1
|
Singh R, Singh R, Srihari V, Makde RD. In Vitro Investigation Unveiling New Insights into the Antimalarial Mechanism of Chloroquine: Role in Perturbing Nucleation Events during Heme to β-Hematin Transformation. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1647-1657. [PMID: 37471056 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Malaria parasites generate toxic heme during hemoglobin digestion, which is neutralized by crystallizing into inert hemozoin (β-hematin). Chloroquine blocks this detoxification process, resulting in heme-mediated toxicity in malaria parasites. However, the exact mechanism of chloroquine's action remains unknown. This study investigates the impact of chloroquine on the transformation of heme into β-hematin. The results show that chloroquine does not completely halt the transformation process but rather slows it down. Additionally, chloroquine complexation with free heme does not affect substrate availability or inhibit β-hematin formation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) studies indicate that the size of β-hematin crystal particles and crystallites increases in the presence of chloroquine, suggesting that chloroquine does not impede crystal growth. These findings suggest that chloroquine delays hemozoin production by perturbing the nucleation events of crystals and/or the stability of crystal nuclei. Thus, contrary to prevailing beliefs, this study provides a new perspective on the working mechanism of chloroquine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Singh
- Beamline Development and Application Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400085, India
| | - Rashmi Singh
- Laser & Functional Materials Division, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore 452013, India
| | - Velaga Srihari
- High Pressure and Synchrotron Radiation Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 40008, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ravindra D Makde
- Beamline Development and Application Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400085, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Singh R, Makde RD. An assay procedure to investigate the transformation of toxic heme into inert hemozoin via plasmodial heme detoxification protein. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2022; 1870:140832. [PMID: 35934300 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2022.140832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Most antimalarial therapeutics, including chloroquine and artemisinin, induce free heme-mediated toxicity in Plasmodium. This cytotoxic heme is produced as a by-product during the large-scale digestion of host hemoglobin. Conversion of this host-derived heme into inert crystalline hemozoin is the only defense mechanism in Plasmodium against heme-induced cytotoxicity. Heme detoxification protein (HDP), a highly conserved plasmodial protein, is reported to be the most efficient biological mediator for heme to hemozoin transformation. Despite its significance, HDP has never been extensively studied for heme transformation into hemozoin. Therefore, we wish to develop a method to study the HDP-mediated transformation of heme into hemozoin. We have adopted, modified, and optimized the pyridine hemochrome assay to study HDP catalysis and use substrate and time kinetics to study the HDP-mediated transformation of heme into hemozoin. In contrast to the previously reported assay for HDP, we found that the new assay is more precise, accurate, and handy, making it more suitable for kinetic studies. HDP-mediated transformation of heme into hemozoin is not a single-step process, and involves a transient intermediate, most likely a cyclic heme dimer. The kinetics and the manner of HDP-mediated hemozoin production are dependent on the substrate concentration, and a small fraction of substrate remains untransformed to hemozoin irrespective of reaction time. Combining HDP as a catalyst and the pyridine hemochrome assay will facilitate the efficient screening of future antimalarials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Singh
- Beamline Development and Application Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
| | - Ravindra D Makde
- Beamline Development and Application Section, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tsamesidis I, Mousavizadeh F, Egwu CO, Amanatidou D, Pantaleo A, Benoit-Vical F, Reybier K, Giannis A. In Vitro and In Silico Antimalarial Evaluation of FM-AZ, a New Artemisinin Derivative. MEDICINES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:medicines9020008. [PMID: 35200752 PMCID: PMC8880451 DOI: 10.3390/medicines9020008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) are currently the frontline treatment against Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but parasite resistance to artemisinin (ART) and its derivatives, core components of ACTs, is spreading in the Mekong countries. In this study, we report the synthesis of several novel artemisinin derivatives and evaluate their in vitro and in silico capacity to counteract Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistance. Furthermore, recognizing that the malaria parasite devotes considerable resources to minimizing the oxidative stress that it creates during its rapid consumption of hemoglobin and the release of heme, we sought to explore whether further augmentation of this oxidative toxicity might constitute an important addition to artemisinins. The present report demonstrates, in vitro, that FM-AZ, a newly synthesized artemisinin derivative, has a lower IC50 than artemisinin in P. falciparum and a rapid action in killing the parasites. The docking studies for important parasite protein targets, PfATP6 and PfHDP, complemented the in vitro results, explaining the superior IC50 values of FM-AZ in comparison with ART obtained for the ART-resistant strain. However, cross-resistance between FM-AZ and artemisinins was evidenced in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Tsamesidis
- UMR 152 Pharma-Dev, Universite de Toulouse III, IRD, UPS, 31400 Toulouse, France; (C.O.E.); (K.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Correspondence: (I.T.); (A.G.)
| | - Farnoush Mousavizadeh
- Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, 04301 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Chinedu O. Egwu
- UMR 152 Pharma-Dev, Universite de Toulouse III, IRD, UPS, 31400 Toulouse, France; (C.O.E.); (K.R.)
- Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki 482131, Nigeria
- Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, LCC—CNRS, Universite de Toulouse, 31077 Toulouse, France;
| | - Dionysia Amanatidou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Antonella Pantaleo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Françoise Benoit-Vical
- Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, LCC—CNRS, Universite de Toulouse, 31077 Toulouse, France;
| | - Karine Reybier
- UMR 152 Pharma-Dev, Universite de Toulouse III, IRD, UPS, 31400 Toulouse, France; (C.O.E.); (K.R.)
| | - Athanassios Giannis
- Institute for Organic Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 29, 04301 Leipzig, Germany;
- Correspondence: (I.T.); (A.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kapishnikov S, Hempelmann E, Elbaum M, Als-Nielsen J, Leiserowitz L. Malaria Pigment Crystals: The Achilles' Heel of the Malaria Parasite. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:1515-1532. [PMID: 33523575 PMCID: PMC8252759 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The biogenic formation of hemozoin crystals, a crucial process in heme detoxification by the malaria parasite, is reviewed as an antimalarial drug target. We first focus on the in‐vivo formation of hemozoin. A model is presented, based on native‐contrast 3D imaging obtained by X‐ray and electron microscopy, that hemozoin nucleates at the inner membrane leaflet of the parasitic digestive vacuole, and grows in the adjacent aqueous medium. Having observed quantities of hemoglobin and hemozoin in the digestive vacuole, we present a model that heme liberation from hemoglobin and hemozoin formation is an assembly‐line process. The crystallization is preceded by reaction between heme monomers yielding hematin dimers involving fewer types of isomers than in synthetic hemozoin; this is indicative of protein‐induced dimerization. Models of antimalarial drugs binding onto hemozoin surfaces are reviewed. This is followed by a description of bromoquine, a chloroquine drug analogue, capping a significant fraction of hemozoin surfaces within the digestive vacuole and accumulation of the drug, presumably a bromoquine–hematin complex, at the vacuole's membrane.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Kapishnikov
- Dept. of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Ernst Hempelmann
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), City of Knowledge, 0843 (Republic of, Panama
| | - Michael Elbaum
- Dept. of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Jens Als-Nielsen
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Leslie Leiserowitz
- Dept. of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
What is pure hemozoin? A close look at the surface of the malaria pigment. J Inorg Biochem 2019; 194:214-222. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2019.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
|
6
|
Sakata Y, Yabunaka K, Kobayashi Y, Omiya H, Umezawa N, Kim HS, Wataya Y, Tomita Y, Hisamatsu Y, Kato N, Yagi H, Satoh T, Kato K, Ishikawa H, Higuchi T. Potent Antimalarial Activity of Two Arenes Linked with Triamine Designed To Have Multiple Interactions with Heme. ACS Med Chem Lett 2018; 9:980-985. [PMID: 30344903 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.8b00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on the idea that compounds designed to exhibit high affinity for heme would block hemozoin formation, a critical heme-detoxification process for malarial parasites, we synthesized a series of compounds with two π-conjugated moieties at terminal amino groups of triamine. These compounds exhibited moderate to high antimalarial activities in vitro toward both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. In a P. berghei-infected mouse model, 3a and 12a showed potent antimalarial activities compared to artesunate, as well as a prolonged duration of antimalarial effect. We found a good correlation between protective activity against hemin degradation and antimalarial activity. Compounds 8b and 3a strongly inhibited hemozoin formation catalyzed by heme detoxification protein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Sakata
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Kosuke Yabunaka
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Yuko Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Omiya
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Naoki Umezawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Hye-Sook Kim
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-Naka Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Yusuke Wataya
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-Naka Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Yoshimi Tomita
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Yosuke Hisamatsu
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Nobuki Kato
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Yagi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Tadashi Satoh
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Koichi Kato
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems and Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Haruto Ishikawa
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan
| | - Tsunehiko Higuchi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Biomimetic magnetoelectric nanocrystals synthesized by polymerization of heme as advanced nanomaterials for biosensing application. Biosens Bioelectron 2018; 114:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2018.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
|
8
|
In Silico Knockout Screening of Plasmodium falciparum Reactions and Prediction of Novel Essential Reactions by Analysing the Metabolic Network. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:8985718. [PMID: 29789805 PMCID: PMC5896307 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8985718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is an infectious disease that affects close to half a million individuals every year and Plasmodium falciparum is a major cause of malaria. The treatment of this disease could be done effectively if the essential enzymes of this parasite are specifically targeted. Nevertheless, the development of the parasite in resisting existing drugs now makes discovering new drugs a core responsibility. In this study, a novel computational model that makes the prediction of new and validated antimalarial drug target cheaper, easier, and faster has been developed. We have identified new essential reactions as potential targets for drugs in the metabolic network of the parasite. Among the top seven (7) predicted essential reactions, four (4) have been previously identified in earlier studies with biological evidence and one (1) has been with computational evidence. The results from our study were compared with an extensive list of seventy-seven (77) essential reactions with biological evidence from a previous study. We present a list of thirty-one (31) potential candidates for drug targets in Plasmodium falciparum which includes twenty-four (24) new potential candidates for drug targets.
Collapse
|
9
|
Prediction Model for Antimalarial Activities of Hemozoin Inhibitors by Using Physicochemical Properties. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:AAC.02424-17. [PMID: 29439979 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02424-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid spread of strains of malaria parasites that are resistant to several drugs has threatened global malaria control. Hence, the aim of this study was to predict the antimalarial activity of chemical compounds that possess anti-hemozoin-formation activity as a new means of antimalarial drug discovery. After the initial in vitro anti-hemozoin-formation high-throughput screening (HTS) of 9,600 compounds, a total of 224 hit compounds were identified as hemozoin inhibitors. These 224 compounds were tested for in vitro erythrocytic antimalarial activity at 10 μM by using chloroquine-mefloquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum strain 3D7A. Two independent experiments were conducted. The physicochemical properties of the active compounds were extracted from the ChemSpider and SciFinder databases. We analyzed the extracted data by using Bayesian model averaging (BMA). Our findings revealed that lower numbers of S atoms; lower distribution coefficient (log D) values at pH 3, 4, and 5; and higher predicted distribution coefficient (ACD log D) values at pH 7.4 had significant associations with antimalarial activity among compounds that possess anti-hemozoin-formation activity. The BMA model revealed an accuracy of 91.23%. We report new prediction models containing physicochemical properties that shed light on effective chemical groups for synthetic antimalarial compounds and help with in silico screening for novel antimalarial drugs.
Collapse
|
10
|
Perez-Guaita D, Marzec KM, Hudson A, Evans C, Chernenko T, Matthäus C, Miljkovic M, Diem M, Heraud P, Richards JS, Andrew D, Anderson DA, Doerig C, Garcia-Bustos J, McNaughton D, Wood BR. Parasites under the Spotlight: Applications of Vibrational Spectroscopy to Malaria Research. Chem Rev 2018; 118:5330-5358. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Perez-Guaita
- Centre for Biospectroscopy, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Katarzyna M. Marzec
- Jagiellonian Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (JCET), Jagiellonian University, Bobrzyńskiego 14, Kraków 30-348, Poland
- Center for Medical Genomics (OMICRON), Jagiellonian University, Kopernika 7C, Krakow 31-034, Poland
| | - Andrew Hudson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Corey Evans
- Department of Chemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Tatyana Chernenko
- Becton Dickinson and Company, 2350 Qume Drive, San Jose, California 95131, United States
| | - Christian Matthäus
- Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert Einstein Straße 9, Jena 07745, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe School of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University, Helmholtz Weg 4, Jena 07743, Germany
| | - Milos Miljkovic
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Max Diem
- Laboratory for Spectral Diagnosis (LSpD), Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 316 Hurtig Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Philip Heraud
- Centre for Biospectroscopy, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jack S. Richards
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Dean Andrew
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - David A. Anderson
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Christian Doerig
- Department of Microbiology and the Biomedical Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jose Garcia-Bustos
- Department of Microbiology and the Biomedical Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Don McNaughton
- Centre for Biospectroscopy, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Bayden R. Wood
- Centre for Biospectroscopy, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bouchery T, Filbey K, Shepherd A, Chandler J, Patel D, Schmidt A, Camberis M, Peignier A, Smith AAT, Johnston K, Painter G, Pearson M, Giacomin P, Loukas A, Bottazzi ME, Hotez P, LeGros G. A novel blood-feeding detoxification pathway in Nippostrongylus brasiliensis L3 reveals a potential checkpoint for arresting hookworm development. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006931. [PMID: 29566094 PMCID: PMC5864084 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As part of on-going efforts to control hookworm infection, the "human hookworm vaccine initiative" has recognised blood feeding as a feasible therapeutic target for inducing immunity against hookworm infection. To this end, molecular approaches have been used to identify candidate targets, such as Necator americanus (Na) haemoglobinase aspartic protease-1 (APR-1), with immunogenicity profiled in canine and hamster models. We sought to accelerate the immune analysis of these identified therapeutic targets by developing an appropriate mouse model. Here we demonstrate that Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb), a phylogenetically distant strongylid nematode of rodents, begins blood feeding early in its development and that immunisation with Na-APR-1 can block its growth and completion of its life cycle. Furthermore, we identify a new haem detoxification pathway in Nb required for blood feeding that can be blocked by drugs of the quinolone family, reducing both infection burden and the associated anaemia in rodents. Collectively, our findings show that haem metabolism has potential as a checkpoint for interrupting hookworm development in early stages of the hookworm life cycle and that the Nippostrongylus brasiliensis rodent model is relevant for identifying novel therapeutic targets against human hookworm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Bouchery
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
- * E-mail: (GL); (TB)
| | - Kara Filbey
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Amy Shepherd
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Jodie Chandler
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Deepa Patel
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Alfonso Schmidt
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Mali Camberis
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Karen Johnston
- The Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Gavin Painter
- The Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Mark Pearson
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute for Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul Giacomin
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute for Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alex Loukas
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute for Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Maria-Elena Bottazzi
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - Peter Hotez
- Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - Graham LeGros
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
- * E-mail: (GL); (TB)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gupta P, Mehrotra S, Sharma A, Chugh M, Pandey R, Kaushik A, Khurana S, Srivastava N, Srivastava T, Deshmukh A, Panda A, Aggarwal P, Bhavesh NS, Bhatnagar RK, Mohmmed A, Gupta D, Malhotra P. Exploring Heme and Hemoglobin Binding Regions of Plasmodium Heme Detoxification Protein for New Antimalarial Discovery. J Med Chem 2017; 60:8298-8308. [PMID: 28949547 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Hemoglobin degradation/hemozoin formation, essential steps in the Plasmodium life cycle, are targets of existing antimalarials. The pathway still offers vast possibilities to be explored for new antimalarial discoveries. Here, we characterize heme detoxification protein, PfHDP, a major protein involved in hemozoin formation, as a novel drug target. Using in silico and biochemical approaches, we identified two heme binding sites and a hemoglobin binding site in PfHDP. Treatment of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 parasites with peptide corresponding to the hemoglobin binding domain in PfHDP resulted in food vacuole abnormalities similar to that seen with a cysteine protease inhibitor, E-64 (I-1). Screening of compounds that bound the modeled PfHDP structure in the heme/hemoglobin-binding pockets from Maybridge Screening Collection identified a compound, ML-2, that inhibited parasite growth in a dose-dependent manner, thus paving the way for testing its potential as a new drug candidate. These results provide functional insights into the role of PfHDP in Hz formation and further suggest that PfHDP could be an important drug target to combat malaria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priya Gupta
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Sonali Mehrotra
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Anil Sharma
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Monika Chugh
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Rajan Pandey
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Abhinav Kaushik
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Sachin Khurana
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Neha Srivastava
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Tarushikha Srivastava
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Arunaditya Deshmukh
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.,Centre for Biotechnology, Maharishi Dayanand University Rohtak , Haryana 123401, India
| | - Ashutosh Panda
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Priyanka Aggarwal
- Transcriptional Regulation Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Neel Sarovar Bhavesh
- Transcriptional Regulation Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Raj K Bhatnagar
- Insect Resistance Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Asif Mohmmed
- Parasite Cell Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Dinesh Gupta
- Translational Bioinformatics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Pawan Malhotra
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology , Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Unraveling heme detoxification in the malaria parasite by in situ correlative X-ray fluorescence microscopy and soft X-ray tomography. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7610. [PMID: 28790371 PMCID: PMC5548722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06650-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
A key drug target for malaria has been the detoxification pathway of the iron-containing molecule heme, which is the toxic byproduct of hemoglobin digestion. The cornerstone of heme detoxification is its sequestration into hemozoin crystals, but how this occurs remains uncertain. We report new results of in vivo rate of heme crystallization in the malaria parasite, based on a new technique to measure element-specific concentrations at defined locations in cell ultrastructure. Specifically, a high resolution correlative combination of cryo soft X-ray tomography has been developed to obtain 3D parasite ultrastructure with cryo X-ray fluorescence microscopy to measure heme concentrations. Our results are consistent with a model for crystallization via the heme detoxification protein. Our measurements also demonstrate the presence of considerable amounts of non-crystalline heme in the digestive vacuole, which we show is most likely contained in hemoglobin. These results suggest a tight coupling between hemoglobin digestion and heme crystallization, highlighting a new link in the crystallization pathway for drug development.
Collapse
|
14
|
Fielding AJ, Lukinović V, Evans PG, Alizadeh-Shekalgourabi S, Bisby RH, Drew MGB, Male V, Del Casino A, Dunn JF, Randle LE, Dempster NM, Nahar L, Sarker SD, Cantú Reinhard FG, de Visser SP, Dascombe MJ, Ismail FMD. Modulation of Antimalarial Activity at a Putative Bisquinoline Receptor In Vivo Using Fluorinated Bisquinolines. Chemistry 2017; 23:6811-6828. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201605099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alistair J. Fielding
- School of Chemistry and the Photon Science Institute; The University of Manchester; Manchester M13 9PL UK
| | - Valentina Lukinović
- School of Chemistry and the Photon Science Institute; The University of Manchester; Manchester M13 9PL UK
| | - Philip G. Evans
- Peakdale Molecular Limited; Discovery Park, Sandwich Kent CT13 9FF UK
| | | | - Roger H. Bisby
- Biomedical Sciences Research Institute; University of Salford; Salford M5 4WT UK
| | - Michael G. B. Drew
- School of Chemistry; The University of Reading, Whiteknights; Reading RG6 6AD UK
| | - Verity Male
- School of Chemistry; The University of Reading, Whiteknights; Reading RG6 6AD UK
| | - Alessio Del Casino
- Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products Research Group; School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| | - James F. Dunn
- Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products Research Group; School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| | - Laura E. Randle
- Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products Research Group; School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| | - Nicola M. Dempster
- Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products Research Group; School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| | - Lutfun Nahar
- Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products Research Group; School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| | - Satyajit D. Sarker
- Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products Research Group; School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| | - Fabián G. Cantú Reinhard
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology; School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science; The University of Manchester; 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Sam P. de Visser
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology; School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science; The University of Manchester; 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Mike J. Dascombe
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Stopford Building 1.124; The University of Manchester; Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT UK
| | - Fyaz M. D. Ismail
- Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products Research Group; School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences; Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Biochemistry of malaria parasite infected red blood cells by X-ray microscopy. Sci Rep 2017; 7:802. [PMID: 28400621 PMCID: PMC5429762 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00921-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Red blood cells infected by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are correlatively imaged by tomography using soft X-rays as well as by scanning hard nano-X-ray beam to obtain fluorescence maps of various elements such as S and Fe. In this way one can deduce the amount of Fe bound either in hemoglobin or in hemozoin crystals in the digestive vacuole of the malaria parasite as well as determine the hemoglobin concentrations in the cytosols of the red blood cell and of the parasite. Fluorescence map of K shows that in the parasite’s schizont stage the K concentration in the red blood cell cytosol is diminished by a factor of seven relative to a pristine red blood cell but the total amount of K in the infected red blood cell is the same as in the pristine red blood cell.
Collapse
|
16
|
High-Throughput Screening and Prediction Model Building for Novel Hemozoin Inhibitors Using Physicochemical Properties. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.01607-16. [PMID: 27919903 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01607-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is essential to continue the search for novel antimalarial drugs due to the current spread of resistance against artemisinin by Plasmodium falciparum parasites. In this study, we developed in silico models to predict hemozoin inhibitors as a potential first-step screening for novel antimalarials. An in vitro colorimetric high-throughput screening assay of hemozoin formation was used to identify hemozoin inhibitors from 9,600 structurally diverse compounds. The physicochemical properties of positive hits and randomly selected compounds were extracted from the ChemSpider database; they were used for developing prediction models to predict hemozoin inhibitors using two different approaches, i.e., traditional multivariate logistic regression and Bayesian model averaging. Our results showed that a total of 224 positive-hit compounds exhibited the ability to inhibit hemozoin formation, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) ranging from 3.1 μM to 199.5 μM. The best model according to traditional multivariate logistic regression included the three variables octanol-water partition coefficient, number of hydrogen bond donors, and number of atoms of hydrogen, while the best model according to Bayesian model averaging included the three variables octanol-water partition coefficient, number of hydrogen bond donors, and index of refraction. Both models had a good discriminatory power, with area under the curve values of 0.736 and 0.781 for the traditional multivariate model and Bayesian model averaging, respectively. In conclusion, the prediction models can be a new, useful, and cost-effective approach for the first screen of hemozoin inhibition-based antimalarial drug discovery.
Collapse
|
17
|
Ponsuwanna P, Kochakarn T, Bunditvorapoom D, Kümpornsin K, Otto TD, Ridenour C, Chotivanich K, Wilairat P, White NJ, Miotto O, Chookajorn T. Comparative genome-wide analysis and evolutionary history of haemoglobin-processing and haem detoxification enzymes in malarial parasites. Malar J 2016; 15:51. [PMID: 26821618 PMCID: PMC4731938 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1097-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria parasites have evolved a series of intricate mechanisms to survive and propagate within host red blood cells. Intra-erythrocytic parasitism requires these organisms to digest haemoglobin and detoxify iron-bound haem. These tasks are executed by haemoglobin-specific proteases and haem biocrystallization factors that are components of a large multi-subunit complex. Since haemoglobin processing machineries are functionally and genetically linked to the modes of action and resistance mechanisms of several anti-malarial drugs, an understanding of their evolutionary history is important for drug development and drug resistance prevention. Methods Maximum likelihood trees of genetic repertoires encoding haemoglobin processing machineries within Plasmodium species, and with the representatives of Apicomplexan species with various host tropisms, were created. Genetic variants were mapped onto existing three-dimensional structures. Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data were used to analyse the selective pressure and the effect of these mutations at the structural level. Results Recent expansions in the falcipain and plasmepsin repertoires are unique to human malaria parasites especially in the Plasmodium falciparum and P. reichenowi lineage. Expansion of haemoglobin-specific plasmepsins occurred after the separation event of Plasmodium species, but the other members of the plasmepsin family were evolutionarily conserved with one copy for each sub-group in every Apicomplexan species. Haemoglobin-specific falcipains are separated from invasion-related falcipain, and their expansions within one specific locus arose independently in both P. falciparum and P. vivax lineages. Gene conversion between P. falciparum falcipain 2A and 2B was observed in artemisinin-resistant strains. Comparison between the numbers of non-synonymous and synonymous mutations suggests a strong selective pressure at falcipain and plasmepsin genes. The locations of amino acid changes from non-synonymous mutations mapped onto protein structures revealed clusters of amino acid residues in close proximity or near the active sites of proteases. Conclusion A high degree of polymorphism at the haemoglobin processing genes implicates an imposition of selective pressure. The identification in recent years of functional redundancy of haemoglobin-specific proteases makes them less appealing as potential drug targets, but their expansions, especially in the human malaria parasite lineages, unequivocally point toward their functional significance during the independent and repetitive adaptation events in malaria parasite evolutionary history. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1097-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrath Ponsuwanna
- Genomic and Evolutionary Medicine Unit, Centre of Excellence in Malaria, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Theerarat Kochakarn
- Genomic and Evolutionary Medicine Unit, Centre of Excellence in Malaria, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. .,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Duangkamon Bunditvorapoom
- Genomic and Evolutionary Medicine Unit, Centre of Excellence in Malaria, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. .,Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. .,Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Krittikorn Kümpornsin
- Genomic and Evolutionary Medicine Unit, Centre of Excellence in Malaria, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Thomas D Otto
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Chase Ridenour
- Genomic and Evolutionary Medicine Unit, Centre of Excellence in Malaria, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Kesinee Chotivanich
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. .,Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Prapon Wilairat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Nicholas J White
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. .,Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Olivo Miotto
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. .,Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK. .,Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Genomics and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Thanat Chookajorn
- Genomic and Evolutionary Medicine Unit, Centre of Excellence in Malaria, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Cloning, expression and functional characterization of heme detoxification protein (HDP) from the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium vinckei. Gene 2015; 566:109-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Revised: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|