly reduce parasite virulence and ultimately lead to parasite death. To identify compounds that inhibit protein export we used transgenic parasites expressing an exported nanoluciferase reporter to screen the Medicines for Malaria Venture Malaria Box of 400 antimalarial compounds with mostly unknown targets. The most potent inhibitor identified in this screen was MMV396797 whose application led to export inhibition of both the reporter and endogenous exported proteins. MMV396797 mediated blockage of protein export and slowed the rigidification and cytoadherence of infected RBCs—modifications which are both mediated by parasite‐derived exported proteins. Overall, we have identified a new protein export inhibitor in P. falciparum whose target though unknown, could be developed into a future antimalarial that rapidly inhibits parasite virulence before eliminating parasites from the host.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Madeline G. Dans
- Burnet Institute Melbourne Australia
- School of Medicine Deakin University Geelong Australia
| | - Hayley E. Bullen
- Burnet Institute Melbourne Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Parkville Victoria Australia
- Department of Medical Biology The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute Melbourne Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology Monash University Melbourne Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute Melbourne Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia
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13
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Dey S, Kumar BK, Johri S, Faheem, Murugesan S. Design and study of novel chromone and thiochromone derivatives as PfLDH inhibitors — computational approach. Struct Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11224-022-01974-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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14
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Bernard MM, Mohanty A, Rajendran V. Title: A Comprehensive Review on Classifying Fast-acting and Slow-acting Antimalarial Agents Based on Time of Action and Target Organelle of Plasmodium sp. Pathog Dis 2022; 80:6589403. [PMID: 35588061 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftac015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical resistance towards malarial parasites has rendered many antimalarials ineffective, likely due to a lack of understanding of time of action and stage specificity of all life stages. Therefore, to tackle this problem a more incisive comprehensive analysis of the fast and slow-acting profile of antimalarial agents relating to parasite time-kill kinetics and the target organelle on the progression of blood-stage parasites was carried out. It is evident from numerous findings that drugs targeting food vacuole, nuclear components, and endoplasmic reticulum mainly exhibit a fast-killing phenotype within 24h affecting first-cycle activity. Whereas drugs targeting mitochondria, apicoplast, microtubules, parasite invasion and egress exhibit a largely slow-killing phenotype within 96-120h, affecting second-cycle activity with few exemptions as moderately fast-killing. It is essential to understand the susceptibility of drugs on rings, trophozoites, schizonts, merozoites, and the appearance of organelle at each stage of 48h intraerythrocytic parasite cycle. Therefore, these parameters may facilitate the paradigm for understanding the timing of antimalarials action in deciphering its precise mechanism linked with time. Thus, classifying drugs based on the time of killing may promote designing new combination regimens against varied strains of P. falciparum and evaluating potential clinical resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Marie Bernard
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India
| | - Abhinab Mohanty
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India
| | - Vinoth Rajendran
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India
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15
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Adderley J, Boulet C, McCann K, McHugh E, Ioannidis LJ, Yeoh LM. Advances in Plasmodium research, an update: highlights from the Malaria in Melbourne 2021 conference. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 250:111487. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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16
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Bullen HE, Sanders PR, Dans MG, Jonsdottir TK, Riglar DT, Looker O, Palmer CS, Kouskousis B, Charnaud SC, Triglia T, Gabriela M, Schneider MP, Chan J, de Koning‐Ward TF, Baum J, Kazura JW, Beeson JG, Cowman AF, Gilson PR, Crabb BS. The
Plasmodium falciparum
parasitophorous vacuole protein
P113
interacts with the parasite protein export machinery and maintains normal vacuole architecture. Mol Microbiol 2022; 117:1245-1262. [PMID: 35403274 PMCID: PMC9544671 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hayley E. Bullen
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
| | | | - Madeline G. Dans
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
- School of Medicine Deakin University Waurn Ponds Victoria Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 1G Royal Parade Parkville Australia
| | - Thorey K. Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
| | - David T. Riglar
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 1G Royal Parade Parkville Australia
- Department of Medical Biology University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
- Imperial College London Department of Infectious Diseases, South Kensington Campus, SW72AZ UK
| | - Oliver Looker
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
| | - Catherine S. Palmer
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
- Bio21, 30 Road Parkville Flemington Australia
| | | | - Sarah C. Charnaud
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
- WHO Geneva Switzerland
| | - Tony Triglia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 1G Royal Parade Parkville Australia
- Department of Medical Biology University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
- School of Medicine Deakin University Waurn Ponds Victoria Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 1G Royal Parade Parkville Australia
| | | | - Jo‐Anne Chan
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
- Department of Medicine University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | | | - Jake Baum
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 1G Royal Parade Parkville Australia
- Department of Medical Biology University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
- Imperial College London Department of Infectious Diseases, South Kensington Campus, SW72AZ UK
| | - James W. Kazura
- Centre for Global Health and Diseases Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio USA
| | - James G. Beeson
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
- Department of Medicine University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
- Department of Immunology, Central clinical school Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute 1G Royal Parade Parkville Australia
- Department of Medical Biology University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute 85 Commercial Road Prahran Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology University of Melbourne Parkville Australia
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17
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Jeffers V, Child MA. No acetyl-CoA keeps Plasmodium at bay. Cell Chem Biol 2022; 29:174-176. [PMID: 35180431 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Acetyl-coenzyme A is an important metabolite and regulates diverse cellular processes, including metabolism and epigenetics. In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Summers et al. (2022) describe an essential parasite enzyme, acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase, as a target of two antimalarial small molecules active against liver and blood stages of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Jeffers
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Life Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham NH 03824, USA.
| | - Matthew A Child
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
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18
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Dietrich MH, Chan LJ, Adair A, Boulet C, O'Neill MT, Tan LL, Keremane S, Mok YF, Lo AW, Gilson P, Tham WH. Structure of the Pf12 and Pf41 heterodimeric complex of Plasmodium falciparum 6-cysteine proteins. FEMS MICROBES 2022; 3:xtac005. [PMID: 35308105 PMCID: PMC8930183 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtac005] [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] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
During the different stages of the Plasmodium life cycle, surface-associated proteins establish key interactions with the host and play critical roles in parasite survival. The 6-cysteine (6-cys) protein family is one of the most abundant surface antigens and expressed throughout the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle. This protein family is conserved across Plasmodium species and plays critical roles in parasite transmission, evasion of the host immune response and host cell invasion. Several 6-cys proteins are present on the parasite surface as hetero-complexes but it is not known how two 6-cys proteins interact together. Here, we present a crystal structure of Pf12 bound to Pf41 at 2.85 Å resolution, two P. falciparum proteins usually found on the parasite surface of late schizonts and merozoites. Our structure revealed two critical interfaces required for complex formation with important implications on how different 6-cysteine proteins may interact with each other. Using structure-function analyses, we identified important residues for Pf12-Pf41 complex formation. In addition, we generated 16 nanobodies against Pf12 and Pf41 and showed that several Pf12-specific nanobodies inhibit Pf12-Pf41 complex formation. Using X-ray crystallography, we were able to describe the structural mechanism of an inhibitory nanobody in blocking Pf12-Pf41 complex formation. Future studies using these inhibitory nanobodies will be useful to determine the functional role of these two 6-cys proteins in malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie H Dietrich
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Li-Jin Chan
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amy Adair
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Matthew T O'Neill
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Li Lynn Tan
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sravya Keremane
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yee-Foong Mok
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alvin W Lo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Wai-Hong Tham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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19
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Frasse PM, Miller JJ, Polino AJ, Soleimani E, Zhu JS, Jakeman DL, Jez JM, Goldberg DE, Odom John AR. Enzymatic and structural characterization of HAD5, an essential phosphomannomutase of malaria-causing parasites. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101550. [PMID: 34973333 PMCID: PMC8808168 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for over 200 million infections and 400,000 deaths per year. At multiple stages during its complex life cycle, P. falciparum expresses several essential proteins tethered to its surface by glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors, which are critical for biological processes such as parasite egress and reinvasion of host red blood cells. Targeting this pathway therapeutically has the potential to broadly impact parasite development across several life stages. Here, we characterize an upstream component of parasite GPI anchor biosynthesis, the putative phosphomannomutase (PMM) (EC 5.4.2.8), HAD5 (PF3D7_1017400). We confirmed the PMM and phosphoglucomutase activities of purified recombinant HAD5 by developing novel linked enzyme biochemical assays. By regulating the expression of HAD5 in transgenic parasites with a TetR-DOZI-inducible knockdown system, we demonstrated that HAD5 is required for malaria parasite egress and erythrocyte reinvasion, and we assessed the role of HAD5 in GPI anchor synthesis by autoradiography of radiolabeled glucosamine and thin layer chromatography. Finally, we determined the three-dimensional X-ray crystal structure of HAD5 and identified a substrate analog that specifically inhibits HAD5 compared to orthologous human PMMs in a time-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that the GPI anchor biosynthesis pathway is exceptionally sensitive to inhibition in parasites and that HAD5 has potential as a specific, multistage antimalarial target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip M Frasse
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Justin J Miller
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Alexander J Polino
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Ebrahim Soleimani
- College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Chemistry, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Jian-She Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - David L Jakeman
- College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Joseph M Jez
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Audrey R Odom John
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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20
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Bharti H, Singal A, Saini M, Cheema PS, Raza M, Kundu S, Nag A. Repurposing the Pathogen Box compounds for identification of potent anti-malarials against blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum with PfUCHL3 inhibitory activity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:918. [PMID: 35042884 PMCID: PMC8766476 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04619-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria has endured as a global epidemic since ages and its eradication poses an immense challenge due to the complex life cycle of the causative pathogen and its tolerance to a myriad of therapeutics. PfUCHL3, a member of the ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase (UCH) family of deubiquitinases (DUBs) is cardinal for parasite survival and emerges as a promising therapeutic target. In this quest, we employed a combination of computational and experimental approaches to identify PfUCHL3 inhibitors as novel anti-malarials. The Pathogen Box library was screened against the crystal structure of PfUCHL3 (PDB ID: 2WE6) and its human ortholog (PDB ID: 1XD3). Fifty molecules with better comparative score, bioavailability and druglikeliness were subjected to in-vitro enzyme inhibition assay and among them only two compounds effectively inhibited PfUCHL3 activity at micro molar concentrations. Both MMV676603 and MMV688704 exhibited anti-plasmodial activity by altering the parasite phenotype at late stages of the asexual life cycle and inducing the accumulation of polyubiquitinated substrates. In addition, both the compounds were non-toxic and portrayed high selectivity window for the parasite over mammalian cells. This is the first comprehensive study to demonstrate the anti-malarial efficacy of PfUCHL3 inhibitors and opens new avenues to exploit UCH family of DUBs as a promising target for the development of next generation anti-malaria therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hina Bharti
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Aakriti Singal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Manisha Saini
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Pradeep Singh Cheema
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Mohsin Raza
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Suman Kundu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Alo Nag
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India.
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21
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López-Arencibia A, Sifaoui I, Reyes-Batlle M, Bethencourt-Estrella CJ, San Nicolás-Hernández D, Lorenzo-Morales J, Piñero JE. Discovery of New Chemical Tools against Leishmania amazonensis via the MMV Pathogen Box. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1219. [PMID: 34959620 PMCID: PMC8708704 DOI: 10.3390/ph14121219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania causes a spectrum of diseases and there are over 1 million infections each year. Current treatments are toxic, expensive, and difficult to administer, and resistance to them is emerging. In this study, we screened the antileishmanial activity of the Pathogen Box compounds from the Medicine for Malaria Venture against Leishmania amazonensis, and compared their structures and cytotoxicity. The compounds MMV676388 (3), MMV690103 (5), MMV022029 (7), MMV022478 (9) and MMV021013 (10) exerted a significant dose-dependent inhibition effect on the proliferation of L. amazonensis promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. Moreover, studies on the mechanism of cell death showed that compounds 3 and 5 induced an apoptotic process while the compounds 7, 9 and 10 seem to induce an autophagic mechanism. The present findings underline the potential of these five molecules as novel therapeutic leishmanicidal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atteneri López-Arencibia
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 La Laguna, Spain
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ines Sifaoui
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Reyes-Batlle
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 La Laguna, Spain
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos J. Bethencourt-Estrella
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Desirée San Nicolás-Hernández
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 La Laguna, Spain
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - José E. Piñero
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 La Laguna, Spain
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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22
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Besednova NN, Zaporozhets TS, Andryukov BG, Kryzhanovsky SP, Ermakova SP, Kuznetsova TA, Voronova AN, Shchelkanov MY. Antiparasitic Effects of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Marine Hydrobionts. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:637. [PMID: 34822508 PMCID: PMC8624348 DOI: 10.3390/md19110637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This review presents materials characterizing sulfated polysaccharides (SPS) of marine hydrobionts (algae and invertebrates) as potential means for the prevention and treatment of protozoa and helminthiasis. The authors have summarized the literature on the pathogenetic targets of protozoa on the host cells and on the antiparasitic potential of polysaccharides from red, brown and green algae as well as certain marine invertebrates. Information about the mechanisms of action of these unique compounds in diseases caused by protozoa has also been summarized. SPS is distinguished by high antiparasitic activity, good solubility and an almost complete absence of toxicity. In the long term, this allows for the consideration of these compounds as effective and attractive candidates on which to base drugs, biologically active food additives and functional food products with antiparasitic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya N. Besednova
- G.P. Somov Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 690087 Vladivostok, Russia; (T.S.Z.); (B.G.A.); (T.A.K.); (A.N.V.); (M.Y.S.)
| | - Tatyana S. Zaporozhets
- G.P. Somov Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 690087 Vladivostok, Russia; (T.S.Z.); (B.G.A.); (T.A.K.); (A.N.V.); (M.Y.S.)
| | - Boris G. Andryukov
- G.P. Somov Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 690087 Vladivostok, Russia; (T.S.Z.); (B.G.A.); (T.A.K.); (A.N.V.); (M.Y.S.)
- School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), 690091 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Sergey P. Kryzhanovsky
- Medical Association of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia;
| | - Svetlana P. Ermakova
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia;
| | - Tatyana A. Kuznetsova
- G.P. Somov Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 690087 Vladivostok, Russia; (T.S.Z.); (B.G.A.); (T.A.K.); (A.N.V.); (M.Y.S.)
| | - Anastasia N. Voronova
- G.P. Somov Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 690087 Vladivostok, Russia; (T.S.Z.); (B.G.A.); (T.A.K.); (A.N.V.); (M.Y.S.)
| | - Mikhail Y. Shchelkanov
- G.P. Somov Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, 690087 Vladivostok, Russia; (T.S.Z.); (B.G.A.); (T.A.K.); (A.N.V.); (M.Y.S.)
- School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), 690091 Vladivostok, Russia
- National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
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23
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Tan MSY, Koussis K, Withers-Martinez C, Howell SA, Thomas JA, Hackett F, Knuepfer E, Shen M, Hall MD, Snijders AP, Blackman MJ. Autocatalytic activation of a malarial egress protease is druggable and requires a protein cofactor. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107226. [PMID: 33932049 PMCID: PMC8167364 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020107226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasite egress from host erythrocytes (RBCs) is regulated by discharge of a parasite serine protease called SUB1 into the parasitophorous vacuole (PV). There, SUB1 activates a PV‐resident cysteine protease called SERA6, enabling host RBC rupture through SERA6‐mediated degradation of the RBC cytoskeleton protein β‐spectrin. Here, we show that the activation of Plasmodium falciparum SERA6 involves a second, autocatalytic step that is triggered by SUB1 cleavage. Unexpectedly, autoproteolytic maturation of SERA6 requires interaction in multimolecular complexes with a distinct PV‐located protein cofactor, MSA180, that is itself a SUB1 substrate. Genetic ablation of MSA180 mimics SERA6 disruption, producing a fatal block in β‐spectrin cleavage and RBC rupture. Drug‐like inhibitors of SERA6 autoprocessing similarly prevent β‐spectrin cleavage and egress in both P. falciparum and the emerging zoonotic pathogen P. knowlesi. Our results elucidate the egress pathway and identify SERA6 as a target for a new class of antimalarial drugs designed to prevent disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele S Y Tan
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | | | - Steven A Howell
- Protein Analysis and Proteomics Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - James A Thomas
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Fiona Hackett
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Ellen Knuepfer
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ambrosius P Snijders
- Protein Analysis and Proteomics Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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24
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Abstract
All intracellular pathogens must escape (egress) from the confines of their host cell to disseminate and proliferate. The malaria parasite only replicates in an intracellular vacuole or in a cyst, and must undergo egress at four distinct phases during its complex life cycle, each time disrupting, in a highly regulated manner, the membranes or cyst wall that entrap the parasites. This Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster summarises our current knowledge of the morphological features of egress across the Plasmodium life cycle, the molecular mechanisms that govern the process, and how researchers are working to exploit this knowledge to develop much-needed new approaches to malaria control. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele S Y Tan
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Michael J Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK .,Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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25
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Nguyen W, Dans MG, Ngo A, Gancheva MR, Romeo O, Duffy S, de Koning-Ward TF, Lowes KN, Sabroux HJ, Avery VM, Wilson DW, Gilson PR, Sleebs BE. Structure activity refinement of phenylsulfonyl piperazines as antimalarials that block erythrocytic invasion. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 214:113253. [PMID: 33610028 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The emerging resistance to combination therapies comprised of artemisinin derivatives has driven a need to identify new antimalarials with novel mechanisms of action. Central to the survival and proliferation of the malaria parasite is the invasion of red blood cells by Plasmodium merozoites, providing an attractive target for novel therapeutics. A screen of the Medicines for Malaria Venture Pathogen Box employing transgenic P. falciparum parasites expressing the nanoluciferase bioluminescent reporter identified the phenylsulfonyl piperazine class as a specific inhibitor of erythrocyte invasion. Here, we describe the optimization and further characterization of the phenylsulfonyl piperazine class. During the optimization process we defined the functionality required for P. falciparum asexual stage activity and determined the alpha-carbonyl S-methyl isomer was important for antimalarial potency. The optimized compounds also possessed comparable activity against multidrug resistant strains of P. falciparum and displayed weak activity against sexual stage gametocytes. We determined that the optimized compounds blocked erythrocyte invasion consistent with the asexual activity observed and therefore the phenylsulfonyl piperazine analogues described could serve as useful tools for studying Plasmodium erythrocyte invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Madeline G Dans
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, 3004, Australia; School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, 3216, Australia
| | - Anna Ngo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Maria R Gancheva
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ornella Romeo
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sandra Duffy
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | | | - Kym N Lowes
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Helene Jousset Sabroux
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, 3004, Australia
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, 3004, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
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26
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Brown AC, Guler JL. From Circulation to Cultivation: Plasmodium In Vivo versus In Vitro. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:914-926. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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