1
|
Luo AP, Giannangelo C, Siddiqui G, Creek DJ. Promising antimalarial hits from phenotypic screens: a review of recently-described multi-stage actives and their modes of action. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1308193. [PMID: 38162576 PMCID: PMC10757594 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1308193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last two decades, global malaria cases caused by Plasmodium falciparum have declined due to the implementation of effective treatments and the use of insecticides. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruption in the timely delivery of medical goods and diverted public health resources, impairing malaria control. The emergence of resistance to all existing frontline antimalarials underpins an urgent need for new antimalarials with novel mechanisms of action. Furthermore, the need to reduce malaria transmission and/or prevent malaria infection has shifted the focus of antimalarial research towards the discovery of compounds that act beyond the symptomatic blood stage and also impact other parasite life cycle stages. Phenotypic screening has been responsible for the majority of new antimalarial lead compounds discovered over the past 10 years. This review describes recently reported novel antimalarial hits that target multiple parasite stages and were discovered by phenotypic screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their modes of action and targets in blood stage parasites are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ghizal Siddiqui
- Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ong HW, de Silva C, Avalani K, Kwarcinski F, Mansfield CR, Chirgwin M, Truong A, Derbyshire ER, Zutshi R, Drewry DH. Characterization of 2,4-Dianilinopyrimidines Against Five P. falciparum Kinases PfARK1, PfARK3, PfNEK3, PfPK9, and PfPKB. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1774-1784. [PMID: 38116430 PMCID: PMC10726455 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium kinases are increasingly recognized as potential novel antiplasmodial targets for the treatment of malaria, but only a small subset of these kinases have had structure-activity relationship (SAR) campaigns reported. Herein we report the discovery of CZC-54252 (1) as an inhibitor of five P. falciparum kinases PfARK1, PfARK3, PfNEK3, PfPK9, and PfPKB. 39 analogues were evaluated against all five kinases to establish SAR at three regions of the kinase active site. Nanomolar inhibitors of each kinase were discovered. We identified common and divergent SAR trends across all five kinases, highlighting substituents in each region that improve potency and selectivity for each kinase. Potent analogues were evaluated against the P. falciparum blood stage. Eight submicromolar inhibitors were discovered, of which 37 demonstrated potent antiplasmodial activity (EC50 = 0.16 μM). Our results provide an understanding of features needed to inhibit each individual kinase and lay groundwork for future optimization efforts toward novel antimalarials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Han Wee Ong
- Structural
Genomics Consortium and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal
Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Chandi de Silva
- Luceome
Biotechnologies, LLC, 1665 East 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - Krisha Avalani
- Luceome
Biotechnologies, LLC, 1665 East 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - Frank Kwarcinski
- Luceome
Biotechnologies, LLC, 1665 East 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - Christopher R. Mansfield
- Department
of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Michael Chirgwin
- Department
of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Anna Truong
- Department
of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Emily R. Derbyshire
- Department
of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Reena Zutshi
- Luceome
Biotechnologies, LLC, 1665 East 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, Arizona 85719, United States
| | - David H. Drewry
- Structural
Genomics Consortium and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal
Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Lineberger
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| |
Collapse
|