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Mambwe D, Coertzen D, Leshabane M, Mulubwa M, Njoroge M, Gibhard L, Girling G, Wicht KJ, Lee MCS, Wittlin S, Moreira DRM, Birkholtz LM, Chibale K. hERG, Plasmodium Life Cycle, and Cross Resistance Profiling of New Azabenzimidazole Analogues of Astemizole. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:463-469. [PMID: 38628794 PMCID: PMC11017395 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Toward addressing the cardiotoxicity liability associated with the antimalarial drug astemizole (AST, hERG IC50 = 0.0042 μM) and its derivatives, we designed and synthesized analogues based on compound 1 (Pf NF54 IC50 = 0.012 μM; hERG IC50 = 0.63 μM), our previously identified 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole AST analogue. Compound 11 retained in vitro multistage antiplasmodium activity (ABS PfNF54 IC50 = 0.017 μM; gametocytes PfiGc/PfLGc IC50 = 1.24/1.39 μM, and liver-stage PbHepG2 IC50 = 2.30 μM), good microsomal metabolic stability (MLM CLint < 11 μL·min-1·mg-1, EH < 0.33), and solubility (150 μM). It shows a ∼6-fold and >6000-fold higher selectivity against human ether-á-go-go-related gene higher selectively potential over hERG relative to 1 and AST, respectively. Despite the excellent in vitro antiplasmodium activity profile, in vivo efficacy in the Plasmodium berghei mouse infection model was diminished, attributable to suboptimal oral bioavailability (F = 14.9%) at 10 mg·kg-1 resulting from poor permeability (log D7.4 = -0.82). No cross-resistance was observed against 44 common Pf mutant lines, suggesting activity via a novel mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dickson Mambwe
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dina Coertzen
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Meta Leshabane
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Mwila Mulubwa
- Drug
Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug
Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- Drug
Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gareth Girling
- Wellcome
Sanger Institute, Wellcome
Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn J. Wicht
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marcus C. S. Lee
- Wellcome
Sanger Institute, Wellcome
Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
- Biological
Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss
Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
- Drug
Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa
- South
African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research
Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute
of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
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Hikaambo CN, Shakela N, Woodland JG, Wicht KJ, Chibale K. Drug discovery in Africa tackles zoonotic and related infections. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadj0035. [PMID: 37851825 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adj0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Zoonotic and related infections pose an enormous health threat to the world's second-most populous continent. Despite the challenges faced by drug discovery scientists in Africa, recent progress toward identifying potential medicines across diverse disease areas is a cause for optimism and an indicator of progress in African-led scientific initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christabel N Hikaambo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Natalia Shakela
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - John G Woodland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
- Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Kathryn J Wicht
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
- Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
- Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
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Escala N, Pineda LM, Ng MG, Coronado LM, Spadafora C, del Olmo E. Antiplasmodial activity, structure-activity relationship and studies on the action of novel benzimidazole derivatives. Sci Rep 2023; 13:285. [PMID: 36609676 PMCID: PMC9822940 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27351-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria cases and deaths keep being excessively high every year. Some inroads gained in the last two decades have been eroded especially due to the surge of resistance to most antimalarials. The search for new molecules that can replace the ones currently in use cannot stop. In this report, the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives guided by structure-activity parameters is presented. Thirty-six molecules obtained are analyzed according to their activity against P. falciparum HB3 strain based on the type of substituent on rings A and B, their electron donor/withdrawing, as well as their dimension/spatial properties. There is a preference for electron donating groups on ring A, such as Me in position 5, or better, 5, 6-diMe. Ring B must be of the pyridine type such as picolinamide, other modifications are generally not favorable. Two molecules, 1 and 33 displayed antiplasmodial activity in the high nanomolar range against the chloroquine sensitive strain, with selectivity indexes above 10. Activity results of 1, 12 and 16 on a chloroquine resistance strain indicated an activity close to chloroquine for compound 1. Analysis of some of their effect on the parasites seem to suggest that 1 and 33 affect only the parasite and use a route other than interference with hemozoin biocrystallization, the route used by chloroquine and most antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Escala
- grid.452531.4Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas: Química Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, CIETUS, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Laura M. Pineda
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, City of Knowledge, Clayton, Apartado 0816-02852, Panama City, Panama
| | - Michelle G. Ng
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, City of Knowledge, Clayton, Apartado 0816-02852, Panama City, Panama
| | - Lorena M. Coronado
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, City of Knowledge, Clayton, Apartado 0816-02852, Panama City, Panama
| | - Carmenza Spadafora
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, City of Knowledge, Clayton, Apartado 0816-02852, Panama City, Panama.
| | - Esther del Olmo
- grid.452531.4Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas: Química Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, CIETUS, IBSAL, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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Mambwe D, Korkor CM, Mabhula A, Ngqumba Z, Cloete C, Kumar M, Barros PL, Leshabane M, Coertzen D, Taylor D, Gibhard L, Njoroge M, Lawrence N, Reader J, Moreira DR, Birkholtz LM, Wittlin S, Egan TJ, Chibale K. Novel 3-Trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole Analogues of Astemizole with Multi-stage Antiplasmodium Activity and In Vivo Efficacy in a Plasmodium berghei Mouse Malaria Infection Model. J Med Chem 2022; 65:16695-16715. [PMID: 36507890 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Iterative medicinal chemistry optimization of an ester-containing astemizole (AST) analogue 1 with an associated metabolic instability liability led to the identification of a highly potent 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole analogue 23 (PfNF54 IC50 = 0.012 μM; PfK1 IC50 = 0.040 μM) displaying high microsomal metabolic stability (HLM CLint < 11.6 μL·min-1·mg-1) and > 1000-fold higher selectivity over hERG compared to AST. In addition to asexual blood stage activity, the compound also shows activity against liver and gametocyte life cycle stages and demonstrates in vivo efficacy in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice at 4 × 50 mg·kg-1 oral dose. Preliminary interrogation of the mode of action using live-cell microscopy and cellular heme speciation revealed that 23 could be affecting multiple processes in the parasitic digestive vacuole, with the possibility of a novel target at play in the organelles associated with it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dickson Mambwe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Constance M Korkor
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Amanda Mabhula
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Zama Ngqumba
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Cleavon Cloete
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Malkeet Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Paula Ladeia Barros
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, CEP 40296-710 Salvador, Brazil
| | - Meta Leshabane
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Dina Coertzen
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Dale Taylor
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Nina Lawrence
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Diogo Rodrigo Moreira
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, CEP 40296-710 Salvador, Brazil
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timothy J Egan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.,South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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Systematic Analysis of Clemastine, a Candidate Apicomplexan Parasite-Selective Tubulin-Targeting Agent. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010068. [PMID: 35008492 PMCID: PMC8744746 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium spp., Babesia spp., and Cryptosporidium spp., cause significant morbidity and mortality. Existing treatments are problematic due to toxicity and the emergence of drug-resistant parasites. Because protozoan tubulin can be selectively disrupted by small molecules to inhibit parasite growth, we assembled an in vitro testing cascade to fully delineate effects of candidate tubulin-targeting drugs on Toxoplasma gondii and vertebrate host cells. Using this analysis, we evaluated clemastine, an antihistamine that has been previously shown to inhibit Plasmodium growth by competitively binding to the CCT/TRiC tubulin chaperone as a proof-of-concept. We concurrently analyzed astemizole, a distinct antihistamine that blocks heme detoxification in Plasmodium. Both drugs have EC50 values of ~2 µM and do not demonstrate cytotoxicity or vertebrate microtubule disruption at this concentration. Parasite subpellicular microtubules are shortened by treatment with either clemastine or astemizole but not after treatment with pyrimethamine, indicating that this effect is not a general response to antiparasitic drugs. Immunoblot quantification indicates that the total α-tubulin concentration of 0.02 pg/tachyzoite does not change with clemastine treatment. In conclusion, the testing cascade allows profiling of small-molecule effects on both parasite and vertebrate cell viability and microtubule integrity.
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