1
|
Costa Júnior DB, Araújo JSC, Oliveira LDM, Neri FSM, Moreira POL, Taranto AG, Fonseca AL, Varotti FDP, Leite FHA. A novel antiplasmodial compound: integration of in silico and in vitro assays. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:6295-6307. [PMID: 33554762 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1882339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium genus. which P. falciparum is responsible for the most severe form of the disease, cerebral malaria. In 2018, 405,000 people died of malaria. Antimalarial drugs have serious adverse effects and limited efficacy due to multidrug-resistant strains. One way to overcome these limitations is the use of computational approaches for prioritizing candidates to phenotypic assays and/or in vitro assays against validated targets. Plasmodium falciparum Enoyl-ACP reductase (PfENR) is noteworthy because it catalyzes the rate-limiting step of the biosynthetic pathway of fatty acid. Thus, the study aimed to identify potential PfENR inhibitors by ligand (2D molecular similarity and pharmacophore models) and structure-based virtual screening (molecular docking). 2D similarity-based virtual screening using Tanimoto Index (> 0.45) selected 29,236 molecules from natural products subset available in ZINC database (n = 181,603). Next, 10 pharmacophore models for PfENR inhibitors were generated and evaluated based on the internal statistical parameters from GALAHAD™ and ROC/AUC curve. These parameters selected a suitable pharmacophore model with one hydrophobic center and two hydrogen bond acceptors. The alignment of the filtered molecules on best pharmacophore model resulted in the selection of 10,977 molecules. These molecules were directed to the docking-based virtual screening by AutoDock Vina 1.1.2 program. These strategies selected one compound to phenotypic assays against parasite. ZINC630259 showed EC50 = 0.12 ± 0.018 µM in antiplasmodial assays and selective index similar to other antimalarial drugs. Finally, MM/PBSA method showed stability of molecule within PfENR binding site (ΔGbinding=-57.337 kJ/mol).Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Bacelar Costa Júnior
- Programa de pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil
| | | | - Larissa de Mattos Oliveira
- Programa de pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil
| | - Flávio Simas Moreira Neri
- Programa de pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil
| | | | - Alex Gutterres Taranto
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Desenho de Fármacos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Feira de Santana, Brazil
| | - Amanda Luisa Fonseca
- Laboratório de Bioquímica Medicinal, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Feira de Santana, Brazil
| | - Fernando de Pilla Varotti
- Laboratório de Bioquímica Medicinal, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Feira de Santana, Brazil
| | - Franco Henrique Andrade Leite
- Programa de pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil.,Programa de pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil.,Laboratório de Qumioinformática e Avaliação Biológica, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ofori MF, Kploanyi EE, Mensah BA, Dickson EK, Kyei-Baafour E, Gyabaa S, Tetteh M, Koram KA, Abuaku BK, Ghansah A. Ex vivo Sensitivity Profile of Plasmodium falciparum Clinical Isolates to a Panel of Antimalarial Drugs in Ghana 13 Years After National Policy Change. Infect Drug Resist 2021; 14:267-276. [PMID: 33536768 PMCID: PMC7850388 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s295277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Malaria continues to be a major health issue globally with almost 85% of the global burden and deaths borne by sub-Saharan Africa and India. Although the current artemisinin derived combination therapies in Ghana are still efficacious against the Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) parasite, compounding evidence of artemisinin and amodiaquine resistance establish the need for a full, up-to-date understanding and monitoring of antimalarial resistance to provide evidence for planning control strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was cross-sectional and was conducted during the peak malaria transmission seasons of 2015, 2016, and 2017 in two ecological zones of Ghana. Study participants included children aged 6 months to 14 years. Using ex vivo 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) drug sensitivity assay, 330 Pf isolates were used to investigate susceptibility to five antimalarial drugs: chloroquine (CQ), amodiaquine (AMD) dihydroartemisinin (DHA), artesunate (ART) and mefloquine (MFQ). RESULTS The pooled geometric mean IC50S (GMIC50) of the five drugs against the parasites from Cape Coast and Begoro were 15.5, 42.4, 18.9, 4.6 and 27.3nM for CQ, AMD, DHA, ART, and MFQ, respectively. The GMIC50 values for CQ (p<0.001), ART (p<0.011) and DHA (p<0.018) were significantly higher for Cape Coast isolates as compared to Begoro isolates. However, GMIC50 estimates for MFQ (p<0.022) were significantly higher for Begoro isolates. Positive correlations were found between each pair of drugs with the weakest found between MFQ and DHA (r = 0.34;p<0.001), and the strongest between ART and DHA (r =0.66; p<0.001). CONCLUSION The parasites showed reduced sensitivities to three (AMD, DHA and MFQ) out of the five drugs assessed. The study also demonstrated the continual return of chloroquine-sensitive parasites after 13 years of its withdrawal as the first-line drug for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Ghana. The ex vivo DAPI assay is a reliable method for assessing antimalarial drug sensitivities of Pf field isolates under field settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Fokuo Ofori
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Emma E Kploanyi
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Benedicta A Mensah
- Epidemiology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research,University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel K Dickson
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Eric Kyei-Baafour
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Sampson Gyabaa
- Ewim Polyclinic, Ghana Health Service, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Mary Tetteh
- Begoro District Hospital, Ghana Health Service, Begoro, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo A Koram
- Epidemiology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research,University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Benjamin K Abuaku
- Epidemiology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research,University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Anita Ghansah
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Forastieri PS, Luna LE, Cravero RM, Labadie GR. A Synthetic Approach to PW2‐Like Compounds. ChemistrySelect 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201903654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela S. Forastieri
- Instituto de Química Rosario (CONICET-UNR) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y FarmaceúticasUniversidad Nacional del Rosario Suipacha 531 S2002RLK, Rosario Argentina
| | - Liliana E. Luna
- Instituto de Química Rosario (CONICET-UNR) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y FarmaceúticasUniversidad Nacional del Rosario Suipacha 531 S2002RLK, Rosario Argentina
| | - Raquel M. Cravero
- Instituto de Química Rosario (CONICET-UNR) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y FarmaceúticasUniversidad Nacional del Rosario Suipacha 531 S2002RLK, Rosario Argentina
| | - Guillermo R. Labadie
- Instituto de Química Rosario (CONICET-UNR) and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y FarmaceúticasUniversidad Nacional del Rosario Suipacha 531 S2002RLK, Rosario Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Batugedara G, Lu XM, Saraf A, Sardiu ME, Cort A, Abel S, Prudhomme J, Washburn MP, Florens L, Bunnik EM, Le Roch KG. The chromatin bound proteome of the human malaria parasite. Microb Genom 2020; 6:e000327. [PMID: 32017676 PMCID: PMC7067212 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteins interacting with DNA are fundamental for mediating processes such as gene expression, DNA replication and maintenance of genome integrity. Accumulating evidence suggests that the chromatin of apicomplexan parasites, such as Plasmodium falciparum, is highly organized, and this structure provides an epigenetic mechanism for transcriptional regulation. To investigate how parasite chromatin structure is being regulated, we undertook comparative genomics analysis using 12 distinct eukaryotic genomes. We identified conserved and parasite-specific chromatin-associated domains (CADs) and proteins (CAPs). We then used the chromatin enrichment for proteomics (ChEP) approach to experimentally capture CAPs in P. falciparum. A topological scoring analysis of the proteomics dataset revealed stage-specific enrichments of CADs and CAPs. Finally, we characterized, two candidate CAPs: a conserved homologue of the structural maintenance of chromosome 3 protein and a homologue of the crowded-like nuclei protein, a plant-like protein functionally analogous to animal nuclear lamina proteins. Collectively, our results provide a comprehensive overview of CAPs in apicomplexans, and contribute to our understanding of the complex molecular components regulating chromatin structure and genome architecture in these deadly parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gayani Batugedara
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Xueqing M. Lu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Anita Saraf
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E. 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Mihaela E. Sardiu
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E. 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Anthony Cort
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Steven Abel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Jacques Prudhomme
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Michael P. Washburn
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E. 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Laurence Florens
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E. 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Evelien M. Bunnik
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Karine G. Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Reiling SJ, Rohrbach P. Uptake of a fluorescently tagged chloroquine analogue is reduced in CQ-resistant compared to CQ-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Malar J 2019; 18:342. [PMID: 31590674 PMCID: PMC6781371 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2980-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chloroquine (CQ) was the drug of choice for decades in the treatment of falciparum malaria until resistance emerged. CQ is suggested to accumulate in the parasite’s digestive vacuole (DV), where it unfolds its anti-malarial properties. Discrepancies of CQ accumulation in CQ-sensitive (CQS) and CQ-resistant (CQR) strains are thought to play a significant role in drug susceptibility. Analysis of CQ transport and intracellular localization using a fluorescently tagged CQ analogue could provide much needed information to distinguish susceptible from resistant parasite strains. The fluorescently tagged CQ analogue LynxTag-CQ™GREEN (CQGREEN) is commercially available and was assessed for its suitability. Methods IC50 values were determined for both CQ and CQGREEN in two CQS and two CQR Plasmodium falciparum strains. Buffer solutions with varying pH were used to determine pH-dependent localization of CQGREEN in infected red blood cells. Before CQS or CQR parasites were exposed to different pH buffers, they were pre-loaded with varying concentrations of CQGREEN for up to 7 h. Intracellular accumulation was analysed using live cell confocal microscopy. CQGREEN uptake rates were determined for the cytosol and DV in the presence and absence of verapamil. Results In CQS strains, twofold higher IC50 values were determined for the CQGREEN analogue compared to CQ. No significant differences in IC50 values were observed in CQR strains. Addition of verapamil reversed drug resistance of CQR strains to both CQ and CQGREEN. Live cell imaging revealed that CQGREEN fluorescence was mainly seen in the cytosol of most parasites, independent of the concentration used. Incubation periods of up to 7 h did not influence intracellular localization of CQGREEN. Nevertheless, CQGREEN uptake rates in CQR strains were reduced by 50% compared to CQS strains. Conclusion Although fluorescence of CQGREEN was mainly seen in the cytosol of parasites, IC50 assays showed comparable efficacy of CQGREEN and CQ in parasite killing of CQS and CQR strains. Reduced uptake rates of CQGREEN in CQR strains compared to CQS strains indicate parasite-specific responses to CQGREEN exposure. The data contains valuable information when CQGREEN is used as an analogue for CQ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Reiling
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC, H9X-3V9, Canada
| | - Petra Rohrbach
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC, H9X-3V9, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Proof of concept: used malaria rapid diagnostic tests applied for parallel sequencing for surveillance of molecular markers of anti-malarial resistance in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau during 2014-2017. Malar J 2019; 18:252. [PMID: 31349834 PMCID: PMC6660714 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2894-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Large-scale surveillance of molecular markers of anti-malarial drug resistance is an attractive method of resistance monitoring, to complement therapeutic efficacy studies in settings where the latter are logistically challenging. Methods Between 2014 and 2017, this study sampled malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), used in routine clinical care, from two health centres in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. In order to obtain epidemiological insights, RDTs were collected together with patient data on age and sex. A subset of positive RDTs from one of the two sites (n = 2184) were tested for Plasmodium DNA content. Those testing positive for Plasmodium DNA by PCR (n = 1390) were used for library preparation, custom designed dual indexing and next generation Miseq targeted sequencing of Plasmodium falciparum genes pfcrt, pfmdr1, pfdhfr, pfdhps and pfk13. Results The study found a high frequency of the pfmdr1 codon 86N at 88–97%, a significant decrease of the pfcrt wildtype CVMNK haplotype and elevated levels of the pfdhfr/pfdhps quadruple mutant ranging from 33 to 51% between 2014 and 2017. No polymorphisms indicating artemisinin tolerance were discovered. The demographic data indicate a large proportion of young adults (66%, interquartile range 11–28 years) presenting with P. falciparum infections. While a total of 5532 gene fragments were successfully analysed on a single Illumina Miseq flow cell, PCR-positivity from the library preparation varied considerably from 13 to 87% for different amplicons. Furthermore, pre-screening of samples for Plasmodium DNA content proved necessary prior to library preparation. Conclusions This study serves as a proof of concept for using leftover clinical material (used RDTs) for large-scale molecular surveillance, encompassing the inherent complications regarding to methodology and analysis when doing so. Factors such as RDT storage prior to DNA extraction and parasitaemia of the infection are likely to have an effect on whether or not parasite DNA can be successfully analysed, and are considered part of the reason the data yield is suboptimal. However, given the necessity of molecular surveillance of anti-malarial resistance in settings where poor infrastructure, poor economy, lack of educated staff and even surges of political instability remain major obstacles to performing clinical studies, obtaining the necessary data from used RDTs, despite suboptimal output, becomes a feasible, affordable and hence a justifiable method. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-019-2894-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
|
7
|
Soliman RH, Garcia-Aranda P, Elzagawy SM, Hussein BES, Mayah WW, Martin Ramirez A, Ta-Tang TH, Rubio JM. Imported and autochthonous malaria in West Saudi Arabia: results from a reference hospital. Malar J 2018; 17:286. [PMID: 30086757 PMCID: PMC6081858 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2438-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is seeking malaria eradication. Malaria transmission has been very low over the last few years. Discovered cases of Plasmodium falciparum infection are assigned a treatment protocol of artemisinin-based combination therapy, which consists of artesunate in addition to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine rather than the traditional chloroquine, which has high resistance rates worldwide. This study aims to investigate the presence of different gene mutations concerning anti-malarial drug resistance (pfdhfr, pfdhps, pfmdr1, pfcrt, pfcytb, pfketch13) to identify whether drug-resistant alleles are present in this area of the Kingdom and whether the country’s treatment protocol is still suitable for Plasmodium bearing a resistance mutation. Methods Blood samples were collected from patients suffering from symptoms suggesting malaria coming to King Faisal Hospital, Taif, from February to August 2016. Diagnosis was performed by Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood films, rapid diagnostic test and PCR. Positive P. falciparum samples were further subjected to series of PCR amplification reactions targeting genes related with drug resistance (pfdhfr, pfdhps, pfmdr1, pfcrt, pfcytb, pfketch13). Results Twenty-six cases were positives, 13 infected with P. falciparum, of those, 4 cases were autochthonous, and 13 with Plasmodium vivax. The results of the gene mutation detection confirmed that there was no mutation related to resistance to artemisinin or atovaquone, on the other hand chloroquine resistance alleles were detected in 31% of samples. Moreover, point mutations in the pfdhfr and pfdhps genes, related resistance to antifolate drugs, were detected in all characterized samples. Conclusions Haplotypes of P. falciparum in the western region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exhibit high resistance against antifolate drugs. These results should be extensively discussed when planning to modify anti-malarial drug protocols in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rasha Hassan Soliman
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Taif University, Al Hawiyah, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Patricia Garcia-Aranda
- Malaria and Emerging Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, National Microbiology Centre, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sherine Mohamed Elzagawy
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.,Princes Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Boshra El-Sayed Hussein
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.,King Faisal Medical Complex, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Wael Wahid Mayah
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.,Faculty of Dentisary, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexandra Martin Ramirez
- Malaria and Emerging Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, National Microbiology Centre, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Thuy-Huong Ta-Tang
- Malaria and Emerging Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, National Microbiology Centre, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Miguel Rubio
- Malaria and Emerging Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, National Microbiology Centre, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Identifying host regulators and inhibitors of liver stage malaria infection using kinase activity profiles. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1232. [PMID: 29089541 PMCID: PMC5663700 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01345-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites have extensive needs from their host hepatocytes during the obligate liver stage of infection, yet there remains sparse knowledge of specific host regulators. Here we assess 34 host-targeted kinase inhibitors for their capacity to eliminate Plasmodium yoelii-infected hepatocytes. Using pre-existing activity profiles of each inhibitor, we generate a predictive computational model that identifies host kinases, which facilitate Plasmodium yoelii liver stage infection. We predict 47 kinases, including novel and previously described kinases that impact infection. The impact of a subset of kinases is experimentally validated, including Receptor Tyrosine Kinases, members of the MAP Kinase cascade, and WEE1. Our approach also predicts host-targeted kinase inhibitors of infection, including compounds already used in humans. Three of these compounds, VX-680, Roscovitine and Sunitinib, each eliminate >85% of infection. Our approach is well-suited to uncover key host determinants of infection in difficult model systems, including field-isolated parasites and/or emerging pathogens. Host kinases facilitate Plasmodium liver stage (LS) infection, but systematic accounting of important players is lacking. Here, the authors use a computational approach and kinase activity profiles to identify host kinase regulators of LS infection and drugs that could eliminate parasite burden.
Collapse
|
9
|
Baruah UK, Gowthamarajan K, Vanka R, Karri VVSR, Selvaraj K, Jojo GM. Malaria treatment using novel nano-based drug delivery systems. J Drug Target 2017; 25:567-581. [PMID: 28166440 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2017.1291645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We reside in an era of technological innovation and advancement despite which infectious diseases like malaria remain to be one of the greatest threats to the humans. Mortality rate caused by malaria disease is a huge concern in the twenty-first century. Multiple drug resistance and nonspecific drug targeting of the most widely used drugs are the main reasons/drawbacks behind the failure in malarial therapy. Dose-related toxicity because of high doses is also a major concern. Therefore, to overcome these problems nano-based drug delivery systems are being developed to facilitate site-specific or target-based drug delivery and hence minimizing the development of resistance progress and dose-dependent toxicity issues. In this review, we discuss about the shortcomings in treating malaria and how nano-based drug delivery systems can help in curtailing the infectious disease malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uday Krishna Baruah
- a Department of Pharmaceutics , JSS College of Pharmacy, Ootacamund, JSS University , Mysuru , India
| | - Kuppusamy Gowthamarajan
- a Department of Pharmaceutics , JSS College of Pharmacy, Ootacamund, JSS University , Mysuru , India
| | - Ravisankar Vanka
- a Department of Pharmaceutics , JSS College of Pharmacy, Ootacamund, JSS University , Mysuru , India
| | | | - Kousalya Selvaraj
- a Department of Pharmaceutics , JSS College of Pharmacy, Ootacamund, JSS University , Mysuru , India
| | - Gifty M Jojo
- a Department of Pharmaceutics , JSS College of Pharmacy, Ootacamund, JSS University , Mysuru , India
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kita K. [Magic bullet: anti-parasite drugs from Japan]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2017; 149:214-219. [PMID: 28484103 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.149.214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
|
11
|
Hart RJ, Cornillot E, Abraham A, Molina E, Nation CS, Ben Mamoun C, Aly ASI. Genetic Characterization of Plasmodium Putative Pantothenate Kinase Genes Reveals Their Essential Role in Malaria Parasite Transmission to the Mosquito. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33518. [PMID: 27644319 PMCID: PMC5028760 DOI: 10.1038/srep33518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabolic machinery for the biosynthesis of Coenzyme A (CoA) from exogenous pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) has long been considered as an excellent target for the development of selective antimicrobials. Earlier studies in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum have shown that pantothenate analogs interfere with pantothenate phosphorylation and block asexual blood stage development. Although two eukaryotic-type putative pantothenate kinase genes (PanK1 and PanK2) have been identified in all malaria parasite species, their role in the development of Plasmodium life cycle stages remains unknown. Here we report on the genetic characterization of PanK1 and PanK2 in P. yoelii. We show that P. yoelii parasites lacking either PanK1 or PanK2 undergo normal asexual stages development and sexual stages differentiation, however they are severely deficient in ookinete, oocyst and sporozoite formation inside the mosquito vector. Quantitative transcriptional analyses in wild-type and knockout parasites demonstrate an important role for these genes in the regulation of expression of other CoA biosynthesis genes. Together, our data provide the first genetic evidence for the importance of the early steps of pantothenate utilization in the regulation of CoA biosynthesis and malaria parasite transmission to Anopheles mosquitoes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Hart
- Tulane University, Department of Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Emmanuel Cornillot
- Institut de Biologie Computationnelle, Université Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Amanah Abraham
- Tulane University, Department of Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Emily Molina
- Tulane University, Department of Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Catherine S Nation
- Tulane University, Department of Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ahmed S I Aly
- Tulane University, Department of Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Atovaquone and ELQ-300 Combination Therapy as a Novel Dual-Site Cytochrome bc1 Inhibition Strategy for Malaria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:4853-9. [PMID: 27270285 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00791-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimalarial combination therapies play a crucial role in preventing the emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium parasites. Although artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) comprise the majority of these formulations, inhibitors of the mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 complex (cyt bc1) are among the few compounds that are effective for both acute antimalarial treatment and prophylaxis. There are two known sites for inhibition within cyt bc1: atovaquone (ATV) blocks the quinol oxidase (Qo) site of cyt bc1, while some members of the endochin-like quinolone (ELQ) family, including preclinical candidate ELQ-300, inhibit the quinone reductase (Qi) site and retain full potency against ATV-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains with Qo site mutations. Here, we provide the first in vivo comparison of ATV, ELQ-300, and combination therapy consisting of ATV plus ELQ-300 (ATV:ELQ-300), using P. yoelii murine models of malaria. In our monotherapy assessments, we found that ATV functioned as a single-dose curative compound in suppressive tests whereas ELQ-300 demonstrated a unique cumulative dosing effect that successfully blocked recrudescence even in a high-parasitemia acute infection model. ATV:ELQ-300 therapy was highly synergistic, and the combination was curative with a single combined dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight. Compared to the ATV:proguanil (Malarone) formulation, ATV:ELQ-300 was more efficacious in multiday, acute infection models and was equally effective at blocking the emergence of ATV-resistant parasites. Ultimately, our data suggest that dual-site inhibition of cyt bc1 is a valuable strategy for antimalarial combination therapy and that Qi site inhibitors such as ELQ-300 represent valuable partner drugs for the clinically successful Qo site inhibitor ATV.
Collapse
|
13
|
A Method for Amplicon Deep Sequencing of Drug Resistance Genes in Plasmodium falciparum Clinical Isolates from India. J Clin Microbiol 2016; 54:1500-1511. [PMID: 27008882 PMCID: PMC4879288 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00235-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge to global malaria control and elimination is early detection and containment of emerging drug resistance. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods provide the resolution, scalability, and sensitivity required for high-throughput surveillance of molecular markers of drug resistance. We have developed an amplicon sequencing method on the Ion Torrent PGM platform for targeted resequencing of a panel of six Plasmodium falciparum genes implicated in resistance to first-line antimalarial therapy, including artemisinin combination therapy, chloroquine, and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. The protocol was optimized using 12 geographically diverse P. falciparum reference strains and successfully applied to multiplexed sequencing of 16 clinical isolates from India. The sequencing results from the reference strains showed 100% concordance with previously reported drug resistance-associated mutations. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in clinical isolates revealed a number of known resistance-associated mutations and other nonsynonymous mutations that have not been implicated in drug resistance. SNP positions containing multiple allelic variants were used to identify three clinical samples containing mixed genotypes indicative of multiclonal infections. The amplicon sequencing protocol has been designed for the benchtop Ion Torrent PGM platform and can be operated with minimal bioinformatics infrastructure, making it ideal for use in countries that are endemic for the disease to facilitate routine large-scale surveillance of the emergence of drug resistance and to ensure continued success of the malaria treatment policy.
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Malaria is a major public health burden throughout the world. Resistance to the antimalarial drugs has increased the mortality and morbidity rate that is achieved so far through the malaria control program. Monitoring the drug resistance to the available antimalarial drugs helps to implement effective drug policy, through the in vivo efficacy studies, in vitro drug susceptibility tests and detection of molecular markers. It is important to understand the mechanism of the antimalarial drugs, as it is one of the key factors in the emergence and spread of drug resistance. This review summarizes the commonly used antimalarial drugs, their mechanism of action and the genetic markers validated so far for the detection of drug-resistant parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiasindh Ashmi Antony
- Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
| | - Subhash Chandra Parija
- Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Verlinden BK, Louw A, Birkholtz LM. Resisting resistance: is there a solution for malaria? Expert Opin Drug Discov 2016; 11:395-406. [PMID: 26926843 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2016.1154037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Currently, widely used antimalarial drugs have a limited clinical lifespan due to parasite resistance development. With resistance continuously rising, antimalarial drug discovery requires strategies to decrease the time of delivering a new antimalarial drug while simultaneously increasing the drug's therapeutic lifespan. Lessons learnt from various chemotherapeutic resistance studies in the fields of antibiotic and cancer research offer potentially useful strategies that can be applied to antimalarial drug discovery. AREAS COVERED In this review the authors discuss current strategies to circumvent resistance in malaria and alternatives that could be employed. EXPERT OPINION Scientists have been 'beating back' the malaria parasite with novel drugs for the past 49 years but the constant rise in antimalarial drug resistance is forcing the drug discovery community to explore alternative strategies. Avant-garde anti-resistance strategies from alternative fields may assist our endeavors to manage, control and prevent antimalarial drug resistance to progress beyond beating the resistant parasite back, to stopping it dead in its tracks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca K Verlinden
- a Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences , University of Pretoria , Pretoria , South Africa
| | - Abraham Louw
- a Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences , University of Pretoria , Pretoria , South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marié Birkholtz
- a Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences , University of Pretoria , Pretoria , South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Inhibition of Plasmodium berghei Development in Mosquitoes by Effector Proteins Secreted from Asaia sp. Bacteria Using a Novel Native Secretion Signal. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143541. [PMID: 26636338 PMCID: PMC4670117 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel interventions are needed to prevent the transmission of the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria. One possible method is to supply mosquitoes with antiplasmodial effector proteins from bacteria by paratransgenesis. Mosquitoes have a diverse complement of midgut microbiota including the Gram-negative bacteria Asaia bogorensis. This study presents the first use of Asaia sp. bacteria for paratransgenesis against P. berghei. We identified putative secreted proteins from A. bogorensis by a genetic screen using alkaline phosphatase gene fusions. Two were secreted efficiently: a siderophore receptor protein and a YVTN beta-propeller repeat protein. The siderophore receptor gene was fused with antiplasmodial effector genes including the scorpine antimicrobial peptide and an anti-Pbs21 scFv-Shiva1 immunotoxin. Asaia SF2.1 secreting these fusion proteins were fed to mosquitoes and challenged with Plasmodium berghei-infected blood. With each of these effector constructs, significant inhibition of parasite development was observed. These results provide a novel and promising intervention against malaria transmission.
Collapse
|
17
|
From within host dynamics to the epidemiology of infectious disease: Scientific overview and challenges. Math Biosci 2015; 270:143-55. [PMID: 26474512 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Since their earliest days, humans have been struggling with infectious diseases. Caused by viruses, bacteria, protozoa, or even higher organisms like worms, these diseases depend critically on numerous intricate interactions between parasites and hosts, and while we have learned much about these interactions, many details are still obscure. It is evident that the combined host-parasite dynamics constitutes a complex system that involves components and processes at multiple scales of time, space, and biological organization. At one end of this hierarchy we know of individual molecules that play crucial roles for the survival of a parasite or for the response and survival of its host. At the other end, one realizes that the spread of infectious diseases by far exceeds specific locales and, due to today's easy travel of hosts carrying a multitude of organisms, can quickly reach global proportions. The community of mathematical modelers has been addressing specific aspects of infectious diseases for a long time. Most of these efforts have focused on one or two select scales of a multi-level disease and used quite different computational approaches. This restriction to a molecular, physiological, or epidemiological level was prudent, as it has produced solid pillars of a foundation from which it might eventually be possible to launch comprehensive, multi-scale modeling efforts that make full use of the recent advances in biology and, in particular, the various high-throughput methodologies accompanying the emerging -omics revolution. This special issue contains contributions from biologists and modelers, most of whom presented and discussed their work at the workshop From within Host Dynamics to the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, which was held at the Mathematical Biosciences Institute at Ohio State University in April 2014. These contributions highlight some of the forays into a deeper understanding of the dynamics between parasites and their hosts, and the consequences of this dynamics for the spread and treatment of infectious diseases.
Collapse
|
18
|
Reiling SJ, Rohrbach P. Monitoring PfMDR1 transport in Plasmodium falciparum. Malar J 2015; 14:270. [PMID: 26169590 PMCID: PMC4501111 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0791-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance 1 transporter, PfMDR1, contains five amino acid polymorphisms that are suggested to be involved in altered drug transport from the parasite's cytosol into the digestive vacuole (DV). Transport of a substrate into another intracellular compartment influences drug availability at its site of action, therefore making the parasite more susceptible or resistant to a drug. Fluo-4 is a known fluorescent substrate that can be used as a molecular tool to investigate transport dynamics of PfMDR1 in many parasite strains. METHODS Six P. falciparum strains with varying PfMDR1 mutations were loaded with Fluo-4 AM. Accumulation of the fluorophore in the DV was measured using confocal microscopy. The role of a key amino acid mutation was verified using selected parasite clones with point mutations at PfMDR1 amino acid position 1042. Equal expression of PfMDR1 was confirmed by Western blot. RESULTS Fluo-4 was transported by PfMDR1 into the DV of most drug-sensitive and -resistant parasites. Asparagine at PfMDR1 amino acid position 1042 was crucial for Fluo-4 transport, while the N1042D substitution abolished Fluo-4 transport. Competition studies of Fluo-4 with chloroquine, quinine and mefloquine were performed on parasites harbouring asparagine at position 1042. A distinct Fluo-4 transport inhibition pattern for each tested anti-malarial drug was observed in parasite strains of different genetic background. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that Fluo-4 can be used to investigate PfMDR1 transport dynamics in both drug-sensitive and -resistant parasites. Furthermore, direct evidence of altered Fluo-4 transport in PfMDR1 is linked to a single amino acid mutation in the substrate binding pocket. This system offers a great tool to investigate the role of substrate transport by PfMDR1 and the mutations necessary to support transport, which would lead to new insights for the development of novel anti-malarial drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Reiling
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue (Montreal), QC, H9X-3V9, Canada.
| | - Petra Rohrbach
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue (Montreal), QC, H9X-3V9, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Douglass AN, Kain HS, Abdullahi M, Arang N, Austin LS, Mikolajczak SA, Billman ZP, Hume JCC, Murphy SC, Kappe SHI, Kaushansky A. Host-based Prophylaxis Successfully Targets Liver Stage Malaria Parasites. Mol Ther 2015; 23:857-865. [PMID: 25648263 PMCID: PMC4427874 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Eliminating malaria parasites during the asymptomatic but obligate liver stages (LSs) of infection would stop disease and subsequent transmission. Unfortunately, only a single licensed drug that targets all LSs, Primaquine, is available. Targeting host proteins might significantly expand the repertoire of prophylactic drugs against malaria. Here, we demonstrate that both Bcl-2 inhibitors and P53 agonists dramatically reduce LS burden in a mouse malaria model in vitro and in vivo by altering the activity of key hepatocyte factors on which the parasite relies. Bcl-2 inhibitors act primarily by inducing apoptosis in infected hepatocytes, whereas P53 agonists eliminate parasites in an apoptosis-independent fashion. In combination, Bcl-2 inhibitors and P53 agonists act synergistically to delay, and in some cases completely prevent, the onset of blood stage disease. Both families of drugs are highly effective at doses that do not cause substantial hepatocyte cell death in vitro or liver damage in vivo. P53 agonists and Bcl-2 inhibitors were also effective when administered to humanized mice infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Our data demonstrate that host-based prophylaxis could be developed into an effective intervention strategy that eliminates LS parasites before the onset of clinical disease and thus opens a new avenue to prevent malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alyse N Douglass
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Heather S Kain
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Marian Abdullahi
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Nadia Arang
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Laura S Austin
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | | | - Zachary P Billman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and the Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Jen C C Hume
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Sean C Murphy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and the Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Stefan H I Kappe
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - Alexis Kaushansky
- Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Gutierrez JB, Galinski MR, Cantrell S, Voit EO. WITHDRAWN: From within host dynamics to the epidemiology of infectious disease: Scientific overview and challenges. Math Biosci 2015:S0025-5564(15)00085-1. [PMID: 25890102 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan B Gutierrez
- Department of Mathematics, Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States .
| | - Mary R Galinski
- Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States .
| | - Stephen Cantrell
- Department of Mathematics, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, United States .
| | - Eberhard O Voit
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 313 Ferst Drive, Suite 4103, Atlanta, GA 30332-0535, United States .
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Predicting antiprotozoal activity of benzyl phenyl ether diamine derivatives through QSAR multi-target and molecular topology. Mol Divers 2015; 19:357-66. [DOI: 10.1007/s11030-015-9575-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
|