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A Novel Ex Vivo Drug Assay for Assessing the Transmission-Blocking Activity of Compounds on Field-Isolated Plasmodium falciparum Gametocytes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0100122. [PMID: 36321830 PMCID: PMC9764978 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01001-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery and development of transmission-blocking therapies challenge malaria elimination and necessitate standard and reproducible bioassays to measure the blocking properties of antimalarial drugs and candidate compounds. Most of the current bioassays evaluating the transmission-blocking activity of compounds rely on laboratory-adapted Plasmodium strains. Transmission-blocking data from clinical gametocyte isolates could help select novel transmission-blocking candidates for further development. Using freshly collected Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes from asymptomatic individuals, we first optimized ex vivo culture conditions to improve gametocyte viability and infectiousness by testing several culture parameters. We next pre-exposed ex vivo field-isolated gametocytes to chloroquine, dihydroartemisinin, primaquine, KDU691, GNF179, and oryzalin for 48 h prior to direct membrane feeding. We measured the activity of the drug on the ability of gametocytes to resume the sexual life cycle in Anopheles after drug exposure. Using 57 blood samples collected from Malian volunteers aged 6 to 15 years, we demonstrate that the infectivity of freshly collected field gametocytes can be preserved and improved ex vivo in a culture medium supplemented with 10% horse serum at 4% hematocrit for 48 h. Moreover, our optimized drug assay displays the weak transmission-blocking activity of chloroquine and dihydroartemisinin, while primaquine and oryzalin exhibited a transmission-blocking activity of ~50% at 1 μM. KDU691 and GNF179 both interrupted Plasmodium transmission at 1 μM and 5 nM, respectively. This new approach, if implemented, has the potential to accelerate the screening of compounds with transmission-blocking activity.
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2
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Aguayo-Ortiz R, Dominguez L. Unveiling the Possible Oryzalin-Binding Site in the α-Tubulin of Toxoplasma gondii. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:18434-18442. [PMID: 35694483 PMCID: PMC9178734 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Dinitroaniline derivatives have been widely used as herbicidal agents to control weeds and grass. Previous studies demonstrated that these compounds also exhibit good antiparasitic activity against some protozoan parasites. Oryzalin (ORY), a representative dinitroaniline derivative, exerts its antiprotozoal activity against Toxoplasma gondii by inhibiting the microtubule polymerization process. Moreover, the identification of ORY-resistant T. gondii lines obtained by chemical mutagenesis confirmed that this compound binds selectively to α-tubulin. Based on experimental information reported so far and a multiple sequence analysis carried out in this work, we propose that the pironetin (PIR) site is the potential ORY-binding site. Therefore, we employed state-of-the-art computational approaches to characterize the interaction profile of ORY at the proposed site in the α-tubulin of T. gondii. An exhaustive search for other possible binding sites was performed using the Wrap "N" Shake method, which showed that ORY exhibits highest stability and affinity for the PIR site. Moreover, our molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the dipropylamine substituent of ORY interacts with a hydrophobic pocket, while the sulfonamide group formed hydrogen bonds with water molecules at the site entrance. Overall, our results suggest that ORY binds to the PIR site on the α-tubulin of the protozoan parasite T. gondii. This information will be very useful for designing less toxic and more potent antiprotozoal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Aguayo-Ortiz
- Departamento
de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Laura Dominguez
- Departamento
de Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
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3
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Wang Y, Han H, Chen J, Yu Q, Vila-Aiub M, Beckie HJ, Powles SB. A dinitroaniline herbicide resistance mutation can be nearly lethal to plants. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 78:1547-1554. [PMID: 34981627 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lolium rigidum is the most important weed in Australian agriculture and pre-emergence dinitroaniline herbicides (e.g., trifluralin) are widely and persistently used for Lolium control. Consequently, evolution of resistance to dinitroaniline herbicides has been increasingly reported. Resistance-endowing target-site α-tubulin gene mutations are identified with varying frequency. This study investigated the putative fitness cost associated with the common resistance mutation Val-202-Phe and the rare resistance mutation Arg-243-Met causing helical plant growth. RESULTS Results showed a deleterious effect of Arg-243-Met on fitness when plants are homozygous for this mutation. This was evidenced as high plant mortality, severely diminished root and aboveground vegetative growth (lower relative growth rate), and very poor fecundity compared with the wild-type, which led to a nearly lethal fitness cost of >99.9% in competition with a wheat crop. A fitness penalty in vegetative growth was evident, but to a much lesser extent, in plants heterozygous for the Arg-243-Met mutation. By contrast, plants possessing the Val-202-Phe mutation exhibited a fitness advantage in vegetative and reproductive growth. CONCLUSION The α-tubulin mutations Arg-243-Met and Val-202-Phe have contrasting effects on fitness. These results help understand the absence of plants homozygous for the Arg-243-Met mutation and the high frequency of plants carrying the Val-202-Phe mutation in dinitroaniline-resistant L. rigidum populations. The α-tubulin Arg-243-Met mutation can have an exceptional fitness cost with nearly lethal effects on resistant L. rigidum plants. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Biology of Crop Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, China
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI)-School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia (UWA), Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Heping Han
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI)-School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia (UWA), Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Jinyi Chen
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI)-School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia (UWA), Crawley, WA, Australia
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qin Yu
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI)-School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia (UWA), Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Martin Vila-Aiub
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI)-School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia (UWA), Crawley, WA, Australia
- IFEVA - CONICET - Faculty of Agronomy, Department of Ecology, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Hugh J Beckie
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI)-School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia (UWA), Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Stephen B Powles
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI)-School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia (UWA), Crawley, WA, Australia
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4
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Hirst WG, Fachet D, Kuropka B, Weise C, Saliba KJ, Reber S. Purification of functional Plasmodium falciparum tubulin allows for the identification of parasite-specific microtubule inhibitors. Curr Biol 2022; 32:919-926.e6. [PMID: 35051355 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.12.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cytoskeletal proteins are essential for parasite proliferation, growth, and transmission, and therefore have the potential to serve as drug targets.1-5 While microtubules and their molecular building block αβ-tubulin are established drug targets in a variety of cancers,6,7 we still lack sufficient knowledge of the biochemistry of parasite tubulins to exploit the structural divergence between parasite and human tubulins. For example, it remains to be determined whether compounds of interest can specifically target parasite microtubules without affecting the host cell cytoskeleton. Such mechanistic insights have been limited by the lack of functional parasite tubulin. In this study, we report the purification and characterization of tubulin from Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria. We show that the highly purified tubulin is fully functional, as it efficiently assembles into microtubules with specific parameters of dynamic instability. There is a high degree of amino-acid conservation between human and P. falciparum α- and β-tubulin, sharing approximately 83.7% and 88.5% identity, respectively. However, Plasmodium tubulin is more similar to plant than to mammalian tubulin, raising the possibility of identifying compounds that would selectively disrupt parasite microtubules without affecting the host cell cytoskeleton. As a proof of principle, we describe two compounds that exhibit selective toxicity toward parasite tubulin. Thus, the ability to specifically disrupt protozoan microtubule growth without affecting human microtubules provides an exciting opportunity for the development of novel antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- William G Hirst
- IRI Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Dominik Fachet
- IRI Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Benno Kuropka
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Core Facility BioSupraMol, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Weise
- Freie Universität Berlin, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Core Facility BioSupraMol, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kevin J Saliba
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Simone Reber
- IRI Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany; University of Applied Sciences Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
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5
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Systematic Analysis of Clemastine, a Candidate Apicomplexan Parasite-Selective Tubulin-Targeting Agent. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010068. [PMID: 35008492 PMCID: PMC8744746 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010068] [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: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium spp., Babesia spp., and Cryptosporidium spp., cause significant morbidity and mortality. Existing treatments are problematic due to toxicity and the emergence of drug-resistant parasites. Because protozoan tubulin can be selectively disrupted by small molecules to inhibit parasite growth, we assembled an in vitro testing cascade to fully delineate effects of candidate tubulin-targeting drugs on Toxoplasma gondii and vertebrate host cells. Using this analysis, we evaluated clemastine, an antihistamine that has been previously shown to inhibit Plasmodium growth by competitively binding to the CCT/TRiC tubulin chaperone as a proof-of-concept. We concurrently analyzed astemizole, a distinct antihistamine that blocks heme detoxification in Plasmodium. Both drugs have EC50 values of ~2 µM and do not demonstrate cytotoxicity or vertebrate microtubule disruption at this concentration. Parasite subpellicular microtubules are shortened by treatment with either clemastine or astemizole but not after treatment with pyrimethamine, indicating that this effect is not a general response to antiparasitic drugs. Immunoblot quantification indicates that the total α-tubulin concentration of 0.02 pg/tachyzoite does not change with clemastine treatment. In conclusion, the testing cascade allows profiling of small-molecule effects on both parasite and vertebrate cell viability and microtubule integrity.
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6
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Chen J, Yu Q, Patterson E, Sayer C, Powles S. Dinitroaniline Herbicide Resistance and Mechanisms in Weeds. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:634018. [PMID: 33841462 PMCID: PMC8027333 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.634018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Dinitroanilines are microtubule inhibitors, targeting tubulin proteins in plants and protists. Dinitroaniline herbicides, such as trifluralin, pendimethalin and oryzalin, have been used as pre-emergence herbicides for weed control for decades. With widespread resistance to post-emergence herbicides in weeds, the use of pre-emergence herbicides such as dinitroanilines has increased, in part, due to relatively slow evolution of resistance in weeds to these herbicides. Target-site resistance (TSR) to dinitroaniline herbicides due to point mutations in α-tubulin genes has been confirmed in a few weedy plant species (e.g., Eleusine indica, Setaria viridis, and recently in Lolium rigidum). Of particular interest is the resistance mutation Arg-243-Met identified from dinitroaniline-resistant L. rigidum that causes helical growth when plants are homozygous for the mutation. The recessive nature of the TSR, plus possible fitness cost for some resistance mutations, likely slows resistance evolution. Furthermore, non-target-site resistance (NTSR) to dinitroanilines has been rarely reported and only confirmed in Lolium rigidum due to enhanced herbicide metabolism (metabolic resistance). A cytochrome P450 gene (CYP81A10) has been recently identified in L. rigidum that confers resistance to trifluralin. Moreover, TSR and NTSR have been shown to co-exist in the same weedy species, population, and plant. The implication of knowledge and information on TSR and NTSR in management of dinitroaniline resistance is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyi Chen
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI), School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia (UWA), Perth, WA, Australia
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Qin Yu
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI), School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia (UWA), Perth, WA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Qin Yu,
| | - Eric Patterson
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Chad Sayer
- Nufarm Limited, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen Powles
- Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI), School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia (UWA), Perth, WA, Australia
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7
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Liu F, Liu Q, Yu C, Zhao Y, Wu Y, Min H, Qiu Y, Jin Y, Miao J, Cui L, Cao Y. An MFS-Domain Protein Pb115 Plays a Critical Role in Gamete Fertilization of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium berghei. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2193. [PMID: 31616399 PMCID: PMC6764285 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction is an essential process in the Plasmodium life cycle and a vulnerable step for blocking transmission from the human host to mosquitoes. In this study, we characterized the functions of a conserved cell membrane protein P115 in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Pb115 was expressed in both asexual stages (schizonts) and sexual stages (gametocytes, gametes, and ookinetes), and was localized on the plasma membrane of gametes and ookinetes. In P. berghei, genetic deletion of Pb115 (Δpb115) did not affect asexual multiplication, nor did it affect gametocyte development or exflagellation of the male gametocytes. However, mosquitoes fed on Δpb115-infected mice showed 74% reduction in the prevalence of infection and 96.5% reduction in oocyst density compared to those fed on wild-type P. berghei-infected mice. The Δpb115 parasites showed significant defects in the interactions between the male and female gametes, and as a result, very few zygotes were formed in ookinete cultures. Cross fertilization with the male-defective Δpbs48/45 line and the female-defective Δpfs47 line further indicated that the fertilization defects of the Δpb115 lines were present in both male and female gametes. We evaluated the transmission-blocking potential of Pb115 by immunization of mice with a recombinant Pb115 fragment. In vivo mosquito feeding assay showed Pb115 immunization conferred modest, but significant transmission reducing activity with 44% reduction in infection prevalence and 39% reduction in oocyst density. Our results described functional characterization of a conserved membrane protein as a fertility factor in Plasmodium and demonstrated transmission-blocking potential of this antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qingyang Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chunyun Yu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yudi Wu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hui Min
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Yue Qiu
- The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ying Jin
- Liaoning Research Institute of Family Planning, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun Miao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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8
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Cui A, Li Y, Zhou X, Wang L, Luo E. Characterization of Plasmodium berghei Homologues of T-cell Immunomodulatory Protein as a New Potential Candidate for Protecting against Experimental Cerebral Malaria. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2019; 57:101-115. [PMID: 31104402 PMCID: PMC6526220 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.2.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Revised: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of cerebral malaria is biologically complex and involves multi-factorial mechanisms such as microvascular congestion, immunopathology by the pro-inflammatory cytokine and endothelial dysfunction. Recent data have suggested that a pleiotropic T-cell immunomodulatory protein (TIP) could effectively mediate inflammatory cytokines of mammalian immune response against acute graft-versus-host disease in animal models. In this study, we identified a conserved homologue of TIP in Plasmodium berghei (PbTIP) as a membrane protein in Plasmodium asexual stage. Compared with PBS control group, the pathology of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) in rPbTIP intravenous injection (i.v.) group was alleviated by the downregulation of pro-inflammatory responses, and rPbTIP i.v. group elicited an expansion of regulatory T-cell response. Therefore, rPbTIP i.v. group displayed less severe brain pathology and feverish mice in rPbTIP i.v. group died from ECM. This study suggested that PbTIP may be a novel promising target to alleviate the severity of ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Cui
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Yucen Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Xia Zhou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
| | - Enjie Luo
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, P.R. China
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9
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Vicente-Blázquez A, González M, Álvarez R, Del Mazo S, Medarde M, Peláez R. Antitubulin sulfonamides: The successful combination of an established drug class and a multifaceted target. Med Res Rev 2018; 39:775-830. [PMID: 30362234 DOI: 10.1002/med.21541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Tubulin, the microtubules and their dynamic behavior are amongst the most successful antitumor, antifungal, antiparasitic, and herbicidal drug targets. Sulfonamides are exemplary drugs with applications in the clinic, in veterinary and in the agrochemical industry. This review summarizes the actual state and recent progress of both fields looking from the double point of view of the target and its drugs, with special focus onto the structural aspects. The article starts with a brief description of tubulin structure and its dynamic assembly and disassembly into microtubules and other polymers. Posttranslational modifications and the many cellular means of regulating and modulating tubulin's biology are briefly presented in the tubulin code. Next, the structurally characterized drug binding sites, their occupying drugs and the effects they induce are described, emphasizing on the structural requirements for high potency, selectivity, and low toxicity. The second part starts with a summary of the favorable and highly tunable combination of physical-chemical and biological properties that render sulfonamides a prototypical example of privileged scaffolds with representatives in many therapeutic areas. A complete description of tubulin-binding sulfonamides is provided, covering the different species and drug sites. Some of the antimitotic sulfonamides have met with very successful applications and others less so, thus illustrating the advances, limitations, and future perspectives of the field. All of them combine in a mechanism of action and a clinical outcome that conform efficient drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Vicente-Blázquez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Laboratory of Cell Death and Cancer Therapy, Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Myriam González
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Raquel Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sara Del Mazo
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Manuel Medarde
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rafael Peláez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Facultad de Farmacia, Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
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10
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The Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Transamidase Complex Subunit PbGPI16 of Plasmodium berghei Is Important for Inducing Experimental Cerebral Malaria. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00929-17. [PMID: 29784863 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00929-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In animal models of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM), the glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) and GPI anchors are the major factors that induce nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation and proinflammatory responses, which contribute to malaria pathogenesis. GPIs and GPI anchors are transported to the cell surface via a process called GPI transamidation, which involves the GPI transamidase (GPI-T) complex. In this study, we showed that GPI16, one of the GPI-T subunits, is highly conserved among Plasmodium species. Genetic knockout of pbgpi16 (Δpbgpi16) in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei strain ANKA led to a significant reduction of the amounts of GPIs in the membranes of merozoites, as well as surface display of several GPI-anchored merozoite surface proteins. Compared with the wild-type parasites, Δpbgpi16 parasites in C57BL/6 mice caused much less NF-κB activation and elicited a substantially attenuated T helper type 1 response. As a result, Δpbgpi16 mutant-infected mice displayed much less severe brain pathology, and considerably fewer Δpbgpi16 mutant-infected mice died from ECM. This study corroborated the GPI toxin as a significant inducer of ECM and further suggested that vaccines against parasite GPIs may be a promising strategy to limit the severity of malaria.
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11
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Casino AD, Lukinović V, Bhatt R, Randle LE, Dascombe MJ, Fennell DBJ, Drew MGB, Bell A, Fielding AJ, Ismail FMD. Synthesis, Structural Determination, and Pharmacology of Putative Dinitroaniline Antimalarials. ChemistrySelect 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201801723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio del Casino
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesLiverpool John Moores University Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Lukinović
- School of Chemistry and the Photon Science InstituteThe University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL United Kingdom
| | - Rakesh Bhatt
- Henkel Loctite Adhesives LtdKelsey House, Wood Lane End Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 4RQ United Kingdom
| | - Laura E. Randle
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesLiverpool John Moores University Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Dascombe
- Faculty of BiologyMedicine and HealthStopford Building The University of Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom
| | - Dr Brian J. Fennell
- School of Genetics and MicrobiologyMoyne InstituteTrinity College, Dublin 2 Ireland
| | - Michael G. B. Drew
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Reading, Reading, Berks, RG6 6AD United Kingdom
| | - Angus Bell
- School of Genetics and MicrobiologyMoyne InstituteTrinity College, Dublin 2 Ireland
| | - Alistair J. Fielding
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesLiverpool John Moores University Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF United Kingdom
| | - Fyaz M. D. Ismail
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesLiverpool John Moores University Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF United Kingdom
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12
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Corral MG, Leroux J, Tresch S, Newton T, Stubbs KA, Mylne JS. A herbicide structure-activity analysis of the antimalarial lead compound MMV007978 against Arabidopsis thaliana. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2018; 74:1558-1563. [PMID: 29377434 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To fight herbicide-resistant weeds, new herbicides are needed; particularly ones with new modes of action. Building on the revelation that many antimalarial drugs are herbicidal, here we focus on the Medicines for Malaria Venture antimalarial lead compound MMV007978 that has herbicidal activity against the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. RESULTS Twenty-two variations of the lead compound thiophenyl motif revealed that change was tolerated provided ring size and charge were retained. MMV007978 was active against select monocot and dicot weeds, and physiological profiling indicated that its mode of action is related to germination and cell division. Of interest is the fact that the compound has a profile that is currently not found among known herbicides. CONCLUSION We demonstrate that the antimalarial compound MMV007978 is also herbicidal and that exploiting lead compounds that are often understudied could lead to the identification of interesting herbicidal scaffolds. Further structural investigation of MMV007978 could provide improved herbicidal chemistries with a potential new mode of action. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime G Corral
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Julie Leroux
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | | | | | - Keith A Stubbs
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Joshua S Mylne
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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13
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Kumar S, Bhardwaj TR, Prasad DN, Singh RK. Drug targets for resistant malaria: Historic to future perspectives. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 104:8-27. [PMID: 29758416 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
New antimalarial targets are the prime need for the discovery of potent drug candidates. In order to fulfill this objective, antimalarial drug researches are focusing on promising targets in order to develop new drug candidates. Basic metabolism and biochemical process in the malaria parasite, i.e. Plasmodium falciparum can play an indispensable role in the identification of these targets. But, the emergence of resistance to antimalarial drugs is an escalating comprehensive problem with the progress of antimalarial drug development. The development of resistance has highlighted the need for the search of novel antimalarial molecules. The pharmaceutical industries are committed to new drug development due to the global recognition of this life threatening resistance to the currently available antimalarial therapy. The recent developments in the understanding of parasite biology are exhilarating this resistance issue which is further being ignited by malaria genome project. With this background of information, this review was aimed to highlights and provides useful information on various present and promising treatment approaches for resistant malaria, new progresses, pursued by some innovative targets that have been explored till date. This review also discusses modern and futuristic multiple approaches to antimalarial drug discovery and development with pictorial presentations highlighting the various targets, that could be exploited for generating promising new drugs in the future for drug resistant malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahil Kumar
- School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Dist. Solan, 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - T R Bhardwaj
- School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Dist. Solan, 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - D N Prasad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shivalik College of Pharmacy, Nangal, Dist. Rupnagar, 140126, Punjab, India
| | - Rajesh K Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shivalik College of Pharmacy, Nangal, Dist. Rupnagar, 140126, Punjab, India.
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14
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Chen JJ, Rateb ME, Love MS, Xu Z, Yang D, Zhu X, Huang Y, Zhao LX, Jiang Y, Duan Y, McNamara CW, Shen B. Herbicidins from Streptomyces sp. CB01388 Showing Anti- Cryptosporidium Activity. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2018; 81:791-797. [PMID: 29469575 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A high-content imaging assay was used to screen the fraction collection of the Natural Product Library at The Scripps Research Institute for inhibitors of Cryptosporidium parvum. A chemical investigation of one strain, Streptomyces sp. CB01388, resulted in the isolation of six herbicidins (1-6), one of which is new (herbicidin L, 1). Five of the six herbicidins (1-3, 5, 6) showed moderate inhibitory activity against C. parvum, with 1 and 6 comparable to the FDA-approved drug nitazoxanide, and 2-6 showed no toxicity to the host HCT-8 cells and human HEK293T and HepG2 cells. These findings highlight the herbicidin scaffold for anti- Cryptosporidium drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Jun Chen
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter , Florida 33458 , United States
| | - Mostafa E Rateb
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter , Florida 33458 , United States
| | - Melissa S Love
- California Institute for Biomedical Research , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Zhengren Xu
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter , Florida 33458 , United States
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter , Florida 33458 , United States
- Natural Products Library Initiative at The Scripps Research Institute , The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter , Florida 33458 , United States
| | - Xiangcheng Zhu
- Xiangya International Academy of Translational Medicine , Central South University , Changsha , Hunan 410013 , People's Republic of China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Natural Product Drug Discovery , Changsha , Hunan 410013 , People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Huang
- Xiangya International Academy of Translational Medicine , Central South University , Changsha , Hunan 410013 , People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Xing Zhao
- Yunnan Institute of Microbiology , Yunnan University , Kunming , Yunnan 650091 , People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Jiang
- Yunnan Institute of Microbiology , Yunnan University , Kunming , Yunnan 650091 , People's Republic of China
| | - Yanwen Duan
- Xiangya International Academy of Translational Medicine , Central South University , Changsha , Hunan 410013 , People's Republic of China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Natural Product Drug Discovery , Changsha , Hunan 410013 , People's Republic of China
| | - Case W McNamara
- California Institute for Biomedical Research , La Jolla , California 92037 , United States
| | - Ben Shen
- Department of Chemistry , The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter , Florida 33458 , United States
- Natural Products Library Initiative at The Scripps Research Institute , The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter , Florida 33458 , United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine , The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter , Florida 33458 , United States
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15
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Kupferschmid M, Aquino-Gil MO, Shams-Eldin H, Schmidt J, Yamakawa N, Krzewinski F, Schwarz RT, Lefebvre T. Identification of O-GlcNAcylated proteins in Plasmodium falciparum. Malar J 2017; 16:485. [PMID: 29187233 PMCID: PMC5707832 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2131-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-translational modifications (PTMs) constitute a huge group of chemical modifications increasing the complexity of the proteomes of living beings. PTMs have been discussed as potential anti-malarial drug targets due to their involvement in many cell processes. O-GlcNAcylation is a widespread PTM found in different organisms including Plasmodium falciparum. The aim of this study was to identify O-GlcNAcylated proteins of P. falciparum, to learn more about the modification process and to understand its eventual functions in the Apicomplexans. METHODS The P. falciparum strain 3D7 was amplified in erythrocytes and purified. The proteome was checked for O-GlcNAcylation using different methods. The level of UDP-GlcNAc, the donor of the sugar moiety for O-GlcNAcylation processes, was measured using high-pH anion exchange chromatography. O-GlcNAcylated proteins were enriched and purified utilizing either click chemistry labelling or adsorption on succinyl-wheat germ agglutinin beads. Proteins were then identified by mass-spectrometry (nano-LC MS/MS). RESULTS While low when compared to MRC5 control cells, P. falciparum disposes of its own pool of UDP-GlcNAc. By using proteomics methods, 13 O-GlcNAcylated proteins were unambiguously identified (11 by click-chemistry and 6 by sWGA-beads enrichment; 4 being identified by the 2 approaches) in late trophozoites. These proteins are all part of pathways, functions and structures important for the parasite survival. By probing clicked-proteins with specific antibodies, Hsp70 and α-tubulin were identified as P. falciparum O-GlcNAc-bearing proteins. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first report on the identity of P. falciparum O-GlcNAcylated proteins. While the parasite O-GlcNAcome seems close to those of other species, the structural differences exhibited by the proteomes provides a glimpse of innovative therapeutic paths to fight malaria. Blocking biosynthesis of UDP-GlcNAc in the parasites is another promising option to reduce Plasmodium life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattis Kupferschmid
- Institute for Virology, Laboratory of Parasitology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Moyira Osny Aquino-Gil
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, 59000, Lille, France.,Instituto Tecnológico de Oaxaca, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Oaxaca, Mexico.,Centro de Investigación UNAM-UABJO, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
| | - Hosam Shams-Eldin
- Institute for Virology, Laboratory of Parasitology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Schmidt
- Institute for Virology, Laboratory of Parasitology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nao Yamakawa
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Frédéric Krzewinski
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Ralph T Schwarz
- Institute for Virology, Laboratory of Parasitology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany.,Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Tony Lefebvre
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576, UGSF, Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, 59000, Lille, France.
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16
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Corral MG, Leroux J, Tresch S, Newton T, Stubbs KA, Mylne JS. Exploiting the Evolutionary Relationship between Malarial Parasites and Plants To Develop New Herbicides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201705400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maxime G. Corral
- School of Molecular Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
| | - Julie Leroux
- School of Molecular Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
| | | | | | - Keith A. Stubbs
- School of Molecular Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
| | - Joshua S. Mylne
- School of Molecular Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
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17
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Corral MG, Leroux J, Tresch S, Newton T, Stubbs KA, Mylne JS. Exploiting the Evolutionary Relationship between Malarial Parasites and Plants To Develop New Herbicides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:9881-9885. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201705400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maxime G. Corral
- School of Molecular Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
| | - Julie Leroux
- School of Molecular Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
| | | | | | - Keith A. Stubbs
- School of Molecular Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
| | - Joshua S. Mylne
- School of Molecular Sciences University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway Crawley WA 6009 Australia
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18
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Corral MG, Leroux J, Stubbs KA, Mylne JS. Herbicidal properties of antimalarial drugs. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45871. [PMID: 28361906 PMCID: PMC5374466 DOI: 10.1038/srep45871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary relationship between plants and the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum is well established and underscored by the P. falciparum apicoplast, an essential chloroplast-like organelle. As a result of this relationship, studies have demonstrated that herbicides active against plants are also active against P. falciparum and thus could act as antimalarial drug leads. Here we show the converse is also true; many antimalarial compounds developed for human use are highly herbicidal. We found that human antimalarial drugs (e.g. sulfadiazine, sulfadoxine, pyrimethamine, cycloguanil) were lethal to the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana at similar concentrations to market herbicides glufosinate and glyphosate. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of these herbicidal antimalarial compounds were similar to commercially used herbicides. The implications of this finding that many antimalarial compounds are herbicidal proffers two novel applications: (i) using the genetically tractable A. thaliana to reveal mode-of-action for understudied antimalarial drugs, and (ii) co-opting antimalarial compounds as a new source for much needed herbicide lead molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime G Corral
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth 6009, Australia.,The ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth 6009, Australia
| | - Julie Leroux
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth 6009, Australia.,The ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth 6009, Australia
| | - Keith A Stubbs
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth 6009, Australia
| | - Joshua S Mylne
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth 6009, Australia.,The ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth 6009, Australia
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19
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Kou X, Zheng W, Du F, Liu F, Wang M, Fan Q, Cui L, Luo E, Cao Y. Characterization of a Plasmodium berghei sexual stage antigen PbPH as a new candidate for malaria transmission-blocking vaccine. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:190. [PMID: 27038925 PMCID: PMC4818878 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1459-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transmission-blocking vaccines (TBVs) are a promising strategy for malaria control and elimination. However, candidate TBV antigens are currently limited, highlighting the urgency of identifying new antigens for TBV development. Methods Using a combination of bioinformatic analysis and functional studies in the rodent malaria model Plasmodium berghei, we identified a conserved Plasmodium protein PbPH (PBANKA_041720) containing a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. The expression of PbPH was detected by Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The function of PbPH was tested by genetic knockout. The TB activity was confirmed by in vitro ookinete conversion assay and mosquito feeding. Results PbPH was detected in Western blot as highly expressed in sexual stages (gametocytes and ookinetes). IFA revealed localizations of PbPH on the surface of gametes, zygotes, and ookinetes. Deletion of the pbph gene did not affect asexual growth, but significantly reduced the formation of gametocytes, ookinetes, and oocysts, indicating that PbPH protein is required for parasite sexual development. Recombinant PbPH expressed and purified from bacteria elicited strong antibody responses in mice and the antibodies significantly inhibited exflagellation of male gametocytes and formation of ookinetes in a concentration-dependent manner. Mosquito feeding experiments confirmed that mosquitoes fed on mice immunized with PbPH had 13 % reduction in the prevalence of infection and almost 48 % reduction in oocyst density. Conclusions Pbph is a highly conserved Plasmodium gene and is required for parasite sexual development. PbPH protein is expressed on the surface of gametes and ookinetes. Immunization of mice against the recombinant PbPH protein induced strong antibody responses that effectively reduced the formation of male gametes and ookinetes in vitro and blocked transmission of the parasites to mosquitoes. These results highlight PbPH as a potential TBV candidate that is worth future investigations in human malaria parasites. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1459-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Kou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, China.,College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, 121001, China
| | - Wenqi Zheng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, China
| | - Feng Du
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, China
| | - Meilian Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, China
| | - Qi Fan
- Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Enjie Luo
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, China.
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, China.
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20
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Dostál V, Libusová L. Microtubule drugs: action, selectivity, and resistance across the kingdoms of life. PROTOPLASMA 2014; 251:991-1005. [PMID: 24652407 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-014-0633-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Microtubule drugs such as paclitaxel, colchicine, vinblastine, trifluralin, or oryzalin form a chemically diverse group that has been reinforced by a large number of novel compounds over time. They all share the ability to change microtubule properties. The profound effects of disrupted microtubule systems on cell physiology can be used in research as well as anticancer treatment and agricultural weed control. The activity of microtubule drugs generally depends on their binding to α- and β-tubulin subunits. The microtubule drugs are often effective only in certain taxonomic groups, while other organisms remain resistant. Available information on the molecular basis of this selectivity is summarized. In addition to reviewing published data, we performed sequence data mining, searching for kingdom-specific signatures in plant, animal, fungal, and protozoan tubulin sequences. Our findings clearly correlate with known microtubule drug resistance determinants and add more amino acid positions with a putative effect on drug-tubulin interaction. The issue of microtubule network properties in plant cells producing microtubule drugs is also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Dostál
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
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21
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Liu L, Richard J, Kim S, Wojcik EJ. Small molecule screen for candidate antimalarials targeting Plasmodium Kinesin-5. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:16601-14. [PMID: 24737313 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.551408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum and vivax are responsible for the majority of malaria infections worldwide, resulting in over a million deaths annually. Malaria parasites now show measured resistance to all currently utilized drugs. Novel antimalarial drugs are urgently needed. The Plasmodium Kinesin-5 mechanoenzyme is a suitable "next generation" target. Discovered via small molecule screen experiments, the human Kinesin-5 has multiple allosteric sites that are "druggable." One site in particular, unique in its sequence divergence across all homologs in the superfamily and even within the same family, exhibits exquisite drug specificity. We propose that Plasmodium Kinesin-5 shares this allosteric site and likewise can be targeted to uncover inhibitors with high specificity. To test this idea, we performed a screen for inhibitors selective for Plasmodium Kinesin-5 ATPase activity in parallel with human Kinesin-5. Our screen of nearly 2000 compounds successfully identified compounds that selectively inhibit both P. vivax and falciparum Kinesin-5 motor domains but, as anticipated, do not impact human Kinesin-5 activity. Of note is a candidate drug that did not biochemically compete with the ATP substrate for the conserved active site or disrupt the microtubule-binding site. Together, our experiments identified MMV666693 as a selective allosteric inhibitor of Plasmodium Kinesin-5; this is the first identified protein target for the Medicines of Malaria Venture validated collection of parasite proliferation inhibitors. This work demonstrates that chemical screens against human kinesins are adaptable to homologs in disease organisms and, as such, extendable to strategies to combat infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqiong Liu
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
| | - Jessica Richard
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
| | - Sunyoung Kim
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
| | - Edward J Wojcik
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
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