1
|
Ibrahim N, Ibrahim H, Sabater AM, Mazier D, Valentin A, Nepveu F. Artemisinin nanoformulation suitable for intravenous injection: Preparation, characterization and antimalarial activities. Int J Pharm 2015; 495:671-9. [PMID: 26383839 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
More than 40 years after its discovery, artemisinin has become the most promising antimalarial agent. However, no intravenous formulation is available due to its poor aqueous solubility. Here, we report the preparation, characterization, and in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation of biodegradable albumin-bound artemisinin nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were prepared by a combination of a bottom-up and a top-down processes and characterized by different spectroscopic techniques. The preparation process was optimized to develop a nanoformulation with the smallest possible diameter and good homogeneity suitable for intravenous injection enabling direct contact of artemisinin with infected erythrocytes. Chemically and physically stable artemisinin nanoparticles were obtained with excellent entrapment efficiency. In in vitro experiments, the artemisinin nanoformulation was interestingly more effective than non-formulated artemisinin. In Plasmodiumm falciparum-infected 'humanized' mice, the nanoparticles proved to be highly effective with 96% parasitemia inhibition at 10mg/kg/day, prolonging mean survival time without recrudescence. This nanoparticulate albumin-bound system allows the intravenous administration of artemisinin for the first time without harsh organic solvents or cosolvents with 100% bioavailability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nehal Ibrahim
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, UMR 152 (PHARMA-DEV), F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France; IRD, UMR 152, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Hany Ibrahim
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, UMR 152 (PHARMA-DEV), F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France; IRD, UMR 152, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
| | - Alicia Moreno Sabater
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, CR7, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), 91 Bd de l'hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France; INSERM, U1135, CIMI-PARIS, 91 Bd de l'hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France; CNRS, ERL 8255, CIMI-PARIS, 91 Bd de l'hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Dominique Mazier
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, CR7, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), 91 Bd de l'hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France; INSERM, U1135, CIMI-PARIS, 91 Bd de l'hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France; CNRS, ERL 8255, CIMI-PARIS, 91 Bd de l'hôpital, F-75013 Paris, France; AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service Parasitologie-Mycologie, Paris, France
| | - Alexis Valentin
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, UMR 152 (PHARMA-DEV), F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France; IRD, UMR 152, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Françoise Nepveu
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, UMR 152 (PHARMA-DEV), F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France; IRD, UMR 152, F-31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pharmacophore and QSAR modeling of some structurally diverse azaaurones derivatives as anti-malarial activity. Med Chem Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-013-0609-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
3
|
Gordey EE, Yadav PN, Merrin MP, Davies J, Ward SA, Woodman GM, Sadowy AL, Smith TG, Gossage RA. Synthesis and biological activities of 4-N-(anilinyl-n-[oxazolyl])-7-chloroquinolines (n=3′ or 4′) against Plasmodium falciparum in in vitro models. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2011; 21:4512-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.05.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2011] [Revised: 05/28/2011] [Accepted: 05/31/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
4
|
Kathpal A, Patakottu BR, Patankar S. FORS-D Analysis in P. falciparum can Differentiate Classes of Genes Under Selection. Evol Bioinform Online 2011; 7:21-9. [PMID: 21487534 PMCID: PMC3072625 DOI: 10.4137/ebo.s6609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
FORS-D is a measure of the contribution of base order to the stem loop potential of a nucleic acid sequence and can also give information on evolutionary pressures on sequences to move away from secondary structure. Negative FORS-D values in a gene are associated with exons and nucleotide substitutions such as SNPs. An analysis of P. falciparum genes under selection pressure shows a correlation between negative FORS-D values and SNP density for genes that drug targets but not for drug transporters or antigenic variation genes. Analysis of the dhfr gene shows that a majority of rare mutations that associate with drug resistance also fall into regions with negative FORS-D values. These data suggest that FORS-D values might be predictors for drug target genes and drug resistance mutations in these genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atish Kathpal
- Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Goa Campus, Zuarinagar 403726, Goa, India
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Degliesposti G, Kasam V, Da Costa A, Kang HK, Kim N, Kim DW, Breton V, Kim D, Rastelli G. Design and discovery of plasmepsin II inhibitors using an automated workflow on large-scale grids. ChemMedChem 2009; 4:1164-73. [PMID: 19437467 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.200900111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Novel and potent inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin II were identified by post-processing the results of a docking screening with BEAR, a recently reported procedure for the refinement and rescoring of docked ligands in virtual screening. FRET substrate degradation assays performed on the 30 most promising compounds resulted in 26 inhibitors with IC(50) values ranging from 4.3 nM to 1.8 microM.Herein we report the discovery of novel and potent inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin II using GRID computing infrastructures. These compounds were identified by post-processing the results of a large docking screen of commercially available compounds using an automated procedure based on molecular dynamics refinement and binding free-energy estimation using MM-PBSA and MM-GBSA. Among the best-scored compounds, four highly populated and promising chemical classes were identified: N-alkoxyamidines, guanidines, amides, and ureas and thioureas. Thirty hit compounds representative of each class were selected on the basis of their favourable binding free energies and molecular interactions with key active site residues. These were experimentally validated using an inhibition assay based on FRET substrate degradation. Remarkably, 26 of the 30 tested compounds proved to be active as plasmepsin II inhibitors, with IC(50) values ranging from 4.3 nM to 1.8 microM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Degliesposti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 183, 41100 Modena, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Assessment of malaria in vitro drug combination screening and mixed-strain infections using the malaria Sybr green I-based fluorescence assay. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2009; 53:2557-63. [PMID: 19349518 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01370-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Several drug development strategies, including optimization of new antimalarial drug combinations, have been used to counter malaria drug resistance. We evaluated the malaria Sybr green I-based fluorescence (MSF) assay for its use in in vitro drug combination sensitivity assays. Drug combinations of previously published synergistic (atovaquone and proguanil), indifferent (chloroquine and azithromycin), and antagonistic (chloroquine and atovaquone) antimalarial drug interactions were tested against Plasmodium falciparum strains D6 and W2 using the MSF assay. Fifty percent inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)s) were calculated for individual drugs and in fixed ratio combinations relative to their individual IC(50)s. Subsequent isobologram analysis and fractional inhibitory concentration determinations demonstrated the expected drug interaction pattern for each combination tested. Furthermore, we explored the ability of the MSF assay to examine mixed parasite population dynamics, which are commonly seen in malaria patient isolates. Specifically, the capacity of the MSF assay to discern between single and mixed parasite populations was determined. To simulate mixed infections in vitro, fixed ratios of D6 and W2 strains were cocultured with antimalarial drugs and IC(50)s were determined using the MSF assay. Dichotomous concentration curves indicated that the sensitive and resistant parasites composing the genetically heterogeneous population were detectable. Biphasic analysis was performed to obtain subpopulation IC(50)s for comparison to those obtained for the individual malaria strains alone. In conclusion, the MSF assay allows for reliable antimalarial drug combination screening and provides an important method to discern between homogenous and heterogeneous parasite populations.
Collapse
|
7
|
Bakunov SA, Bakunova SM, Wenzler T, Barszcz T, Werbovetz KA, Brun R, Tidwell RR. Synthesis and Antiprotozoal Activity of Cationic 2-Phenylbenzofurans. J Med Chem 2008; 51:6927-44. [DOI: 10.1021/jm800918v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav A. Bakunov
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7525, Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, and Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Svetlana M. Bakunova
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7525, Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, and Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tanja Wenzler
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7525, Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, and Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Todd Barszcz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7525, Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, and Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Karl A. Werbovetz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7525, Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, and Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Reto Brun
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7525, Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, and Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Richard R. Tidwell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7525, Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, and Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
May J, Adjei S, Busch W, Gabor JJ, Issifou S, Kobbe R, Kreuels B, Lell B, Schwarz NG, Adjei O, Kremsner PG, Grobusch MP. Therapeutic and prophylactic effect of intermittent preventive anti-malarial treatment in infants (IPTi) from Ghana and Gabon. Malar J 2008; 7:198. [PMID: 18828899 PMCID: PMC2586636 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-7-198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2008] [Accepted: 10/01/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi) with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) reduces the incidence of malaria episodes in young children. The exact mechanism by which the protective effect is mediated needs to be defined. This study aimed to investigate therapeutic, prophylactic, and possible exceeding effects of SP-based IPTi in two clinical trials. Methods Protective efficacies from two IPTi trials performed in Kumasi, Ghana, and Lambaréné, Gabon, were assessed for overlapping time series of 61 days. For six-months periods after each of three IPTi doses a multivariate Poisson regression model with the respective cohort as co-variate was generated and effect modification of protective efficacy with time strata was evaluated by log-likelihood tests. Results Protective efficacies were not significantly different between the two study cohorts. Study-cohort corrected protective efficacy was highest for the first 61 days after each IPTi application and decreased continuously. For the first 61 days after IPTi-1, IPTi-2, and IPTi-3 the protective efficacy was 71%, 44%, and 43%, respectively. A reduction of the malaria incidence rate was detectable for the first 60, 30 and 40 days after IPTi-1, IPTi-2 and IPTi-3 drug application, respectively. After IPTi-3 a higher risk for malaria could be seen after day 60. This effect was mainly based on the overwhelming influence of the Kumasi cohort. Conclusion The results suggest that SP-based IPTi mainly works through a therapeutic and prophylactic effect over 30 to 60 days after drug application and that a sustained effect beyond post-treatment prophylaxis might be very low. Trial registration Data analysis from clinical trials NCT ID # 00206739 (Kumasi Trial) and NCT ID # 00167843 (Lambaréné Trial), .
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen May
- Research Group Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht Strasse 74, D-20359 Hamburg, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Fletcher S, Cummings CG, Rivas K, Katt WP, Hornéy C, Buckner FS, Chakrabarti D, Sebti SM, Gelb MH, Van Voorhis WC, Hamilton AD. Potent, Plasmodium-selective farnesyltransferase inhibitors that arrest the growth of malaria parasites: structure-activity relationships of ethylenediamine-analogue scaffolds and homology model validation. J Med Chem 2008; 51:5176-97. [PMID: 18686940 DOI: 10.1021/jm800113p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
New chemotherapeutics are urgently needed to combat malaria. We previously reported on a novel series of antimalarial, ethylenediamine-based inhibitors of protein farnesyltransferase (PFT). In the current study, we designed and synthesized a series of second generation inhibitors, wherein the core ethylenediamine scaffold was varied in order to examine both the homology model of Plasmodium falciparum PFT (PfPFT) and our predicted inhibitor binding mode. We identified several PfPFT inhibitors (PfPFTIs) that are selective for PfPFT versus the mammalian isoform of the enzyme (up to 136-fold selectivity), that inhibit the malarial enzyme with IC50 values down to 1 nM, and that block the growth of P. falciparum in infected whole cells (erythrocytes) with ED50 values down to 55 nM. The structure-activity data for these second generation, ethylenediamine-inspired PFT inhibitors were rationalized by consideration of the X-ray crystal structure of mammalian PFT and the homology model of the malarial enzyme.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Fletcher
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, 225 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mishra N, Arora P, Kumar B, Mishra LC, Bhattacharya A, Awasthi SK, Bhasin VK. Synthesis of novel substituted 1,3-diaryl propenone derivatives and their antimalarial activity in vitro. Eur J Med Chem 2008; 43:1530-5. [PMID: 17977622 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2007.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2007] [Revised: 09/07/2007] [Accepted: 09/13/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Mishra
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rossi T, Coppi A, Bruni E, Sgobba M, Degliesposti G, Rastelli G. In vitro Effects ofPlasmodium falciparum Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitors on Normal and Cancer Cell Proliferation. ChemMedChem 2008; 3:421-4. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.200700257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
12
|
Fattorusso C, Campiani G, Kukreja G, Persico M, Butini S, Romano MP, Altarelli M, Ros S, Brindisi M, Savini L, Novellino E, Nacci V, Fattorusso E, Parapini S, Basilico N, Taramelli D, Yardley V, Croft S, Borriello M, Gemma S. Design, Synthesis, and Structure–Activity Relationship Studies of 4-Quinolinyl- and 9-Acrydinylhydrazones as Potent Antimalarial Agents. J Med Chem 2008; 51:1333-43. [DOI: 10.1021/jm7012375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Fattorusso
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Gagan Kukreja
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Marco Persico
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Stefania Butini
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Maria Pia Romano
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Maria Altarelli
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Sindu Ros
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Margherita Brindisi
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Luisa Savini
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Ettore Novellino
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Vito Nacci
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Ernesto Fattorusso
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Silvia Parapini
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Nicoletta Basilico
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Donatella Taramelli
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Vanessa Yardley
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Simon Croft
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Marianna Borriello
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| | - Sandra Gemma
- European Research Centre for Drug Discovery & Development and Dipartimento Farmaco Chimico Tecnologico, Via Aldo Moro 2, Università di Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Chimica delle Sostanze Naturali and Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università di Napoli Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica- Microbiologia- Virologia, Universitá di Milano, Via Pascal 36, 20133, Milano, Italy, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases,
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kobbe R, Adjei S, Kreuzberg C, Kreuels B, Thompson B, Thompson PA, Marks F, Busch W, Tosun M, Schreiber N, Opoku E, Adjei O, Meyer CG, May J. Malaria incidence and efficacy of intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi). Malar J 2007; 6:163. [PMID: 18067679 PMCID: PMC2234423 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-6-163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2007] [Accepted: 12/09/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment in infants (IPTi) is currently evaluated as a malaria control strategy. Among the factors influencing the extent of protection that is provided by IPTi are the transmission intensity, seasonality, drug resistance patterns, and the schedule of IPTi administrations. The aim of this study was to determine how far the protective efficacy of IPTi depends on spatio-temporal variations of the prevailing incidence of malaria. Methods One thousand seventy infants were enrolled in a registered controlled trial on the efficacy of IPTi with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in the Ashanti Region, Ghana, West Africa (ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT00206739). Stratification for the village of residence and the month of birth of study participants demonstrated that the malaria incidence was dependent on spatial (range of incidence rates in different villages 0.6–2.0 episodes/year) and temporal (range of incidence rates in children of different birth months 0.8–1.2 episodes/year) factors. The range of spatio-temporal variation allowed ecological analyses of the correlation between malaria incidence rates, anti-Plasmodium falciparum lysate IgG antibody levels and protective efficacies provided by IPTi. Results Protective efficacy of the first SP administration was positively correlated with malaria incidences in children living in a distinct village or born in a distinct month (R2 0.48, p < 0.04 and R2 0.63, p < 0.003, respectively). Corresponding trends were seen after the second and third study drug administration. Accordingly, IgG levels against parasite lysate increased with malaria incidence. This correlation was stronger in children who received IPTi, indicating an effect modification of the intervention. Conclusion The spatial and temporal variations of malaria incidences in a geographically and meteorologically homogeneous study area exemplify the need for close monitoring of local incidence rates in all types of intervention studies. The increase of the protective efficacy of IPTi with malaria incidences may be relevant for IPTi implementation strategies and, possibly, for other malaria control measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robin Kobbe
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, D-20359 Hamburg, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Portela C, Afonso CMM, Pinto MMM, Lopes D, Nogueira F, do Rosário V. Synthesis and antimalarial properties of new chloro-9H-xanthones with an aminoalkyl side chain. Chem Biodivers 2007; 4:1508-19. [PMID: 17638332 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.200790130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis and antimalarial properties of twelve new chlorinated 9H-xanthones, carrying a [2-(diethylamino)ethyl]amino group in position 1, are reported. All compounds were found to be active towards the chloroquine-susceptible and chloroquine-resistant strains 3D7 and Dd2, resp., of the protozoa parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Especially one compound, 6-chloro-1-{[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]amino}-9H-xanthen-9-one (1k), was found to exhibit significant in vitro activity (IC50 = 3.9 microM) towards the resistant Dd2 strain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- César Portela
- Centro de Estudos de Química Orgânica, Fitoquímica e Farmacologia, Universidade do Porto, Serviço de Química Orgânica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Rua Aníbal Cunha, 164, PT-4050-047 Porto
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ibrahim H, Bouajila J, Siri N, Rozing G, Nepveu F, Couderc F. Very small injected samples to study chloroquine and quinine in human serum using capillary-LC and native fluorescence. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2007; 850:481-7. [PMID: 17227720 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2006.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2006] [Revised: 12/15/2006] [Accepted: 12/18/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A comparison between HPLC with conventional fluorescence detection and capillary-LC (microHPLC) with native laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was done to determine chloroquine (CQ) and quinine (Q) in human serum. HPLC experiments were run with parameters of the conventional fluorimeter set at the highest level of sensitivity. Results were compared with those obtained on microHPLC coupled to a ZETALIF (He-Cd 325 nm) detector which provided a 50-fold increase in sensitivity. In microHPLC-LIF injection volumes were 200 nL instead of 10 microL in conventional HPLC. The separation was completed within 3 min (6 min on HPLC). The limit of detection on microHPLC-LIF was 1.9 and 1.3 fmol for CQ and Q, respectively. Both experiments were validated on serum samples. The mean recovery was more than 95% for CQ and Q. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were found to be within the acceptable limits (<10%).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Ibrahim
- UMR 152-IRD-Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse 3, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Johnson JD, Dennull RA, Gerena L, Lopez-Sanchez M, Roncal NE, Waters NC. Assessment and continued validation of the malaria SYBR green I-based fluorescence assay for use in malaria drug screening. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007; 51:1926-33. [PMID: 17371812 PMCID: PMC1891422 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01607-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 247] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Several new fluorescence malaria in vitro drug susceptibility microtiter plate assays that detect the presence of malarial DNA in infected erythrocytes have recently been reported, in contrast to traditional isotopic screens that involve radioactive substrate incorporation to measure in vitro malaria growth inhibition. We have assessed and further characterized the malaria SYBR Green I-based fluorescence (MSF) assay for its ability to monitor drug resistance. In order to use the MSF assay as a drug screen, all assay conditions must be thoroughly examined. In this study we expanded upon the capabilities of this assay by including antibiotics and antifolates in the drug panel and testing folic acid-free growth conditions. To do this, we evaluated a more expansive panel of antimalarials in combination with various drug assay culture conditions commonly used in drug sensitivity screening for their activity against Plasmodium falciparum strains D6 and W2. The detection and quantitation limits of the MSF assay were 0.04 to 0.08% and approximately 0.5% parasitemia, respectively. The MSF assay quality was significantly robust, displaying a Z' range of 0.73 to 0.95. The 50% inhibitory concentrations for each drug and culture condition combination were determined by using the MSF assay. Compared to the standard [(3)H]hypoxanthine assay, the MSF assay displayed the expected parasite drug resistance patterns with a high degree of global and phenotypic correlation (r(2) >/= 0.9238), regardless of which culture condition combination was used. In conclusion, the MSF assay allows for reliable one-plate high-throughput, automated malaria in vitro susceptibility testing without the expense, time consumption, and hazard of other screening assays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob D Johnson
- Principal Investigator, Department of Parasitology, Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Eastman RT, White J, Hucke O, Yokoyama K, Verlinde CLMJ, Hast MA, Beese LS, Gelb MH, Rathod PK, Van Voorhis WC. Resistance mutations at the lipid substrate binding site of Plasmodium falciparum protein farnesyltransferase. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2006; 152:66-71. [PMID: 17208314 PMCID: PMC2875941 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2006.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2006] [Revised: 11/30/2006] [Accepted: 11/30/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The post-translational farnesylation of proteins serves to anchor a subset of intracellular proteins to membranes in eukaryotic organisms and also promotes protein-protein interactions. This enzymatic reaction is carried out by protein farnesyltransferase (PFT), which catalyzes the transfer of a 15-carbon isoprenoid lipid unit, a farnesyl group, from farnesyl pyrophosphate to the C-termini of proteins containing a CaaX motif. Inhibition of PFT is lethal to the pathogenic protozoa Plasmodium falciparum. Previously, we have shown that parasites resistant to a tetrahydroquinoline (THQ)-based PFT inhibitor BMS-388891 have mutations leading to amino acid substitutions in PFT that map to the peptide substrate binding domain. We now report the selection of parasites resistant to another THQ PFT inhibitor BMS-339941. In whole cell assays sensitivity to BMS-339941 was reduced by 33-fold in a resistant clone, and biochemical analysis demonstrated a corresponding 33-fold increase in the BMS-339941 K(i) for the mutant PFT enzyme. More detailed kinetic analysis revealed that the mutant enzyme required higher concentration of peptide and farnesyl pyrophosphate substrates for optimum catalysis. Unlike previously characterized parasites resistant to BMS-388891, the resistant parasites have a mutation which is predicted to be in a distinct location of the enzymatic pocket, near the farnesyl pyrophosphate binding pocket. This is the first description of a mutation from any species affecting the farnesyl pyrophosphate binding pocket with reduced efficacy of PFT inhibitors. These data provide further support that PFT is the target of THQ inhibitors in P. falciparum and suggest that PFT inhibitors should be combined with other antimalarial agents to minimize the development of resistant parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - John White
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Oliver Hucke
- Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Michael A. Hast
- Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lorena S. Beese
- Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Pradipsinh K. Rathod
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Wesley C. Van Voorhis
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Corresponding author: Wesley C. Van Voorhis, Dept. of Medicine, University of Washington, Box 357185, 1959 N.E. Pacific, Seattle, WA 98195-7185, Tel.: + 1-206-543-2447; fax: + 1-206-685-8681, E. mail addresses:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Glenn MP, Chang SY, Hornéy C, Rivas K, Yokoyama K, Pusateri EE, Fletcher S, Cummings CG, Buckner FS, Pendyala PR, Chakrabarti D, Sebti SM, Gelb M, Van Voorhis WC, Hamilton AD. Structurally simple, potent, Plasmodium selective farnesyltransferase inhibitors that arrest the growth of malaria parasites. J Med Chem 2006; 49:5710-27. [PMID: 16970397 PMCID: PMC2728208 DOI: 10.1021/jm060081v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Third world nations require immediate access to inexpensive therapeutics to counter the high mortality inflicted by malaria. Here, we report a new class of antimalarial protein farnesyltransferase (PFT) inhibitors, designed with specific emphasis on simple molecular architecture, to facilitate easy access to therapies based on this recently validated antimalarial target. This novel series of compounds represents the first Plasmodium falciparum selective PFT inhibitors reported (up to 145-fold selectivity), with lead inhibitors displaying excellent in vitro activity (IC(50) < 1 nM) and toxicity to cultured parasites at low concentrations (ED(50) < 100 nM). Initial studies of absorption, metabolism, and oral bioavailability are reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Andrew D. Hamilton
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Phone: (203) 432-5570. Fax: (203) 432-3221. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ariey F, Fandeur T, Durand R, Randrianarivelojosia M, Jambou R, Legrand E, Ekala MT, Bouchier C, Cojean S, Duchemin JB, Robert V, Le Bras J, Mercereau-Puijalon O. Invasion of Africa by a single pfcrt allele of South East Asian type. Malar J 2006; 5:34. [PMID: 16638153 PMCID: PMC1459864 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-5-34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2006] [Accepted: 04/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Because of its dramatic public health impact, Plasmodium falciparum resistance to chloroquine (CQ) has been documented early on. Chloroquine-resistance (CQR) emerged in the late 1950's independently in South East Asia and South America and progressively spread over all malaria areas. CQR was reported in East Africa in the 1970's, and has since invaded the African continent. Many questions remain about the actual selection and spreading process of CQR parasites, and about the evolution of the ancestral mutant gene(s) during spreading. METHODS Eleven clinical isolates of P. falciparum from Cambodia and 238 from Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Bukina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Togo, Benin, Niger, Congo, Madagascar, Comoros Islands, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Cameroun, Gabon) were collected during active case detection surveys carried out between 1996 and 2001. Parasite DNA was extracted from frozen blood aliquots and amplification of the gene pfcrt exon 2 (codon 72-76), exon 4 and intron 4 (codon 220 and microsatellite marker) were performed. All fragments were sequenced. RESULTS 124 isolates with a sensitive (c76/c220:CVMNK/A) haplotype and 125 isolates with a resistant c76/c220:CVIET/S haplotype were found. The microsatellite showed 17 different types in the isolates carrying the c76/c220:CVMNK/A haplotype while all 125 isolates with a CVIET/S haplotype but two had a single microsatellite type, namely (TAAA)3(TA)15, whatever the location or time of collection. CONCLUSION Those results are consistent with the migration of a single ancestral pfcrt CQR allele from Asia to Africa. This is related to the importance of PFCRT in the fitness of P. falciparum point out this protein as a potential target for developments of new antimalarial drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Thierry Fandeur
- UMR Université-INRA d'Immunologie Parasitaire, Tours, France
| | | | | | | | - Eric Legrand
- Institut Pasteur de Guyane Française, Cayenne, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Vincent Robert
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement and Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Reguera RM, Redondo CM, Gutierrez de Prado R, Pérez-Pertejo Y, Balaña-Fouce R. DNA topoisomerase I from parasitic protozoa: A potential target for chemotherapy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 1759:117-31. [PMID: 16757380 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbaexp.2006.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2006] [Revised: 03/22/2006] [Accepted: 03/30/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The growing occurrence of drug resistant strains of unicellular prokaryotic parasites, along with insecticide-resistant vectors, are the factors contributing to the increased prevalence of tropical diseases in underdeveloped and developing countries, where they are endemic. Malaria, cryptosporidiosis, African and American trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis threaten human beings, both for the high mortality rates involved and the economic loss resulting from morbidity. Due to the fact that effective immunoprophylaxis is not available at present; preventive sanitary measures and pharmacological approaches are the only sources to control the undesirable effects of such diseases. Current anti-parasitic chemotherapy is expensive, has undesirable side effects or, in many patients, is only marginally effective. Under this point of view molecular biology techniques and drug discovery must walk together in order to find new targets for chemotherapy intervention. The identification of DNA topoisomerases as a promising drug target is based on the clinical success of camptothecin derivatives as anticancer agents. The recent detection of substantial differences between trypanosome and leishmania DNA topoisomerase IB with respect to their homologues in mammals has provided a new lead in the study of the structural determinants that can be effectively targeted. The present report is an up to date review of the new findings on type IB DNA topoisomerase in unicellular parasites and the role of these enzymes as targets for therapeutic agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R M Reguera
- Dpto. Farmacología y Toxicología (INTOXCAL), Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Vlahakis JZ, Kinobe RT, Nakatsu K, Szarek WA, Crandall IE. Anti-Plasmodium activity of imidazole-dioxolane compounds. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2006; 16:2396-406. [PMID: 16495054 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2006.01.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2005] [Revised: 01/26/2006] [Accepted: 01/27/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A series of imidazole-dioxolane compounds, which we hypothesize should bind to heme and thus interfere with heme catabolism in the parasite, were assayed for inhibitory activity in Plasmodium falciparum cultures and the results were compared to those obtained with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The majority of the compounds displayed a similar ratio of inhibitory activity in the two culture systems; however, a number of the compounds tested showed promising anti-Plasmodium activity. The mechanism of action of these compounds remains unclear, however their inability to act synergistically with chloroquine suggests that, if they are inhibiting heme detoxification, they do so in a manner that does not complement the action of chloroquine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Z Vlahakis
- Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont., Canada K7L 3N6
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Eastman RT, Buckner FS, Yokoyama K, Gelb MH, Van Voorhis WC. Thematic review series: lipid posttranslational modifications. Fighting parasitic disease by blocking protein farnesylation. J Lipid Res 2005; 47:233-40. [PMID: 16339110 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.r500016-jlr200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein farnesylation is a form of posttranslational modification that occurs in most, if not all, eukaryotic cells. Inhibitors of protein farnesyltransferase (PFTIs) have been developed as anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. Using the knowledge gained from the development of PFTIs for the treatment of cancer, researchers are currently investigating the use of PFTIs for the treatment of eukaryotic pathogens. This "piggy-back" approach not only accelerates the development of a chemotherapeutic agent for protozoan pathogens but is also a means of mitigating the costs associated with de novo drug design. PFTIs have already been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of eukaryotic pathogens in animal models, including both Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness, and Plasmodium falciparum, one of the causative agents of malaria. Here, current evidence and progress are summarized that support the targeting of protein farnesyltransferase for the treatment of parasitic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard T Eastman
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Marks F, Evans J, Meyer CG, Browne EN, Flessner C, von Kalckreuth V, Eggelte TA, Horstmann RD, May J. High prevalence of markers for sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in the absence of drug pressure in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2005; 49:1101-5. [PMID: 15728909 PMCID: PMC549270 DOI: 10.1128/aac.49.3.1101-1105.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Markers of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to chloroquine (CQ) and pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine (PYR-SDX) are widespread in areas where malaria is endemic. In an area where the use PYR-SDX is negligible, the Ashanti Region of Ghana, West Africa, adult individuals were enrolled in an analysis of CQ- and PYR-SDX-associated molecular resistance markers in 2001 (n = 177) and 2003 (n = 180). Parasite prevalence, as assessed by PCR assays, were 56.5 and 48.8% in 2001 and 2003, respectively. A high frequency of CQ, PYR, and SDX resistance markers was observed, whereby, as a weak trend, the frequency was higher in 2003. The quintuple combination of three pfdhfr mutations and two pfdhps mutations has previously been recognized to be the most important determinant of PYR-SDX resistance. Approximately 60% of parasite carriers harbored fourfold mutated parasites, indicative of a considerable risk for a switch to high-level PYR-SDX resistance in an area where the rate of PYR-SDX use is low. Among the factors contributing to the high frequency of PYR-SDX resistance-associated mutations are background use of PYR-SDX, past use of PYR for malaria prophylaxis, cross-resistance of trimethoprim with PYR, and the sufficient biological fitness of resistant parasites in the absence of drug pressure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Marks
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Str. 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan M Kompis
- ARPIDA Ltd, Dammstrasse 36, 4142 Münchenstein, Switzerland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Eastman RT, White J, Hucke O, Bauer K, Yokoyama K, Nallan L, Chakrabarti D, Verlinde CLMJ, Gelb MH, Rathod PK, Van Voorhis WC. Resistance to a Protein Farnesyltransferase Inhibitor in Plasmodium falciparum. J Biol Chem 2005; 280:13554-9. [PMID: 15661734 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m413556200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The post-translational farnesylation of proteins serves to anchor a subset of intracellular proteins to membranes in eukaryotic organisms and also promotes protein-protein interactions. Inhibition of protein farnesyltransferase (PFT) is lethal to the pathogenic protozoa Plasmodium falciparum. Parasites were isolated that were resistant to BMS-388891, a tetrahydroquinoline (THQ) PFT inhibitor. Resistance was associated with a 12-fold decrease in drug susceptibility. Genotypic analysis revealed a single point mutation in the beta subunit in resistant parasites. The resultant tyrosine 837 to cysteine alteration in the beta subunit corresponded to the binding site for the THQ and peptide substrate. Biochemical analysis of Y837C-PFT demonstrated a 13-fold increase in BMS-388891 concentration necessary for inhibiting 50% of the enzyme activity. These data are consistent with PFT as the target of BMS-388891 in P. falciparum and suggest that PFT inhibitors should be combined with other antimalarial agents for effective therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard T Eastman
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Waters NC, Dow GS, Kozar MP. Antimalarial compound identification and design: advances in the patent literature, 2000 – 2003. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2005. [DOI: 10.1517/13543776.14.8.1125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
27
|
Bharara R, Singh S, Pattnaik P, Chitnis CE, Sharma A. Structural analogs of sialic acid interfere with the binding of erythrocyte binding antigen-175 to glycophorin A, an interaction crucial for erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2005; 138:123-9. [PMID: 15500923 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2004.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2004] [Accepted: 07/31/2004] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum causes the most virulent form of malaria and remains a major worldwide health problem. The erythrocytic development of P. falciparum relies on parasite invasion of host erythrocytes, a process mediated in part by the interaction of erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA-175) with the erythrocyte receptor glycophorin A (GA). The binding domain of EBA-175 that interacts with glycophorin A is a approximately 330 residues module called F2. Several studies have shown that F2 recognizes both sialic acids and the protein backbone on glycophorin A. Here, we have developed ELISA-based quantitative F2-GA binding assays. We also performed a series of competitive inhibition assays to block the F2-GA interaction using a variety of sialic acid analogs. Our data show that both 2,3-didehydro-2-deoxy-N-acetyl neuraminic acid (DANA) and 3'-N-acetyl neuraminyl-N-acetyl lactosamine are excellent inhibitors of the F2-GA interaction. Moderate levels of inhibition were also observed with monomers or oligomers of N-acetyl neuraminic acid (sialic acid). Furthermore, we show that DANA is able to significantly inhibit the invasion of erythrocytes by P. falciparum. Together, our ELISA-based binding assays and in vitro inhibition of erythrocyte invasion data suggest that small variations in the structures of DANA and related inhibitors can result in even more potent invasion inhibitory activities. Our studies provide a platform for the development of high potency inhibitors of the F2-GA interaction using high throughput drug discovery technologies. Such compounds may form part of inhibitor cocktails, which aim to block invasion of erythrocytes by P. falciparum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ritica Bharara
- Malaria Research Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, P.O. Box 10504, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Portela C, Afonso CMM, Pinto MMM, Ramos MJ. Definition of an electronic profile of compounds with inhibitory activity against hematin aggregation in malaria parasite. Bioorg Med Chem 2005; 12:3313-21. [PMID: 15158799 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2004.03.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2004] [Accepted: 03/26/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases, affecting almost half of the world and posing a threat to the other half. Xanthone derivatives can behave as antimalarial drugs in the same mechanistic way as chloroquine and other related quinolines. This action is due to the inhibition of the detoxification pathway of the parasite, responsible for the production of hemozoin. We report a study of the electronic properties of the xanthonic and quinolinic compounds based on DFT calculations, in order to determine a pattern that could be applied to the development of new potentially active antimalarial molecules. As a result, a new interpretation of structure-activity relationship of the quinoline antimalarial drugs, and of the active hydroxylated xanthones is proposed here. We conclude that electronic features rather than steric factors control primarily the inhibitory activity of the studied compounds against hematin aggregation, concurring to a potential antimalarial activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- César Portela
- Centro de Estudos de Química Orgânica, Fitoquímica e Farmacologia da Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Farmácia, Rua Aníbal Cunha, 164 4050-047 Porto, Portugal
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Marks F, Meyer CG, Sievertsen J, Timmann C, Evans J, Horstmann RD, May J. Genotyping of Plasmodium falciparum pyrimethamine resistance by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2004; 48:466-72. [PMID: 14742196 PMCID: PMC321558 DOI: 10.1128/aac.48.2.466-472.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing resistance, recrudescences, and treatment failure have led to the replacement of chloroquine with the combination of pyrimethamine (PYR) and sulfadoxine (SDX) as the first-line antimalarial drugs for treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in several areas where this disease is endemic. The development of resistance to PYR-SDX is favored by incomplete treatment courses or by subtherapeutic levels in plasma. PYR-SDX resistance has been associated with several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the P. falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (pfdhfr) and the P. falciparum dihydropteroate synthetase (pfdhps) genes. We have established assays based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) that conveniently allow the identification of SNPs associated with PYR resistance. Variants occurring at codon positions 16, 51, 59, and 108 of the pfdhfr gene were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS in synthetic oligonucleotides to determine the detection threshold. In addition, 63 blood samples from subjects with P. falciparum parasitemia of various degrees were analyzed. The results were compared to those obtained by DNA sequencing of the respective gene fragment. The results of MALDI-TOF MS and DNA sequencing were consistent in 40 samples. In 23 samples two or three pfdhfr variants were detected by MALDI-TOF assays, whereas DNA-sequencing revealed one variant only. Simultaneous detection of two different mutations by biplex assays was, in principle, feasible. As demonstrated by the example of PYR resistance, MALDI-TOF MS allows for rapid and automated high-throughput assessment of drug sensitivity in P. falciparum malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Marks
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
The crystal structure of PfPK5, a cyclin-dependent kinase from Plasmodium falciparum, is the first CDK structure determined from a nonhuman source and represents a potential new target for anti-malarial drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linda S Brinen
- Sandler Center for Basic Parasitic Disease Research, Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|