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Devereux G, Bula M, Tripp K, Fitzgerald R, Eraut N, Alam MS, Moriyama T, Shinkyo R, Walker L, Wang D, Gusovsky F, van der Velde J, Turner JD, Hong WD, O'Neill PM, Taylor MJ, Ward SA. A Phase 1, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Single Ascending Dose Trial of AWZ1066S, an Anti-Wolbachia Candidate Macrofilaricide. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2024; 13:1071-1081. [PMID: 38924387 DOI: 10.1002/cpdd.1441] [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] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
AWZ1066S has been developed as a potential treatment for the neglected tropical diseases lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. AWZ1066S targets the Wolbachia bacterial endosymbiont present in the causative nematode parasites. This phase 1, first-in-human study aimed to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of AWZ1066S in healthy human participants. In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose study, healthy adults received a single oral dose of AWZ1066S (or placebo) and were followed up for 10 days. The planned single doses of AWZ1066S ranged from 100 to 1600 mg, and each dose was administered to a cohort of 8 participants (6 AWZ1066S and 2 placebo). In total 30 people participated, 18 (60%) female, median age 30.0 years (minimum 20, maximum 61). The cohorts administered 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg of AWZ1066S progressed unremarkably. After single 700-mg doses all 4 participants developed symptoms of acute gastritis and transient increases in liver enzymes. The severity of these adverse events ranged from mild to severe, with 1 participant needing hospital admission. Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that AWZ1066S is rapidly absorbed with predictable pharmacokinetics. In conclusion, safety concerns prevented this study from reaching the human exposures needed for AWZ1066S to be clinically effective against lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Devereux
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Marcin Bula
- Clinical Research Facility, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
| | - Karen Tripp
- Clinical Research Facility, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
| | - Richard Fitzgerald
- Clinical Research Facility, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | | | - Raku Shinkyo
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Eisai Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lauren Walker
- Clinical Research Facility, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
| | - Duolao Wang
- Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | - Joseph D Turner
- Centres for Drugs & Diagnostics and Neglected Tropical Disease, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Paul M O'Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Mark J Taylor
- Centres for Drugs & Diagnostics and Neglected Tropical Disease, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen A Ward
- Centres for Drugs & Diagnostics and Neglected Tropical Disease, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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Risch F, Kazakov A, Specht S, Pfarr K, Fischer PU, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. The long and winding road towards new treatments against lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:829-845. [PMID: 39122645 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.07.005] [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] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Although lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis have been targeted for global elimination, these helminth infections are still a major public health problem across the tropics and subtropics. Despite decades of research, treatment options remain limited and drugs that completely clear the infections, and can be used on a large scale, are still unavailable. In the present review we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of currently available treatments and new ones in development. Novel candidates (corallopyronin A, DNDi-6166, emodepside, and oxfendazole) are currently moving through (pre)clinical development, while the development of two candidates (AWZ1066S and ABBV-4083/flubentylosin) was recently halted. The preclinical R&D pipeline for filarial infections continues to be limited, and recent setbacks highlight the importance of continuous drug discovery and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Risch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexander Kazakov
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sabine Specht
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth Pfarr
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter U Fischer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, John T. Milliken Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.
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Zhang D, Wang C, Zhang Y, Yu Z, Hong Z, Jia D, Ma D, Gu Y, Xu H, Xi Z. Discovery of Novel (5-Mercapto-4-phenyl-4 H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)methyl Phenyl Carbamate as a Potent Phytoene Desaturase Inhibitor through Scaffold Hopping and Linker Modification. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:18898-18908. [PMID: 39147603 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c05989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Phytoene desaturase (PDS) is a key rate-limiting enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Although commercial PDS inhibitors have been developed for decades, it remains necessary to develop novel PDS inhibitors with higher bioactivity. In this work, we used the scaffold hopping and linker modification approaches to design and synthesize a series of compounds (7a-7o, 8a-8l, and 14a-14d). The postemergence application assay demonstrated that 8e and 7e separately showed the best herbicidal activity at 750 g a.i./ha and lower doses (187.5 g, 375g a.i./ha) without no significant toxicity to maize and wheat. The surface plasmon resonance revealed strong binding affinity between 7e and Synechococcus PDS (SynPDS). The HPLC analysis confirmed that 8e at 750 g a.i./ha caused significant phytoene accumulation in Arabidopsis seedlings. This work demonstrates the efficacy of structure-guided optimization through scaffold hopping and linker modification to design potent PDS inhibitors with enhanced bioactivity and crop safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhang
- National Pesticide Engineering Research Center (Tianjin), Department of Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Chunxue Wang
- National Pesticide Engineering Research Center (Tianjin), Department of Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Yichi Zhang
- National Pesticide Engineering Research Center (Tianjin), Department of Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Zhilei Yu
- National Pesticide Engineering Research Center (Tianjin), Department of Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Zeyu Hong
- National Pesticide Engineering Research Center (Tianjin), Department of Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Ding Jia
- National Pesticide Engineering Research Center (Tianjin), Department of Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Dejun Ma
- National Pesticide Engineering Research Center (Tianjin), Department of Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Yucheng Gu
- Syngenta Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell RG42 6EY, U.K
| | - Han Xu
- National Pesticide Engineering Research Center (Tianjin), Department of Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Zhen Xi
- National Pesticide Engineering Research Center (Tianjin), Department of Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
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4
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Hoffmann G, Lukarska M, Clare RH, Masters EK, Johnston KL, Ford L, Turner JD, Ward SA, Taylor MJ, Jensen MR, Palencia A. Targeting a microbiota Wolbachian aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase to block its pathogenic host. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eado1453. [PMID: 38985862 PMCID: PMC11235159 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado1453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The interplay between humans and their microbiome is crucial for various physiological processes, including nutrient absorption, immune defense, and maintaining homeostasis. Microbiome alterations can directly contribute to diseases or heighten their likelihood. This relationship extends beyond humans; microbiota play vital roles in other organisms, including eukaryotic pathogens causing severe diseases. Notably, Wolbachia, a bacterial microbiota, is essential for parasitic worms responsible for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, devastating human illnesses. Given the lack of rapid cures for these infections and the limitations of current treatments, new drugs are imperative. Here, we disrupt Wolbachia's symbiosis with pathogens using boron-based compounds targeting an unprecedented Wolbachia enzyme, leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS), effectively inhibiting its growth. Through a compound demonstrating anti-Wolbachia efficacy in infected cells, we use biophysical experiments and x-ray crystallography to elucidate the mechanism behind Wolbachia LeuRS inhibition. We reveal that these compounds form adenosine-based adducts inhibiting protein synthesis. Overall, our study underscores the potential of disrupting key microbiota to control infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Hoffmann
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Structural Biology of Novel Drug Targets in Human Diseases, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble 38000, France
| | - Maria Lukarska
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Structural Biology of Novel Drug Targets in Human Diseases, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble 38000, France
| | - Rachel H. Clare
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Ellen K.G. Masters
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Kelly L. Johnston
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Louise Ford
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Joseph D. Turner
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Steve A. Ward
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | | | - Andrés Palencia
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Structural Biology of Novel Drug Targets in Human Diseases, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble 38000, France
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Hegde S, Marriott AE, Pionnier N, Steven A, Bulman C, Gunderson E, Vogel I, Koschel M, Ehrens A, Lustigman S, Voronin D, Tricoche N, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP, Sakanari J, Aljayyoussi G, Gusovsky F, Dagley J, Hong DW, O'Neill P, Ward SA, Taylor MJ, Turner JD. Combinations of the azaquinazoline anti- Wolbachia agent, AWZ1066S, with benzimidazole anthelmintics synergise to mediate sub-seven-day sterilising and curative efficacies in experimental models of filariasis. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1346068. [PMID: 38362501 PMCID: PMC10867176 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1346068] [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: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis are two major neglected tropical diseases that are responsible for causing severe disability in 50 million people worldwide, whilst veterinary filariasis (heartworm) is a potentially lethal parasitic infection of companion animals. There is an urgent need for safe, short-course curative (macrofilaricidal) drugs to eliminate these debilitating parasite infections. We investigated combination treatments of the novel anti-Wolbachia azaquinazoline small molecule, AWZ1066S, with benzimidazole drugs (albendazole or oxfendazole) in up to four different rodent filariasis infection models: Brugia malayi-CB.17 SCID mice, B. malayi-Mongolian gerbils, B. pahangi-Mongolian gerbils, and Litomosoides sigmodontis-Mongolian gerbils. Combination treatments synergised to elicit threshold (>90%) Wolbachia depletion from female worms in 5 days of treatment, using 2-fold lower dose-exposures of AWZ1066S than monotherapy. Short-course lowered dose AWZ1066S-albendazole combination treatments also delivered partial adulticidal activities and/or long-lasting inhibition of embryogenesis, resulting in complete transmission blockade in B. pahangi and L. sigmodontis gerbil models. We determined that short-course AWZ1066S-albendazole co-treatment significantly augmented the depletion of Wolbachia populations within both germline and hypodermal tissues of B. malayi female worms and in hypodermal tissues in male worms, indicating that anti-Wolbachia synergy is not limited to targeting female embryonic tissues. Our data provides pre-clinical proof-of-concept that sub-seven-day combinations of rapid-acting novel anti-Wolbachia agents with benzimidazole anthelmintics are a promising curative and transmission-blocking drug treatment strategy for filarial diseases of medical and veterinary importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrilakshmi Hegde
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Amy E. Marriott
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolas Pionnier
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Steven
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Christina Bulman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Unites States
| | - Emma Gunderson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Unites States
| | - Ian Vogel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Unites States
| | - Marianne Koschel
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Ehrens
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sara Lustigman
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, Unites States
| | - Denis Voronin
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, Unites States
| | - Nancy Tricoche
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, Unites States
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P. Hübner
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Judy Sakanari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Unites States
| | - Ghaith Aljayyoussi
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jessica Dagley
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - David W. Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Paul O'Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Steven A. Ward
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph D. Turner
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Acharya A, Yadav M, Nagpure M, Kumaresan S, Guchhait SK. Molecular medicinal insights into scaffold hopping-based drug discovery success. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103845. [PMID: 38013043 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
In both academia and the pharmaceutical industry, innovative hypotheses, methodologies and technologies that can shorten the drug research and development, leading to higher success rates, are vital. In this review, we demonstrate how innovative variations of the scaffold-hopping strategy have been used to create new druggable molecular spaces, drugs, clinical candidates, preclinical candidates, and bioactive agents. We also analyze molecular modulations that enabled improvements of the pharmacodynamic (PD), physiochemical, and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties (P3 properties) of the drugs resulting from these scaffold-hopping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayan Acharya
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Mukul Yadav
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Mithilesh Nagpure
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Sanathanalaxmi Kumaresan
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India; National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India
| | - Sankar K Guchhait
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab 160062, India.
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7
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Cain JL, Norris JK, Swan MP, Nielsen MK. A diverse microbial community and common core microbiota associated with the gonad of female Parascaris spp. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:56. [PMID: 38105374 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08086-w] [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] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The microbiome plays an important role in health, where changes in microbiota composition can have significant downstream effects within the host, and host-microbiota relationships can be exploited to affect health outcomes. Parasitic helminths affect animals globally, but an exploration of their microbiota has been limited, despite the development of anti-Wolbachia drugs to help control infections with some filarial nematodes. The equine ascarids, Parascaris spp., are considered the most pathogenic nematodes affecting juvenile horses and are also the only ascarid parasite to have developed widespread anthelmintic resistance. The aim of this study was to characterize the microbiota of this helminth, focusing on the female gonad, determine a core microbiota for this organ, identify bacterial species, and show bacterial localization to the female gonad via in situ hybridization (ISH). A total of 22 gonads were isolated from female Parascaris spp. collected from three foals, and 9 female parasites were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded for ISH. Next-generation sequencing was performed using V3-V4 primers as well as the Swift Amplicon™ 16S+ ITS Panel. Overall, ten genera were identified as members of the Parascaris spp. female gonad and twelve bacterial species were identified. The most prevalent genus was Mycoplasma, followed by Reyranella, and there were no differences in alpha diversity between parasites from different horses. Specific eubacteria staining was identified in both the intestine and within the gonad using ISH. Overall, this study provided in-depth information regarding the female Parascaris spp. microbiota and was the first to identify the core microbiota within a specific parasite organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Cain
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, 1400 Nicholasville Road, Lexington, KY, 40503, USA.
| | - Jamie K Norris
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, 1400 Nicholasville Road, Lexington, KY, 40503, USA
| | - Melissa P Swan
- University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 1490 Bull Lea Road, Lexington, KY, 40511, USA
| | - Martin K Nielsen
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, 1400 Nicholasville Road, Lexington, KY, 40503, USA
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8
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Marriott AE, Dagley JL, Hegde S, Steven A, Fricks C, DiCosty U, Mansour A, Campbell EJ, Wilson CM, Gusovsky F, Ward SA, Hong WD, O'Neill P, Moorhead A, McCall S, McCall JW, Taylor MJ, Turner JD. Dirofilariasis mouse models for heartworm preclinical research. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1208301. [PMID: 37426014 PMCID: PMC10324412 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1208301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Dirofilariasis, including heartworm disease, is a major emergent veterinary parasitic infection and a human zoonosis. Currently, experimental infections of cats and dogs are used in veterinary heartworm preclinical drug research. Methods As a refined alternative in vivo heartworm preventative drug screen, we assessed lymphopenic mouse strains with ablation of the interleukin-2/7 common gamma chain (γc) as susceptible to the larval development phase of Dirofilaria immitis. Results Non-obese diabetic (NOD) severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)γc-/- (NSG and NXG) and recombination-activating gene (RAG)2-/-γc-/- mouse strains yielded viable D. immitis larvae at 2-4 weeks post-infection, including the use of different batches of D. immitis infectious larvae, different D. immitis isolates, and at different laboratories. Mice did not display any clinical signs associated with infection for up to 4 weeks. Developing larvae were found in subcutaneous and muscle fascia tissues, which is the natural site of this stage of heartworm in dogs. Compared with in vitro-propagated larvae at day 14, in vivo-derived larvae had completed the L4 molt, were significantly larger, and contained expanded Wolbachia endobacteria titres. We established an ex vivo L4 paralytic screening system whereby assays with moxidectin or levamisole highlighted discrepancies in relative drug sensitivities in comparison with in vitro-reared L4 D. immitis. We demonstrated effective depletion of Wolbachia by 70%-90% in D. immitis L4 following 2- to 7-day oral in vivo exposures of NSG- or NXG-infected mice with doxycycline or the rapid-acting investigational drug, AWZ1066S. We validated NSG and NXG D. immitis mouse models as a filaricide screen by in vivo treatments with single injections of moxidectin, which mediated a 60%-88% reduction in L4 larvae at 14-28 days. Discussion Future adoption of these mouse models will benefit end-user laboratories conducting research and development of novel heartworm preventatives via increased access, rapid turnaround, and reduced costs and may simultaneously decrease the need for experimental cat or dog use.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. E. Marriott
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J. L. Dagley
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - S. Hegde
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - A. Steven
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - C. Fricks
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - U. DiCosty
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - A. Mansour
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - E. J. Campbell
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - C. M. Wilson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - F. Gusovsky
- Eisai Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - S. A. Ward
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - W. D. Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - P. O'Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - A. Moorhead
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - S. McCall
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - J. W. McCall
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - M. J. Taylor
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J. D. Turner
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Karunakaran I, Ritter M, Pfarr K, Klarmann-Schulz U, Debrah AY, Debrah LB, Katawa G, Wanji S, Specht S, Adjobimey T, Hübner MP, Hoerauf A. Filariasis research - from basic research to drug development and novel diagnostics, over a decade of research at the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Bonn, Germany. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2023; 4:1126173. [PMID: 38655130 PMCID: PMC7615856 DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1126173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Filariae are vector borne parasitic nematodes, endemic in tropical and subtropical regions causing avoidable infections ranging from asymptomatic to stigmatizing and disfiguring disease. The filarial species that are the major focus of our institution's research are Onchocerca volvulus causing onchocerciasis (river blindness), Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia spp. causing lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), Loa loa causing loiasis (African eye worm), and Mansonella spp causing mansonellosis. This paper aims to showcase the contribution of our institution and our collaborating partners to filarial research and covers decades of long research spanning basic research using the Litomosoides sigmodontis animal model to development of drugs and novel diagnostics. Research with the L. sigmodontis model has been extensively useful in elucidating protective immune responses against filariae as well as in identifying the mechanisms of filarial immunomodulation during metabolic, autoimmune and infectious diseases. The institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany has also been actively involved in translational research in contributing to the identification of new drug targets and pre-clinical drug research with successful and ongoing partnership with sub-Saharan Africa, mainly Ghana (the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR)), Cameroon (University of Buea (UB)) and Togo (Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Contrôle de Qualité des Denrées Alimentaires (LAMICODA)), Asia and industry partners. Further, in the direction of developing novel diagnostics that are sensitive, time, and labour saving, we have developed sensitive qPCRs as well as LAMP assays and are currently working on artificial intelligence based histology analysis for onchocerciasis. The article also highlights our ongoing research and the need for novel animal models and new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indulekha Karunakaran
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Manuel Ritter
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Kenneth Pfarr
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ute Klarmann-Schulz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexander Yaw Debrah
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Linda Batsa Debrah
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Gnatoulma Katawa
- Unité de Recherche en Immunologie et Immunomodulation (UR2IM)/Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Contrôle de Qualité des Denrées Alimentaires (LAMICODA), Ecole Supérieure des Techniques Biologiques et Alimentaires, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Parasites and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Sabine Specht
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tomabu Adjobimey
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
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Pfarr KM, Krome AK, Al-Obaidi I, Batchelor H, Vaillant M, Hoerauf A, Opoku NO, Kuesel AC. The pipeline for drugs for control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases: 1. Anti-infective drugs for regulatory registration. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:82. [PMID: 36859332 PMCID: PMC9979492 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05581-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization 'Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: A road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030' outlines the targets for control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). New drugs are needed to achieve some of them. We are providing an overview of the pipeline for new anti-infective drugs for regulatory registration and steps to effective use for NTD control and elimination. Considering drugs approved for an NTD by at least one stringent regulatory authority: fexinidazole, included in WHO guidelines for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense African trypanosomiasis, is in development for Chagas disease. Moxidectin, registered in 2018 for treatment of individuals ≥ 12 years old with onchocerciasis, is undergoing studies to extend the indication to 4-11-year-old children and obtain additional data to inform WHO and endemic countries' decisions on moxidectin inclusion in guidelines and policies. Moxidectin is also being evaluated for other NTDs. Considering drugs in at least Phase 2 clinical development, a submission is being prepared for registration of acoziborole as an oral treatment for first and second stage T.b. gambiense African trypanosomiasis. Bedaquiline, registered for tuberculosis, is being evaluated for multibacillary leprosy. Phase 2 studies of emodepside and flubentylosin in O. volvulus-infected individuals are ongoing; studies for Trichuris trichuria and hookworm are planned. A trial of fosravuconazole in Madurella mycetomatis-infected patients is ongoing. JNJ-64281802 is undergoing Phase 2 trials for reducing dengue viral load. Studies are ongoing or planned to evaluate oxantel pamoate for onchocerciasis and soil-transmitted helminths, including Trichuris, and oxfendazole for onchocerciasis, Fasciola hepatica, Taenia solium cysticercosis, Echinococcus granulosus and soil-transmitted helminths, including Trichuris. Additional steps from first registration to effective use for NTD control and elimination include country registrations, possibly additional studies to inform WHO guidelines and country policies, and implementation research to address barriers to effective use of new drugs. Relative to the number of people suffering from NTDs, the pipeline is small. Close collaboration and exchange of experience among all stakeholders developing drugs for NTDs may increase the probability that the current pipeline will translate into new drugs effectively implemented in affected countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M. Pfarr
- grid.15090.3d0000 0000 8786 803XInstitute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany ,grid.452463.2German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anna K. Krome
- grid.10388.320000 0001 2240 3300Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Issraa Al-Obaidi
- grid.11984.350000000121138138Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Hannah Batchelor
- grid.11984.350000000121138138Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Michel Vaillant
- grid.451012.30000 0004 0621 531XCompetence Center for Methodology and Statistics, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- grid.15090.3d0000 0000 8786 803XInstitute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany ,grid.452463.2German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nicholas O. Opoku
- grid.449729.50000 0004 7707 5975Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Annette C. Kuesel
- UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO/TDR), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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11
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Hong WD, O’Neill PM, Taylor MJ, Turner JD, Ward SA, Gusovsky F, Benayoud F, Shibuguchi N, Girish D, Fang FG, Talabhakthla RK, Vaddi A, Challa C, Reddy KSA, Kalla V, Srinivasa Rao S, Nagireddi DMK, Patel J, Khile AS. Transformation of the Manufacturing Process from Discovery to Kilogram Scale for AWZ1066S: A Highly Specific Anti- Wolbachia Drug Candidate for a Short-Course Treatment of Filariasis. Org Process Res Dev 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.2c00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- W. David Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZD Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Paul M. O’Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZD Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Research Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph D. Turner
- Research Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen A. Ward
- Research Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Fabian Gusovsky
- G2D2 Eisai Inc., 35 Cambridgepark Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Farid Benayoud
- Eisai AiM Institute, Eisai, Inc., Andover, Massachusetts 01810, United States
| | - Nao Shibuguchi
- Analytical Research, Pharmaceutical Science & Technology, CFU, Medicine Development Center, Eisai Co. Ltd., 5-1-3-Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Dixit Girish
- Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., Ramky Pharma City, (SEZ), Plot Nos.96, 97, 98,124 &126, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531019, India
| | - Francis Gerard Fang
- Eisai AiM Institute, Eisai, Inc., Andover, Massachusetts 01810, United States
| | - Ravi Kumar Talabhakthla
- Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., Ramky Pharma City, (SEZ), Plot Nos.96, 97, 98,124 &126, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531019, India
| | - Anand Vaddi
- Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., Ramky Pharma City, (SEZ), Plot Nos.96, 97, 98,124 &126, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531019, India
| | - Chiranjeevi Challa
- Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., Ramky Pharma City, (SEZ), Plot Nos.96, 97, 98,124 &126, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531019, India
| | - Karri Satya Ammi Reddy
- Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., Ramky Pharma City, (SEZ), Plot Nos.96, 97, 98,124 &126, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531019, India
| | - Vijay Kalla
- Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., Ramky Pharma City, (SEZ), Plot Nos.96, 97, 98,124 &126, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531019, India
| | - Sugandham Srinivasa Rao
- Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., Ramky Pharma City, (SEZ), Plot Nos.96, 97, 98,124 &126, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531019, India
| | - Durga Mahesh Kumar Nagireddi
- Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., Ramky Pharma City, (SEZ), Plot Nos.96, 97, 98,124 &126, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531019, India
| | - Jayesh Patel
- Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., Ramky Pharma City, (SEZ), Plot Nos.96, 97, 98,124 &126, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531019, India
| | - Anil Shahaji Khile
- Eisai Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., Ramky Pharma City, (SEZ), Plot Nos.96, 97, 98,124 &126, Parawada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531019, India
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Frallonardo L, Di Gennaro F, Panico GG, Novara R, Pallara E, Cotugno S, Guido G, De Vita E, Ricciardi A, Totaro V, Camporeale M, De Iaco G, Bavaro DF, Lattanzio R, Patti G, Brindicci G, Papagni R, Pellegrino C, Santoro CR, Segala FV, Putoto G, Nicastri E, Saracino A. Onchocerciasis: Current knowledge and future goals. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.986884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human Onchocerciasis, caused by infection by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus, is a neglected public health disease that affects millions of people in the endemic regions of sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. It is also called river blindness because the Blackflies that transmit infection breeds in rapidly flowing fresh water streams and rivers. This review features state-of-the-art data on the parasite, its endobacteria Wolbachia, the prevalence of the infection and its geographical distribution, its diagnostics, the interaction between the parasite and its host, and the pathology of Onchocerciasis. By development and optimization of the control measures, transmission by the vector has been interrupted in foci of countries in the Americas (Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Guatemala)and inSudan, followed by Onchocerciasis eliminations. The current state and future perspectives for vector control and elimination strategy are described.
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Fordjour FA, Kwarteng A. The filarial and the antibiotics: Single or combination therapy using antibiotics for filariasis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1044412. [PMID: 36467729 PMCID: PMC9712956 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1044412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Filarial infections caused by nematodes are one of the major neglected tropical diseases with public health concern. Although there is significant decrease in microfilariae (mf) prevalence following mass drug administration (IVM/DEC/ALB administration), this is transient, in that there is reported microfilaria repopulation 6-12 months after treatment. Wolbachia bacteria have been recommended as a novel target presenting antibiotic-based treatment for filarial disease. Potency of antibiotics against filarial diseases is undoubtful, however, the duration for treatment remains a hurdle yet to be overcome in filarial disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Amponsah Fordjour
- Department of Microbiology, University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Alexander Kwarteng
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
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14
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The microbial community associated with Parascaris spp. infecting juvenile horses. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:408. [PMID: 36333754 PMCID: PMC9636743 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05533-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parasitic nematodes, including large roundworms colloquially known as ascarids, affect the health and well-being of livestock animals worldwide. The equine ascarids, Parascaris spp., are important parasites of juvenile horses and the first ascarids to develop widespread anthelmintic resistance. The microbiota has been shown to be an important factor in the fitness of many organisms, including parasitic nematodes, where endosymbiotic Wolbachia have been exploited for treatment of filariasis in humans. Methods This study used short-read 16S rRNA sequences and Illumina sequencing to characterize and compare microbiota of whole worm small intestinal stages and microbiota of male and female intestines and gonads. Diversity metrics including alpha and beta diversity, and the differential abundance analyses DESeq2, ANCOM-BC, corncob, and metagenomeSeq were used for comparisons. Results Alpha and beta diversity of whole worm microbiota did not differ significantly between groups, but Simpson alpha diversity was significantly different between female intestine (FI) and male gonad (MG) (P= 0.0018), and Shannon alpha diversity was significantly different between female and male gonads (P = 0.0130), FI and horse jejunum (HJ) (P = 0.0383), and FI and MG (P= 0.0001). Beta diversity (Fig. 2B) was significantly different between female and male gonads (P = 0.0006), male intestine (MI) and FG (P = 0.0093), and MG and FI (P = 0.0041). When comparing organs, Veillonella was differentially abundant for DESeq2 and ANCOM-BC (p < 0.0001), corncob (P = 0.0008), and metagenomeSeq (P = 0.0118), and Sarcina was differentially abundant across four methods (P < 0.0001). Finally, the microbiota of all individual Parascaris spp. specimens were compared to establish shared microbiota between groups. Conclusions Overall, this study provided important information regarding the Parascaris spp. microbiota and provides a first step towards determining whether the microbiota may be a viable target for future parasite control options. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05533-y.
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Ehrens A, Schiefer A, Krome AK, Becker T, Rox K, Neufeld H, Aden T, Wagner KG, Müller R, Grosse M, Stadler M, König GM, Kehraus S, Alt S, Hesterkamp T, Hübner MP, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A. Pharmacology and early ADMET data of corallopyronin A, a natural product with macrofilaricidal anti-wolbachial activity in filarial nematodes. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.983107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Corallopyronin A (CorA), a natural product antibiotic of Corallococcus coralloides, inhibits the bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. It is active against the essential Wolbachia endobacteria of filarial nematodes, preventing development, causing sterility and killing adult worms. CorA is being developed to treat the neglected tropical diseases onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis caused by Wolbachia-containing filariae. For this, we have completed standard Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity (ADMET) studies. In Caco-2 assays, CorA had good adsorption values, predicting good transport from the intestines, but may be subject to active efflux. In fed-state simulated human intestinal fluid (pH 5.0), CorA half-life was >139 minutes, equivalent to the stability in buffer (pH 7.4). CorA plasma-stability was >240 minutes, with plasma protein binding >98% in human, mouse, rat, dog, mini-pig and monkey plasma. Clearance in human and dog liver microsomes was low (35.2 and 42 µl/min/mg, respectively). CorA was mainly metabolized via phase I reactions, i.e., oxidation, and to a minimal extent via phase II reactions. In contrast to rifampicin, CorA does not induce CYP3A4 resulting in a lower drug-drug-interaction potential. Apart from inhibition of CYP2C9, no impact of CorA on enzymes of the CYP450 system was detected. Off-target profiling resulted in three hits (inhibition/activation) for the A3 and PPARγ receptors and COX1 enzyme; thus, potential drug-drug interactions could occur with antidiabetic medications, COX2 inhibitors, angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonists, vitamin K-antagonists, and antidepressants. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies in Mongolian gerbils and rats demonstrated excellent intraperitoneal and oral bioavailability (100%) with fast absorption and high distribution in plasma. No significant hERG inhibition was detected and no phototoxicity was seen. CorA did not induce gene mutations in bacteria (Ames test) nor chromosomal damage in human lymphocytes (micronucleus test). Thus, CorA possesses an acceptable in vitro early ADMET profile; supported by previous in vivo experiments in mice, rats and Mongolian gerbils in which all animals tolerated CorA daily administration for 7-28 days. The non-GLP package will guide selection and planning of regulatory-conform GLP models prior to a first-into-human study.
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Tagboto S, Orish V. Drug development for onchocerciasis-the past, the present and the future. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.953061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Onchocerciasis affects predominantly rural communities in Africa, and with small foci in South America and the Yemen. The disease is a major cause of blindness and other significant morbidity and mortality. Control programs have achieved a major impact on the incidence and prevalence of onchocerciasis by interrupting transmission with vector control programs, and treatment with mass drug administration using the microfilaricide ivermectin. Over the last few decades, several microfilaricides have been developed. This initially included diethylcarbamazine, which had significant side effects and is no longer used as such. Ivermectin which is a safe and highly effective microfilaricide and moxidectin which is a longer acting microfilaricide are presently recognized therapies. Suramin was the first effective macrofilaricide but was prohibitively toxic. Certain antibiotics including doxycycline can help eliminate adult worms by targeting its endosymbiont bacteria, Wolbachia pipientis. However, the dosing regimens may make this difficult to use as part of a mass disease control program in endemic areas. It is now widely recognized that treatments that are able to kill or permanently sterilize adult filarial worms should help achieve the elimination of this disease. We summarize in detail the historic drug development in onchocerciasis, including prospective future candidate drugs.
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Leškovskis K, Mishnev A, Novosjolova I, Turks M. Structural Study of Azide-Tetrazole Equilibrium in Pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.133784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Marriott AE, Furlong Silva J, Pionnier N, Sjoberg H, Archer J, Steven A, Kempf D, Taylor MJ, Turner JD. A mouse infection model and long-term lymphatic endothelium co-culture system to evaluate drugs against adult Brugia malayi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010474. [PMID: 35671324 PMCID: PMC9205518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of new drugs targeting adult-stage lymphatic filarial nematodes is hindered by the lack of a robust long-term in vitro culture model. Testing potential direct-acting and anti-Wolbachia therapeutic candidates against adult lymphatic filariae in vitro requires their propagation via chronic infection of gerbils. We evaluated Brugia malayi parasite burden data from male Mongolian gerbils compared with two immune-deficient mouse strains highly susceptible to B. malayi: CB.17 Severe-Combined Immmuno-Deficient (SCID) and interleukin-4 receptor alpha, interleukin-5 double knockout (IL-4Rα-/-IL-5-/-) mice. Adult worms generated in IL-4Rα-/-IL-5-/- mice were tested with different feeder cells (human embryonic kidney cells, human adult dermal lymphatic endothelial cells and human THP-1 monocyte differentiated macrophages) and comparative cell-free conditions to optimise and validate a long-term in vitro culture system. Cultured parasites were compared against those isolated from mice using motility scoring, metabolic viability assay (MTT), ex vivo microfilariae release assay and Wolbachia content by qPCR. A selected culture system was validated as a drug screen using reference anti-Wolbachia (doxycycline, ABBV-4083 / flubentylosin) or direct-acting compounds (flubendazole, suramin). BALB/c IL-4Rα-/-IL-5-/- or CB.17 SCID mice were superior to Mongolian gerbils in generating adult worms and supporting in vivo persistence for periods of up to 52 weeks. Adult females retrieved from BALB/c IL-4Rα-/-IL-5-/- mice could be cultured for up to 21 days in the presence of a lymphatic endothelial cell co-culture system with comparable motility, metabolic activity and Wolbachia titres to those maintained in vivo. Drug studies confirmed significant Wolbachia depletions or direct macrofilaricidal activities could be discerned when female B. malayi were cultured for 14 days. We therefore demonstrate a novel methodology to generate adult B. malayi in vivo and accurately evaluate drug efficacy ex vivo which may be adopted for drug screening with the dual benefit of reducing overall animal use and improving anti-filarial drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E. Marriott
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Julio Furlong Silva
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolas Pionnier
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Hanna Sjoberg
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - John Archer
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Steven
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Dale Kempf
- Pharmaceutical R&D, AbbVie, North Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph D. Turner
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Wolbachia depletion blocks transmission of lymphatic filariasis by preventing chitinase-dependent parasite exsheathment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2120003119. [PMID: 35377795 PMCID: PMC9169722 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2120003119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease prioritized for global elimination. The filarial nematodes that cause the disease host a symbiotic bacterium, Wolbachia, which has been targeted using antibiotics, leading to cessation of parasite embryogenesis, waning of circulating larvae (microfilariae [mf]), and gradual cure of adult infection. One of the benefits of the anti-Wolbachia mode of action is that it avoids the rapid killing of mf, which can drive inflammatory adverse events. However, mf depleted of Wolbachia persist for several months in circulation, and thus patients treated with antibiotics are assumed to remain at risk for transmitting infections. Here, we show that Wolbachia-depleted mf rapidly lose the capacity to develop in the mosquito vector through a defect in exsheathment and inability to migrate through the gut wall. Transcriptomic and Western blotting analyses demonstrate that chitinase, an enzyme essential for mf exsheathment, is down-regulated in Wolbachia-depleted mf and correlates with their inability to exsheath and escape the mosquito midgut. Supplementation of in vitro cultures of Wolbachia-depleted mf with chitinase enzymes restores their ability to exsheath to a similar level to that observed in untreated mf. Our findings elucidate a mechanism of rapid transmission-blocking activity of filariasis after depletion of Wolbachia and adds to the broad range of biological processes of filarial nematodes that are dependent on Wolbachia symbiosis.
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20
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Schlabe S, Korir P, Lämmer C, Landmann F, Dubben B, Koschel M, Albers A, Debrah LB, Debrah AY, Hübner MP, Pfarr K, Klarmann-Schulz U, Hoerauf A. A qPCR to quantify Wolbachia from few Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae as a surrogate for adult worm histology in clinical trials of antiwolbachial drugs. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1199-1206. [PMID: 35006317 PMCID: PMC8986682 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07411-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus causes onchocerciasis (river blindness), a neglected tropical disease affecting 21 million people, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Targeting the endosymbiont Wolbachia with antibiotics leads to permanent sterilization and killing of adult worms. The gold standard to assess Wolbachia depletion is the histological examination of adult worms in nodules beginning at 6 months post-treatment. However, nodules can only be used once, limiting the time points to monitor Wolbachia depletion. A diagnostic to longitudinally monitor Wolbachia depletion from microfilariae (MF) at more frequent intervals < 6 months post-treatment would accelerate clinical trials of antiwolbachials. We developed a TaqMan qPCR amplifying the single-copy gene wOvftsZ to quantify Wolbachia from as few as one MF that had migrated from skin biopsies and compared quantification using circular and linearized plasmids or synthetic dsDNA (gBlock®). qPCR for MF from the rodent nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis was used to support the reproducibility and validate the principle. The qPCR using as few as 2 MF from O. volvulus and L. sigmodontis reproducibly quantified Wolbachia. Use of a linearized plasmid standard or synthesized dsDNA resulted in numbers of Wolbachia/MF congruent with biologically plausible estimates in O. volvulus and L. sigmodontis MF. The qPCR assay yielded a median of 48.8 (range 1.5-280.5) Wolbachia/O. volvulus MF. The qPCR is a sensitive tool for quantifying Wolbachia in a few MF from skin biopsies and allows for establishing the qPCR as a surrogate parameter for monitoring Wolbachia depletion in adult worms of new antiwolbachial candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schlabe
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Patricia Korir
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christine Lämmer
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Frederic Landmann
- Centre de Recherche de Biologie Cellulaire de Montpellier (CRBM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, 34293, Montpellier, France
| | - Bettina Dubben
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marianne Koschel
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anna Albers
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Linda Batsa Debrah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Alexander Yaw Debrah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences of Kwame, Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Marc P Hübner
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kenneth Pfarr
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Ute Klarmann-Schulz
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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21
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Ehrens A, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. Current perspective of new anti-Wolbachial and direct-acting macrofilaricidal drugs as treatment strategies for human filariasis. GMS INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 10:Doc02. [PMID: 35463816 PMCID: PMC9006451 DOI: 10.3205/id000079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Filarial diseases like lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis belong to the Neglected Tropical Diseases and remain a public health problem in endemic countries. Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis can lead to stigmatizing pathologies and present a socio-economic burden for affected people and their endemic countries. Current treatment recommendations by the WHO include mass drug administration with ivermectin for the treatment of onchocerciasis and a combination of ivermectin, albendazole and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) for the treatment of lymphatic filariasis in areas that are not co-endemic for onchocerciasis or loiasis. Limitations of these treatment strategies are due to potential severe adverse events in onchocerciasis and loiasis patients following DEC or ivermectin treatment, respectively, the lack of a macrofilaricidal efficacy of those drugs and the risk of drug resistance development. Thus, to achieve the elimination of transmission of onchocerciasis and the elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem by 2030, the WHO defined in its roadmap that new alternative treatment strategies with macrofilaricidal compounds are required. Within a collaboration of the non-profit organizations Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and partners from academia and industry, several new promising macrofilaricidal drug candidates were identified, which will be discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Ehrens
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P. Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
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22
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Johnston KL, Hong WD, Turner JD, O'Neill PM, Ward SA, Taylor MJ. Anti-Wolbachia drugs for filariasis. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:1068-1081. [PMID: 34229954 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The mutualistic association between Wolbachia endosymbionts and their filarial nematode hosts has been exploited as a validated drug target delivering macrofilaricidal outcomes. Limitations of existing antibiotics to scale-up have driven the search for new drugs, which are effective in shorter regimens of 7 days or less. Here, we review the last 14 years of anti-Wolbachia drug discovery by the anti-Wolbachia (A·WOL) consortium, which has screened more than two million compounds, delivering thousands of hit compounds. Refined screening models integrated with robust pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) driven optimisation and selection strategies have delivered the first two drug candidates specifically designed to target Wolbachia. AWZ1066S and ABBV-4083 are currently progressing through clinical trials with the aim of delivering safe and effective macrofilaricides to support the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Johnston
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK; School of Life Sciences, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - W David Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Joseph D Turner
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Paul M O'Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen A Ward
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Mark J Taylor
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
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23
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Risch F, Ritter M, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. Human filariasis-contributions of the Litomosoides sigmodontis and Acanthocheilonema viteae animal model. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:4125-4143. [PMID: 33547508 PMCID: PMC8599372 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-07026-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Filariae are vector-borne parasitic nematodes that are endemic worldwide, in tropical and subtropical regions. Important human filariae spp. include Onchocerca volvulus, Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia spp., and Loa loa and Mansonella spp. causing onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis (lymphedema and hydrocele), loiasis (eye worm), and mansonelliasis, respectively. It is estimated that over 1 billion individuals live in endemic regions where filarial diseases are a public health concern contributing to significant disability adjusted life years (DALYs). Thus, efforts to control and eliminate filarial diseases were already launched by the WHO in the 1970s, especially against lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis, and are mainly based on mass drug administration (MDA) of microfilaricidal drugs (ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, albendazole) to filarial endemic areas accompanied with vector control strategies with the goal to reduce the transmission. With the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it was decided to eliminate transmission of onchocerciasis and stop lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem by 2030. It was also requested that novel drugs and treatment strategies be developed. Mouse models provide an important platform for anti-filarial drug research in a preclinical setting. This review presents an overview about the Litomosoides sigmodontis and Acanthocheilonema viteae filarial mouse models and their role in immunological research as well as preclinical studies about novel anti-filarial drugs and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Risch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Manuel Ritter
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.
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24
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Ngwewondo A, Scandale I, Specht S. Onchocerciasis drug development: from preclinical models to humans. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3939-3964. [PMID: 34642800 PMCID: PMC8599318 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07307-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Twenty diseases are recognized as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by World Health Assembly resolutions, including human filarial diseases. The end of NTDs is embedded within the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, under target 3.3. Onchocerciasis afflicts approximately 20.9 million people worldwide with > 90% of those infected residing in Africa. Control programs have made tremendous efforts in the management of onchocerciasis by mass drug administration and aerial larviciding; however, disease elimination is not yet achieved. In the new WHO roadmap, it is recognized that new drugs or drug regimens that kill or permanently sterilize adult filarial worms would significantly improve elimination timelines and accelerate the achievement of the program goal of disease elimination. Drug development is, however, handicapped by high attrition rates, and many promising molecules fail in preclinical development or in subsequent toxicological, safety and efficacy testing; thus, research and development (R&D) costs are, in aggregate, very high. Drug discovery and development for NTDs is largely driven by unmet medical needs put forward by the global health community; the area is underfunded and since no high return on investment is possible, there is no dedicated drug development pipeline for human filariasis. Repurposing existing drugs is one approach to filling the drug development pipeline for human filariasis. The high cost and slow pace of discovery and development of new drugs has led to the repurposing of “old” drugs, as this is more cost-effective and allows development timelines to be shortened. However, even if a drug is marketed for a human or veterinary indication, the safety margin and dosing regimen will need to be re-evaluated to determine the risk in humans. Drug repurposing is a promising approach to enlarging the pool of active molecules in the drug development pipeline. Another consideration when providing new treatment options is the use of combinations, which is not addressed in this review. We here summarize recent advances in the late preclinical or early clinical stage in the search for a potent macrofilaricide, including drugs against the nematode and against its endosymbiont, Wolbachia pipientis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela Ngwewondo
- Centre of Medical Research, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM), P.O. Box13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Scandale
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Specht
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland.
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25
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McGillan P, Berry NG, Nixon GL, Leung SC, Webborn PJH, Wenlock MC, Kavanagh S, Cassidy A, Clare RH, Cook DA, Johnston KL, Ford L, Ward SA, Taylor MJ, Hong WD, O’Neill PM. Development of Pyrazolopyrimidine Anti- Wolbachia Agents for the Treatment of Filariasis. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:1421-1426. [PMID: 34527179 PMCID: PMC8436242 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
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Anti-Wolbachia therapy has been identified as
a viable treatment for combating filarial diseases. Phenotypic screening
revealed a series of pyrazolopyrimidine hits with potent anti-Wolbachia activity. This paper focuses on the exploration
of the SAR for this chemotype, with improvement of metabolic stability
and solubility profiles using medicinal chemistry approaches. Organic
synthesis has enabled functionalization of the pyrazolopyrimidine
core at multiple positions, generating a library of compounds of which
many analogues possess nanomolar activity against Wolbachia
in vitro with improved DMPK parameters. A lead compound, 15f, was selected for in vivo pharmacokinetics
(PK) profiling in mice. The combination of potent anti-Wolbachia activity in two in vitro assessments plus the exceptional
oral PK profiles in mice puts this lead compound in a strong position
for in vivo proof-of-concept pharmacodynamics studies
and demonstrates the strong potential for further optimization and
development of this series for treatment of filariasis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul McGillan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Neil G. Berry
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma L. Nixon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Suet C. Leung
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. H. Webborn
- Drug Safety & Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca U.K., Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Mark C. Wenlock
- Drug Safety & Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca U.K., Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Kavanagh
- Oncology Safety Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Cassidy
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel H. Clare
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Darren A. Cook
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Kelly L. Johnston
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
- Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Ford
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen A. Ward
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - W. David Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Paul M. O’Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
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26
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Caragata EP, Dutra HLC, Sucupira PHF, Ferreira AGA, Moreira LA. Wolbachia as translational science: controlling mosquito-borne pathogens. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:1050-1067. [PMID: 34303627 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In this review we examine how exploiting the Wolbachia-mosquito relationship has become an increasingly popular strategy for controlling arbovirus transmission. Field deployments of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes have led to significant decreases in dengue virus incidence via high levels of mosquito population suppression and replacement, emphasizing the success of Wolbachia approaches. Here, we examine how improved knowledge of Wolbachia-host interactions has provided key insight into the mechanisms of the essential phenotypes of pathogen blocking and cytoplasmic incompatibility. And we discuss recent studies demonstrating that extrinsic factors, such as ambient temperature, can modulate Wolbachia density and maternal transmission. Finally, we assess the prospects of using Wolbachia to control other vectors and agricultural pest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric P Caragata
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Vero Beach, FL, USA.
| | - Heverton L C Dutra
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Pedro H F Sucupira
- Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno-Vetor, Instituto René Rachou - Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Alvaro G A Ferreira
- Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno-Vetor, Instituto René Rachou - Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Luciano A Moreira
- Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno-Vetor, Instituto René Rachou - Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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27
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Kaur R, Shropshire JD, Cross KL, Leigh B, Mansueto AJ, Stewart V, Bordenstein SR, Bordenstein SR. Living in the endosymbiotic world of Wolbachia: A centennial review. Cell Host Microbe 2021. [PMID: 33945798 DOI: 10.20944/preprints202103.0338.v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The most widespread intracellular bacteria in the animal kingdom are maternally inherited endosymbionts of the genus Wolbachia. Their prevalence in arthropods and nematodes worldwide and stunning arsenal of parasitic and mutualistic adaptations make these bacteria a biological archetype for basic studies of symbiosis and applied outcomes for curbing human and agricultural diseases. Here, we conduct a summative, centennial analysis of living in the Wolbachia world. We synthesize literature on Wolbachia's host range, phylogenetic diversity, genomics, cell biology, and applications to filarial, arboviral, and agricultural diseases. We also review the mobilome of Wolbachia including phage WO and its essentiality to hallmark reproductive phenotypes in arthropods. Finally, the Wolbachia system is an exemplar for discovery-based science education using biodiversity, biotechnology, and bioinformatics lessons. As we approach a century of Wolbachia research, the interdisciplinary science of this symbiosis stands as a model for consolidating and teaching the integrative rules of endosymbiotic life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupinder Kaur
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
| | - J Dylan Shropshire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Karissa L Cross
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Brittany Leigh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Alexander J Mansueto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Victoria Stewart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Sarah R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Seth R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
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28
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Kaur R, Shropshire JD, Cross KL, Leigh B, Mansueto AJ, Stewart V, Bordenstein SR, Bordenstein SR. Living in the endosymbiotic world of Wolbachia: A centennial review. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:879-893. [PMID: 33945798 PMCID: PMC8192442 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The most widespread intracellular bacteria in the animal kingdom are maternally inherited endosymbionts of the genus Wolbachia. Their prevalence in arthropods and nematodes worldwide and stunning arsenal of parasitic and mutualistic adaptations make these bacteria a biological archetype for basic studies of symbiosis and applied outcomes for curbing human and agricultural diseases. Here, we conduct a summative, centennial analysis of living in the Wolbachia world. We synthesize literature on Wolbachia's host range, phylogenetic diversity, genomics, cell biology, and applications to filarial, arboviral, and agricultural diseases. We also review the mobilome of Wolbachia including phage WO and its essentiality to hallmark reproductive phenotypes in arthropods. Finally, the Wolbachia system is an exemplar for discovery-based science education using biodiversity, biotechnology, and bioinformatics lessons. As we approach a century of Wolbachia research, the interdisciplinary science of this symbiosis stands as a model for consolidating and teaching the integrative rules of endosymbiotic life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupinder Kaur
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
| | - J Dylan Shropshire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Karissa L Cross
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Brittany Leigh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Alexander J Mansueto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Victoria Stewart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Sarah R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Seth R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
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29
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Partridge F, Bataille CJ, Forman R, Marriott AE, Forde-Thomas J, Häberli C, Dinsdale RL, O’Sullivan JD, Willis NJ, Wynne GM, Whiteland H, Archer J, Steven A, Keiser J, Turner JD, Hoffmann KF, Taylor MJ, Else KJ, Russell AJ, Sattelle DB. Structural Requirements for Dihydrobenzoxazepinone Anthelmintics: Actions against Medically Important and Model Parasites: Trichuris muris, Brugia malayi, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, and Schistosoma mansoni. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1260-1274. [PMID: 33797218 PMCID: PMC8154432 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nine hundred million people are infected with the soil-transmitted helminths Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm), hookworm, and Trichuris trichiura (whipworm). However, low single-dose cure rates of the benzimidazole drugs, the mainstay of preventative chemotherapy for whipworm, together with parasite drug resistance, mean that current approaches may not be able to eliminate morbidity from trichuriasis. We are seeking to develop new anthelmintic drugs specifically with activity against whipworm as a priority and previously identified a hit series of dihydrobenzoxazepinone (DHB) compounds that block motility of ex vivo Trichuris muris. Here, we report a systematic investigation of the structure-activity relationship of the anthelmintic activity of DHB compounds. We synthesized 47 analogues, which allowed us to define features of the molecules essential for anthelmintic action as well as broadening the chemotype by identification of dihydrobenzoquinolinones (DBQs) with anthelmintic activity. We investigated the activity of these compounds against other parasitic nematodes, identifying DHB compounds with activity against Brugia malayi and Heligmosomoides polygyrus. We also demonstrated activity of DHB compounds against the trematode Schistosoma mansoni, a parasite that causes schistosomiasis. These results demonstrate the potential of DHB and DBQ compounds for further development as broad-spectrum anthelmintics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick
A. Partridge
- Centre
for Respiratory Biology, UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, United Kingdom
| | - Carole J.R. Bataille
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Forman
- Lydia
Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology,
Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Amy E. Marriott
- Centre
for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine Forde-Thomas
- Institute
of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Cécile Häberli
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel CH-4002, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, Petersplatz
1, Basel CH-4001, Switzerland
| | - Ria L. Dinsdale
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - James D.B. O’Sullivan
- Lydia
Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology,
Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United
Kingdom
| | - Nicky J. Willis
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
- Alzheimer’s
Research UK UCL Drug Discovery Institute, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Graham M. Wynne
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Whiteland
- Institute
of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - John Archer
- Centre
for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Steven
- Centre
for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel CH-4002, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, Petersplatz
1, Basel CH-4001, Switzerland
| | - Joseph D. Turner
- Centre
for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
- Centre
for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool
School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Karl F. Hoffmann
- Institute
of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Centre
for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
- Centre
for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool
School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn J. Else
- Lydia
Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology,
Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Angela J. Russell
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, United
Kingdom
| | - David B. Sattelle
- Centre
for Respiratory Biology, UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, United Kingdom
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30
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Conway LP, Jadhav AM, Homan RA, Li W, Rubiano JS, Hawkins R, Lawrence RM, Parker CG. Evaluation of fully-functionalized diazirine tags for chemical proteomic applications. Chem Sci 2021; 12:7839-7847. [PMID: 34168837 PMCID: PMC8188597 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc01360b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of photo-affinity reagents for the mapping of noncovalent small molecule-protein interactions has become widespread. Recently, several 'fully-functionalized' (FF) chemical tags have been developed wherein a photoactivatable capture group, an enrichment handle, and a functional group for synthetic conjugation to a molecule of interest are integrated into a single modular tag. Diazirine-based FF tags in particular are increasingly employed in chemical proteomic investigations; however, despite routine usage, their relative utility has not been established. Here, we systematically evaluate several diazirine-containing FF tags, including a terminal diazirine analog developed herein, for chemical proteomic investigations. Specifically, we compared the general reactivity of five diazirine tags and assessed their impact on the profiles of various small molecules, including fragments and known inhibitors revealing that such tags can have profound effects on the proteomic profiles of chemical probes. Our findings should be informative for chemical probe design, photo-affinity reagent development, and chemical proteomic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis P Conway
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter FL USA
| | - Appaso M Jadhav
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter FL USA
| | - Rick A Homan
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter FL USA
| | - Weichao Li
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter FL USA
| | | | - Richard Hawkins
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter FL USA
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31
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Clare RH, Hall SR, Patel RN, Casewell NR. Small Molecule Drug Discovery for Neglected Tropical Snakebite. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:340-353. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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32
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Bulman CA, Chappell L, Gunderson E, Vogel I, Beerntsen B, Slatko BE, Sullivan W, Sakanari JA. The Eagle effect in the Wolbachia-worm symbiosis. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:118. [PMID: 33627171 PMCID: PMC7905570 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04545-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Onchocerciasis (river blindness) and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) are two human neglected tropical diseases that cause major disabilities. Mass administration of drugs targeting the microfilarial stage has reduced transmission and eliminated these diseases in several countries but a macrofilaricidal drug that kills or sterilizes the adult worms is critically needed to eradicate the diseases. The causative agents of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis are filarial worms that harbor the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. Because filarial worms depend on Wolbachia for reproduction and survival, drugs targeting Wolbachia hold great promise as a means to eliminate these diseases. Methods To better understand the relationship between Wolbachia and its worm host, adult Brugia pahangi were exposed to varying concentrations of doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline and rifampicin in vitro and assessed for Wolbachia numbers and worm motility. Worm motility was monitored using the Worminator system, and Wolbachia titers were assessed by qPCR of the single copy gene wsp from Wolbachia and gst from Brugia to calculate IC50s and in time course experiments. Confocal microscopy was also used to quantify Wolbachia located at the distal tip region of worm ovaries to assess the effects of antibiotic treatment in this region of the worm where Wolbachia are transmitted vertically to the microfilarial stage. Results Worms treated with higher concentrations of antibiotics had higher Wolbachia titers, i.e. as antibiotic concentrations increased there was a corresponding increase in Wolbachia titers. As the concentration of antibiotic increased, worms stopped moving and never recovered despite maintaining Wolbachia titers comparable to controls. Thus, worms were rendered moribund by the higher concentrations of antibiotics but Wolbachia persisted suggesting that these antibiotics may act directly on the worms at high concentration. Surprisingly, in contrast to these results, antibiotics given at low concentrations reduced Wolbachia titers. Conclusion Wolbachia in B. pahangi display a counterintuitive dose response known as the “Eagle effect.” This effect in Wolbachia suggests a common underlying mechanism that allows diverse bacterial and fungal species to persist despite exposure to high concentrations of antimicrobial compounds. To our knowledge this is the first report of this phenomenon occurring in an intracellular endosymbiont, Wolbachia, in its filarial host.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina A Bulman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Laura Chappell
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Emma Gunderson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ian Vogel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brenda Beerntsen
- Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Barton E Slatko
- Molecular Parasitology Division, New England Biolabs Inc, Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - William Sullivan
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Judy A Sakanari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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33
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Conway LP, Li W, Parker CG. Chemoproteomic-enabled phenotypic screening. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:371-393. [PMID: 33577749 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The ID of disease-modifying, chemically accessible targets remains a central priority of modern therapeutic discovery. The phenotypic screening of small-molecule libraries not only represents an attractive approach to identify compounds that may serve as drug leads but also serves as an opportunity to uncover compounds with novel mechanisms of action (MoAs). However, a major bottleneck of phenotypic screens continues to be the ID of pharmacologically relevant target(s) for compounds of interest. The field of chemoproteomics aims to map proteome-wide small-molecule interactions in complex, native systems, and has proved a key technology to unravel the protein targets of pharmacological modulators. In this review, we discuss the application of modern chemoproteomic methods to identify protein targets of phenotypic screening hits and investigate MoAs, with a specific focus on the development of chemoproteomic-enabled compound libraries to streamline target discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis P Conway
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Weichao Li
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Christopher G Parker
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA; Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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34
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Lefoulon E, Foster JM, Truchon A, Carlow CKS, Slatko BE. The Wolbachia Symbiont: Here, There and Everywhere. Results Probl Cell Differ 2021; 69:423-451. [PMID: 33263882 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-51849-3_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Wolbachia symbionts, first observed in the 1920s, are now known to be present in about 30-70% of tested arthropod species, in about half of tested filarial nematodes (including the majority of human filarial nematodes), and some plant-parasitic nematodes. In arthropods, they are generally viewed as parasites while in nematodes they appear to be mutualists although this demarcation is not absolute. Their presence in arthropods generally leads to reproductive anomalies, while in nematodes, they are generally required for worm development and reproduction. In mosquitos, Wolbachia inhibit RNA viral infections, leading to populational reductions in human RNA virus pathogens, whereas in filarial nematodes, their requirement for worm fertility and survival has been channeled into their use as drug targets for filariasis control. While much more research on these ubiquitous symbionts is needed, they are viewed as playing significant roles in biological processes, ranging from arthropod speciation to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Lefoulon
- Molecular Parasitology Group, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Jeremy M Foster
- Molecular Parasitology Group, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Alex Truchon
- Molecular Parasitology Group, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - C K S Carlow
- Molecular Parasitology Group, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Barton E Slatko
- Molecular Parasitology Group, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, MA, USA.
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35
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Chevignon G, Foray V, Pérez-Jiménez MM, Libro S, Chung M, Foster JM, Landmann F. Dual RNAseq analyses at soma and germline levels reveal evolutionary innovations in the elephantiasis-agent Brugia malayi, and adaptation of its Wolbachia endosymbionts. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0008935. [PMID: 33406151 PMCID: PMC7787461 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Brugia malayi is a human filarial nematode responsible for elephantiasis, a debilitating condition that is part of a broader spectrum of diseases called filariasis, including lymphatic filariasis and river blindness. Almost all filarial nematode species infecting humans live in mutualism with Wolbachia endosymbionts, present in somatic hypodermal tissues but also in the female germline which ensures their vertical transmission to the nematode progeny. These α-proteobacteria potentially provision their host with essential metabolites and protect the parasite against the vertebrate immune response. In the absence of Wolbachia wBm, B. malayi females become sterile, and the filarial nematode lifespan is greatly reduced. In order to better comprehend this symbiosis, we investigated the adaptation of wBm to the host nematode soma and germline, and we characterized these cellular environments to highlight their specificities. Dual RNAseq experiments were performed at the tissue-specific and ovarian developmental stage levels, reaching the resolution of the germline mitotic proliferation and meiotic differentiation stages. We found that most wBm genes, including putative effectors, are not differentially regulated between infected tissues. However, two wBm genes involved in stress responses are upregulated in the hypodermal chords compared to the germline, indicating that this somatic tissue represents a harsh environment to which wBm have adapted. A comparison of the B. malayi and C. elegans germline transcriptomes reveals a poor conservation of genes involved in the production of oocytes, with the filarial germline proliferative zone relying on a majority of genes absent from C. elegans. The first orthology map of the B. malayi genome presented here, together with tissue-specific expression enrichment analyses, indicate that the early steps of oogenesis are a developmental process involving genes specific to filarial nematodes, that likely result from evolutionary innovations supporting the filarial parasitic lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germain Chevignon
- CRBM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
- Laboratoire de Génétique et Pathologie des Mollusques Marins, Ifremer, La Tremblade, France
| | - Vincent Foray
- CRBM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Mercedes Maria Pérez-Jiménez
- CRBM, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD)–Universidad Pablo de Olavide (UPO), Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, UPO/CSIC/JA, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Silvia Libro
- Division of Protein Expression & Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Matthew Chung
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jeremy M. Foster
- Division of Protein Expression & Modification, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Schiefer A, Hübner MP, Krome A, Lämmer C, Ehrens A, Aden T, Koschel M, Neufeld H, Chaverra-Muñoz L, Jansen R, Kehraus S, König GM, Pogorevc D, Müller R, Stadler M, Hüttel S, Hesterkamp T, Wagner K, Pfarr K, Hoerauf A. Corallopyronin A for short-course anti-wolbachial, macrofilaricidal treatment of filarial infections. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008930. [PMID: 33284808 PMCID: PMC7746275 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Current efforts to eliminate the neglected tropical diseases onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, caused by the filarial nematodes Onchocerca volvulus and Wuchereria bancrofti or Brugia spp., respectively, are hampered by lack of a short-course macrofilaricidal–adult-worm killing–treatment. Anti-wolbachial antibiotics, e.g. doxycycline, target the essential Wolbachia endosymbionts of filariae and are a safe prototype adult-worm-sterilizing and macrofilaricidal regimen, in contrast to standard treatments with ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine, which mainly target the microfilariae. However, treatment regimens of 4–5 weeks necessary for doxycycline and contraindications limit its use. Therefore, we tested the preclinical anti-Wolbachia drug candidate Corallopyronin A (CorA) for in vivo efficacy during initial and chronic filarial infections in the Litomosoides sigmodontis rodent model. CorA treatment for 14 days beginning immediately after infection cleared >90% of Wolbachia endosymbionts from filariae and prevented development into adult worms. CorA treatment of patently infected microfilaremic gerbils for 14 days with 30 mg/kg twice a day (BID) achieved a sustained reduction of >99% of Wolbachia endosymbionts from adult filariae and microfilariae, followed by complete inhibition of filarial embryogenesis resulting in clearance of microfilariae. Combined treatment of CorA and albendazole, a drug currently co-administered during mass drug administrations and previously shown to enhance efficacy of anti-Wolbachia drugs, achieved microfilarial clearance after 7 days of treatment at a lower BID dose of 10 mg/kg CorA, a Human Equivalent Dose of 1.4 mg/kg. Importantly, this combination led to a significant reduction in the adult worm burden, which has not yet been published with other anti-Wolbachia candidates tested in this model. In summary, CorA is a preclinical candidate for filariasis, which significantly reduces treatment times required to achieve sustained Wolbachia depletion, clearance of microfilariae, and inhibition of embryogenesis. In combination with albendazole, CorA is robustly macrofilaricidal after 7 days of treatment and fulfills the Target Product Profile for a macrofilaricidal drug. Infections with filarial roundworms can cause the disfiguring human neglected tropical diseases onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Treatment of these diseases is limited, as there is no well-tolerated treatment available that kills the adult worms after a short-term regimen. Thus, mass drug administrations (MDA) are performed with drugs that temporarily clear the microfilariae, the filarial offspring, to inhibit the transmission of the disease. As these MDA treatments have to be given 1–2 times per year for many years, the goal to eliminate onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis is hampered. In the present study we investigated a novel preclinical candidate for the treatment of filariasis. Corallopyronin A (CorA) is a natural compound that clears the essential Wolbachia endobacteria of filariae. Using the Litomosoides sigmodontis rodent model of filariasis we demonstrated that 2 weeks of CorA treatment clears Wolbachia endosymbionts in vivo, leading to a maintained clearance of microfilariae by inhibition of filarial embryogenesis. Combination therapy of CorA with the MDA drug albendazole allowed lower CorA doses and shortened treatment to 7 days. More importantly, it also led to the death of the adult filariae. Portfolios (Target Product Profiles) of new drugs against filariae should show adult killing efficacy like CorA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Schiefer
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P. Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anna Krome
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christine Lämmer
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Ehrens
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tilman Aden
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marianne Koschel
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Helene Neufeld
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Rolf Jansen
- Department Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stefan Kehraus
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Gabriele M. König
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Domen Pogorevc
- Department Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Rolf Müller
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
- Department Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Marc Stadler
- Department Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stephan Hüttel
- Department Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Thomas Hesterkamp
- Translational Project Management Office (TPMO), German Center for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Karl Wagner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kenneth Pfarr
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
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37
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Lefoulon E, Clark T, Guerrero R, Cañizales I, Cardenas-Callirgos JM, Junker K, Vallarino-Lhermitte N, Makepeace BL, Darby AC, Foster JM, Martin C, Slatko BE. Diminutive, degraded but dissimilar: Wolbachia genomes from filarial nematodes do not conform to a single paradigm. Microb Genom 2020; 6:mgen000487. [PMID: 33295865 PMCID: PMC8116671 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are alpha-proteobacteria symbionts infecting a large range of arthropod species and two different families of nematodes. Interestingly, these endosymbionts are able to induce diverse phenotypes in their hosts: they are reproductive parasites within many arthropods, nutritional mutualists within some insects and obligate mutualists within their filarial nematode hosts. Defining Wolbachia 'species' is controversial and so they are commonly classified into 17 different phylogenetic lineages, termed supergroups, named A-F, H-Q and S. However, available genomic data remain limited and not representative of the full Wolbachia diversity; indeed, of the 24 complete genomes and 55 draft genomes of Wolbachia available to date, 84 % belong to supergroups A and B, exclusively composed of Wolbachia from arthropods. For the current study, we took advantage of a recently developed DNA-enrichment method to produce four complete genomes and two draft genomes of Wolbachia from filarial nematodes. Two complete genomes, wCtub and wDcau, are the smallest Wolbachia genomes sequenced to date (863 988 bp and 863 427 bp, respectively), as well as the first genomes representing supergroup J. These genomes confirm the validity of this supergroup, a controversial clade due to weaknesses of the multilocus sequence typing approach. We also produced the first draft Wolbachia genome from a supergroup F filarial nematode representative (wMhie), two genomes from supergroup D (wLsig and wLbra) and the complete genome of wDimm from supergroup C. Our new data confirm the paradigm of smaller Wolbachia genomes from filarial nematodes containing low levels of transposable elements and the absence of intact bacteriophage sequences, unlike many Wolbachia from arthropods, where both are more abundant. However, we observe differences among the Wolbachia genomes from filarial nematodes: no global co-evolutionary pattern, strong synteny between supergroup C and supergroup J Wolbachia, and more transposable elements observed in supergroup D Wolbachia compared to the other supergroups. Metabolic pathway analysis indicates several highly conserved pathways (haem and nucleotide biosynthesis, for example) as opposed to more variable pathways, such as vitamin B biosynthesis, which might be specific to certain host-symbiont associations. Overall, there appears to be no single Wolbachia-filarial nematode pattern of co-evolution or symbiotic relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Lefoulon
- Molecular Parasitology Group, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, USA
- Present address: School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Travis Clark
- Molecular Parasitology Group, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Ricardo Guerrero
- Instituto de Zoología y Ecología Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Israel Cañizales
- Instituto de Zoología y Ecología Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
- Ediciones La Fauna KPT SL, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Manuel Cardenas-Callirgos
- Neotropical Parasitology Research Network - NEOPARNET, Asociación Peruana de Helmintología e Invertebrados Afines – APHIA, Peru
| | - Kerstin Junker
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Nathaly Vallarino-Lhermitte
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR7245), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin L. Makepeace
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Alistair C. Darby
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jeremy M. Foster
- Molecular Parasitology Group, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Coralie Martin
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR7245), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Barton E. Slatko
- Molecular Parasitology Group, New England Biolabs, Ipswich, MA, USA
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A Meta-Analysis of Wolbachia Transcriptomics Reveals a Stage-Specific Wolbachia Transcriptional Response Shared Across Different Hosts. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:3243-3260. [PMID: 32718933 PMCID: PMC7467002 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Wolbachia is a genus containing obligate, intracellular endosymbionts with arthropod and nematode hosts. Numerous studies have identified differentially expressed transcripts in Wolbachia endosymbionts that potentially inform the biological interplay between these endosymbionts and their hosts, albeit with discordant results. Here, we re-analyze previously published Wolbachia RNA-Seq transcriptomics data sets using a single workflow consisting of the most up-to-date algorithms and techniques, with the aim of identifying trends or patterns in the pan-Wolbachia transcriptional response. We find that data from one of the early studies in filarial nematodes did not allow for robust conclusions about Wolbachia differential expression with these methods, suggesting the original interpretations should be reconsidered. Across datasets analyzed with this unified workflow, there is a general lack of global gene regulation with the exception of a weak transcriptional response resulting in the upregulation of ribosomal proteins in early larval stages. This weak response is observed across diverse Wolbachia strains from both nematode and insect hosts suggesting a potential pan-Wolbachia transcriptional response during host development that diverged more than 700 million years ago.
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Milton P, Hamley JID, Walker M, Basáñez MG. Moxidectin: an oral treatment for human onchocerciasis. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2020; 18:1067-1081. [PMID: 32715787 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2020.1792772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Moxidectin is a milbemycin endectocide recently approved for the treatment of human onchocerciasis. Onchocerciasis, earmarked for elimination of transmission, is a filarial infection endemic in Africa, Yemen, and the Amazonian focus straddling Venezuela and Brazil. Concerns over whether the predominant treatment strategy (yearly mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin) is sufficient to achieve elimination in all endemic foci have refocussed attention upon alternative treatments. Moxidectin's stronger and longer microfilarial suppression compared to ivermectin in both phase II and III clinical trials indicates its potential as a novel powerful drug for onchocerciasis elimination. AREAS COVERED This work summarizes the chemistry and pharmacology of moxidectin, reviews the phase II and III clinical trials evidence on tolerability, safety, and efficacy of moxidectin versus ivermectin, and discusses the implications of moxidectin's current regulatory status. EXPERT OPINION Moxidectin's superior clinical performance has the potential to substantially reduce times to elimination compared to ivermectin. If donated, moxidectin could mitigate the additional programmatic costs of biannual ivermectin distribution because, unlike other alternatives, it can use the existing community-directed treatment infrastructure. A pediatric indication (for children <12 years) and determination of its usefulness in onchocerciasis-loiasis co-endemic areas will greatly help fulfill the potential of moxidectin for the treatment and elimination of onchocerciasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Milton
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research and MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC GIDA), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London , London, UK
| | - Jonathan I D Hamley
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research and MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC GIDA), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London , London, UK
| | - Martin Walker
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research and MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC GIDA), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London , London, UK.,London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College , Hatfield, UK
| | - María-Gloria Basáñez
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research and MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC GIDA), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London , London, UK
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Oxfendazole mediates macrofilaricidal efficacy against the filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis in vivo and inhibits Onchocerca spec. motility in vitro. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008427. [PMID: 32628671 PMCID: PMC7365463 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A major impediment to eliminate lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis is the lack of effective short-course macrofilaricidal drugs or regimens that are proven to be safe for both infections. In this study we tested oxfendazole, an anthelmintic shown to be well tolerated in phase 1 clinical trials. In vitro, oxfendazole exhibited modest to marginal motility inhibition of adult worms of Onchocerca gutturosa, pre-adult worms of Onchocerca volvulus and Onchocerca lienalis microfilariae. In vivo, five days of oral treatments provided sterile cure with up to 100% macrofilaricidal efficacy in the murine Litomosoides sigmodontis model of filariasis. In addition, 10 days of oral treatments with oxfendazole inhibited filarial embryogenesis in patent L. sigmodontis-infected jirds and subsequently led to a protracted but complete clearance of microfilaremia. The macrofilaricidal effect observed in vivo was selective, as treatment with oxfendazole of microfilariae-injected naïve mice was ineffective. Based on pharmacokinetic analysis, the driver of efficacy is the maintenance of a minimal efficacious concentration of approximately 100 ng/ml (based on subcutaneous treatment at 25 mg/kg in mice). From animal models, the human efficacious dose is predicted to range from 1.5 to 4.1 mg/kg. Such a dose has already been proven to be safe in phase 1 clinical trials. Oxfendazole therefore has potential to be efficacious for treatment of human filariasis without causing adverse reactions due to drug-induced microfilariae killing. Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis represent two debilitating filarial diseases that belong to the neglected tropical diseases. The current efforts to eliminate those diseases is hampered by the lack of short-course macrofilaricidal drugs, i.e. drugs that kill the adult worms, or regimens that are proven to be safe for both diseases. In the present study we demonstrate that the anthelmintic drug oxfendazole, currently used in veterinary medicine against intestinal helminths, has excellent efficacy in the Litomosoides sigmodontis rodent model of filariasis. Oxfendazole caused complete clearance of adult filariae after a short oral regimen in vivo. Oxfendazole was not directly active against the circulating filarial progeny, the microfilariae, suggesting that drug-induced serious adverse events due to the clearance of microfilariae are unlikely. Human dose was predicted based on the efficacy in the rodent model, the calculation estimated a low efficacious dose, which has already been shown to be safe in phase 1 clinical trials. Thus, oxfendazole represents a promising drug candidate for the treatment of human filarial diseases such as onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis.
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Gunderson EL, Vogel I, Chappell L, Bulman CA, Lim KC, Luo M, Whitman JD, Franklin C, Choi YJ, Lefoulon E, Clark T, Beerntsen B, Slatko B, Mitreva M, Sullivan W, Sakanari JA. The endosymbiont Wolbachia rebounds following antibiotic treatment. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008623. [PMID: 32639986 PMCID: PMC7371230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic treatment has emerged as a promising strategy to sterilize and kill filarial nematodes due to their dependence on their endosymbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia. Several studies have shown that novel and FDA-approved antibiotics are efficacious at depleting the filarial nematodes of their endosymbiont, thus reducing female fecundity. However, it remains unclear if antibiotics can permanently deplete Wolbachia and cause sterility for the lifespan of the adult worms. Concerns about resistance arising from mass drug administration necessitate a careful exploration of potential Wolbachia recrudescence. In the present study, we investigated the long-term effects of the FDA-approved antibiotic, rifampicin, in the Brugia pahangi jird model of infection. Initially, rifampicin treatment depleted Wolbachia in adult worms and simultaneously impaired female worm fecundity. However, during an 8-month washout period, Wolbachia titers rebounded and embryogenesis returned to normal. Genome sequence analyses of Wolbachia revealed that despite the population bottleneck and recovery, no genetic changes occurred that could account for the rebound. Clusters of densely packed Wolbachia within the worm's ovarian tissues were observed by confocal microscopy and remained in worms treated with rifampicin, suggesting that they may serve as privileged sites that allow Wolbachia to persist in worms while treated with antibiotic. To our knowledge, these clusters have not been previously described and may be the source of the Wolbachia rebound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L. Gunderson
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Ian Vogel
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Laura Chappell
- Dept. of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology; University of California, Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Christina A. Bulman
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - K. C. Lim
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Mona Luo
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D. Whitman
- Dept. of Laboratory Medicine; University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Chris Franklin
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Young-Jun Choi
- Division of Infectious Diseases; Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Emilie Lefoulon
- Molecular Parasitology Division; New England BioLabs; Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Travis Clark
- Veterinary Pathobiology; University of Missouri-Columbia; Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Brenda Beerntsen
- Veterinary Pathobiology; University of Missouri-Columbia; Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Barton Slatko
- Molecular Parasitology Division; New England BioLabs; Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- Division of Infectious Diseases; Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - William Sullivan
- Dept. of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology; University of California, Santa Cruz; Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Judy A. Sakanari
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, California, United States of America
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Abstract
Neglected parasitic helminth diseases such as onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis affect an estimated 145 million people worldwide, creating a serious health burden in endemic areas such as sub-Saharan Africa and India. Although these diseases are not usually lethal, these filarial nematodes, transmitted by blood-feeding insect vectors, cause severe debilitation and cause chronic disability to infected individuals. The adult worms can reproduce from 5 to up to 14 years, releasing millions of microfilariae, juvenile worms, over an infected individual's lifetime. The current treatments for controlling human filarial infections is focused on killing microfilariae, the earliest larval stage. Currently, there is an unmet medical need for treatments consisting of a macrofilaricidal regimen, one that targets the adult stage of the parasite, to increase the rate of elimination, allow for safe use in coendemic regions of Onchocerca volvulus and Loa loa, and to provide a rapid method to resolve reinfections. Herein, recent approaches for targeting human filarial diseases are discussed, including direct acting agents to target parasitic nematodes and antibacterial approaches to target the endosymbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie A. Hawryluk
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Global Health, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, California 92121, United States
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Turner JD, Marriott AE, Hong D, O' Neill P, Ward SA, Taylor MJ. Novel anti-Wolbachia drugs, a new approach in the treatment and prevention of veterinary filariasis? Vet Parasitol 2020; 279:109057. [PMID: 32126342 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Filarial nematodes are tissue-dwelling parasitic worms that can cause a range of disfiguring pathologies in humans and potentially lethal infections of companion animals. The bacterial endosymbiont, Wolbachia, is present within most human and veterinary filarial pathogens, including the causative agent of heartworm disease, Dirofilaria immitis. Doxycycline-mediated drug targeting of Wolbachia leads to sterility, clearance of microfilariae and gradual death of adult filariae. This mode of action is attractive in the treatment of filariasis because it avoids severe host inflammatory adverse reactions invoked by rapid-killing anthelmintic agents. However, doxycycline needs to be taken for four weeks to exert curative activity. In this review, we discuss the evidence that Wolbachia drug targeting is efficacious in blocking filarial larval development as well as in the treatment of chronic filarial disease. We present the current portfolio of next-generation anti-Wolbachia candidates discovered through phenotypic screening of chemical libraries and validated in a range of in vitro and in vivo filarial infection models. Several novel chemotypes have been identified with selected narrow-spectrum anti-Wolbachia specificity and superior time-to-kill kinetics compared with doxycycline. We discuss the opportunities of developing these novel anti-Wolbachia agents as either cures, adjunct therapies or new preventatives for the treatment of veterinary filariasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D Turner
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Amy E Marriott
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - David Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Paul O' Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Steve A Ward
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Mark J Taylor
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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Short-course quinazoline drug treatments are effective in the Litomosoides sigmodontis and Brugia pahangi jird models. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2019; 12:18-27. [PMID: 31869759 PMCID: PMC6931063 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The quinazolines CBR417 and CBR490 were previously shown to be potent anti-wolbachials that deplete Wolbachia endosymbionts of filarial nematodes and present promising pre-clinical candidates for human filarial diseases such as onchocerciasis. In the present study we tested both candidates in two models of chronic filarial infection, namely the Litomosoides sigmodontis and Brugia pahangi jird model and assessed their long-term effect on Wolbachia depletion, microfilariae counts and filarial embryogenesis 16−18 weeks after treatment initiation (wpt). Once per day (QD) oral treatment with CBR417 (50 mg/kg) for 4 days or twice per day (BID) with CBR490 (25 mg/kg) for 7 days during patent L. sigmodontis infection reduced the Wolbachia load by >99% and completely cleared peripheral microfilaremia from 10–14 wpt. Similarly, 7 days of QD treatments (40 mg/kg) with CBR417 or CBR490 cleared >99% of Wolbachia from B. pahangi and reduced peritoneal microfilariae counts by 93% in the case of CBR417 treatment. Transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated intensive damage to the B. pahangi ovaries following CBR417 treatment and in accordance filarial embryogenesis was inhibited in both models after CBR417 or CBR490 treatment. Suboptimal treatment regimens of CBR417 or CBR490 did not lead to a maintained reduction of the microfilariae and Wolbachia load. In conclusion, CBR417 or CBR490 are pre-clinical candidates for filarial diseases, which achieve long-term clearance of Wolbachia endosymbionts of filarial nematodes, inhibit filarial embryogenesis and clear microfilaremia with treatments as short as 7 days. CBR417 and CBR490 provide long-term effects in 2 chronic filaria jird models. CBR417 and CBR490 deplete >99% Wolbachia in B. pahangi and L. sigmodontis filariae. CBR417 and CBR490 clear L. sigmodontis microfilariae after 10–14 weeks. CBR417 and CBR490 inhibit filarial embryogenesis in both models. Suboptimal doses do not maintain reduction of microfilariae and Wolbachia.
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Drug Repurposing of Bromodomain Inhibitors as Potential Novel Therapeutic Leads for Lymphatic Filariasis Guided by Multispecies Transcriptomics. mSystems 2019; 4:4/6/e00596-19. [PMID: 31796568 PMCID: PMC6890932 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00596-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The current treatment regimen for lymphatic filariasis is mostly microfilaricidal. In an effort to identify new drug candidates for lymphatic filariasis, we conducted a three-way transcriptomics/systems biology study of one of the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis, Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont wBm, and its vector host Aedes aegypti at 16 distinct B. malayi life stages. B. malayi upregulates the expression of bromodomain-containing proteins in the adult female, embryo, and microfilaria stages. In vitro, we find that the existing cancer therapeutic JQ1(+), which is a bromodomain and extraterminal protein inhibitor, has adulticidal activity in B. malayi. To better understand the transcriptomic interplay of organisms associated with lymphatic filariasis, we conducted multispecies transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) on the filarial nematode Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont wBm, and its laboratory vector Aedes aegypti across the entire B. malayi life cycle. In wBm, transcription of the noncoding 6S RNA suggests that it may be a regulator of bacterial cell growth, as its transcript levels correlate with bacterial replication rates. For A. aegypti, the transcriptional response reflects the stress that B. malayi infection exerts on the mosquito with indicators of increased energy demand. In B. malayi, expression modules associated with adult female samples consistently contained an overrepresentation of genes involved in chromatin remodeling, such as the bromodomain-containing proteins. All bromodomain-containing proteins encoded by B. malayi were observed to be upregulated in the adult female, embryo, and microfilaria life stages, including 2 members of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein family. The BET inhibitor JQ1(+), originally developed as a cancer therapeutic, caused lethality of adult worms in vitro, suggesting that it may be a potential therapeutic that can be repurposed for treating lymphatic filariasis. IMPORTANCE The current treatment regimen for lymphatic filariasis is mostly microfilaricidal. In an effort to identify new drug candidates for lymphatic filariasis, we conducted a three-way transcriptomics/systems biology study of one of the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis, Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont wBm, and its vector host Aedes aegypti at 16 distinct B. malayi life stages. B. malayi upregulates the expression of bromodomain-containing proteins in the adult female, embryo, and microfilaria stages. In vitro, we find that the existing cancer therapeutic JQ1(+), which is a bromodomain and extraterminal protein inhibitor, has adulticidal activity in B. malayi.
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Hübner MP, Koschel M, Struever D, Nikolov V, Frohberger SJ, Ehrens A, Fendler M, Johannes I, von Geldern TW, Marsh K, Turner JD, Taylor MJ, Ward SA, Pfarr K, Kempf DJ, Hoerauf A. In vivo kinetics of Wolbachia depletion by ABBV-4083 in L. sigmodontis adult worms and microfilariae. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007636. [PMID: 31381563 PMCID: PMC6695197 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Depletion of Wolbachia endosymbionts of human pathogenic filariae using 4–6 weeks of doxycycline treatment can lead to permanent sterilization and adult filarial death. We investigated the anti-Wolbachia drug candidate ABBV-4083 in the Litomosoides sigmodontis rodent model to determine Wolbachia depletion kinetics with different regimens. Wolbachia reduction occurred in mice as early as 3 days after the initiation of ABBV-4083 treatment and continued throughout a 10-day treatment period. Importantly, Wolbachia levels continued to decline after a 5-day-treatment from 91.5% to 99.9% during a 3-week washout period. In jirds, two weeks of ABBV-4083 treatment (100mg/kg once-per-day) caused a >99.9% Wolbachia depletion in female adult worms, and the kinetics of Wolbachia depletion were recapitulated in peripheral blood microfilariae. Similar to Wolbachia depletion, inhibition of embryogenesis was time-dependent in ABBV-4083-treated jirds, leading to a complete lack of late embryonic stages (stretched microfilariae) and lack of peripheral microfilariae in 5/6 ABBV-4083-treated jirds by 14 weeks after treatment. Twice daily treatment in comparison to once daily treatment with ABBV-4083 did not significantly improve Wolbachia depletion. Moreover, up to 4 nonconsecutive daily treatments within a 14-dose regimen did not significantly erode Wolbachia depletion. Within the limitations of an animal model that does not fully recapitulate human filarial disease, our studies suggest that Wolbachia depletion should be assessed clinically no earlier than 3–4 weeks after the end of treatment, and that Wolbachia depletion in microfilariae may be a viable surrogate marker for the depletion within adult worms. Furthermore, strict daily adherence to the dosing regimen with anti-Wolbachia candidates may not be required, provided that the full regimen is subsequently completed. Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis represent debilitating neglected tropical diseases that are caused by parasitic filarial nematodes. Current efforts to eliminate onchocerciasis are hampered by the lack of drugs that lead to permanent sterilization of the adult worms or provide a macrofilaricidal effect, i.e. kill the adult worms. In the past, doxycycline has been shown to deplete Wolbachia endosymbionts of filarial nematodes, leading to permanent sterilization and macrofilaricidal efficacy in filariae causing both onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. However, contraindications and a requirement for at least 4 weeks of doxycycline treatment impair its broader use, creating a need for drugs with a shorter treatment regimen and potentially fewer contraindications. ABBV-4083 is such an anti-Wolbachia candidate that was efficacious in several filarial animal models and has recently been tested in a phase 1 clinical trial. The present studies addressed several points that are important for subsequent phase 2 clinical trials, namely the comparison of once vs. twice-per-day treatments, the impact of missed treatments, and a comparison of the kinetics of Wolbachia depletion in adult worms and microfilariae, the latter of which has the potential to be a surrogate indicator to avoid the necessity of surgically removing nodules with adult worms at repeated time points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc P. Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Marianne Koschel
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Dominique Struever
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Venelin Nikolov
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Stefan J. Frohberger
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Ehrens
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Martina Fendler
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Iliana Johannes
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas W. von Geldern
- Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, AbbVie, North Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Franciscan Institute for World Health, Franciscan University, Steubenville, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kennan Marsh
- Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, AbbVie, North Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Joseph D. Turner
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen A. Ward
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Kenneth Pfarr
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dale J. Kempf
- Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, AbbVie, North Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
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Bakowski MA, McNamara CW. Advances in Antiwolbachial Drug Discovery for Treatment of Parasitic Filarial Worm Infections. Trop Med Infect Dis 2019; 4:tropicalmed4030108. [PMID: 31323841 PMCID: PMC6789823 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed4030108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The intracellular bacteria now known as Wolbachia were first described in filarial worms in the 1970s, but the idea of Wolbachia being used as a macrofilaricidal target did not gain wide attention until the early 2000s, with research in filariae suggesting the requirement of worms for the endosymbiont. This new-found interest prompted the eventual organization of the Anti-Wolbachia Consortium (A-WOL) at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who, among others have been active in the field of antiwolbachial drug discovery to treat filarial infections. Clinical proof of concept studies using doxycycline demonstrated the utility of the antiwolbachial therapy, but efficacious treatments were of long duration and not safe for all infected. With the advance of robotics, automation, and high-speed computing, the search for superior antiwolbachials shifted away from smaller studies with a select number of antibiotics to high-throughput screening approaches, centered largely around cell-based phenotypic screens due to the rather limited knowledge about, and tools available to manipulate, this bacterium. A concomitant effort was put towards developing validation approaches and in vivo models supporting drug discovery efforts. In this review, we summarize the strategies behind and outcomes of recent large phenotypic screens published within the last 5 years, hit compound validation approaches and promising candidates with profiles superior to doxycycline, including ones positioned to advance into clinical trials for treatment of filarial worm infections.
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Xu Z, Fang SM, Bakowski MA, Rateb ME, Yang D, Zhu X, Huang Y, Zhao LX, Jiang Y, Duan Y, Hull MV, McNamara CW, Shen B. Discovery of Kirromycins with Anti- Wolbachia Activity from Streptomyces sp. CB00686. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:1174-1182. [PMID: 31074963 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis diseases caused by filarial parasite infections can lead to profound disability and affect millions of people worldwide. Standard mass drug administration campaigns require repetitive delivery of anthelmintics for years to temporarily block parasite transmission but do not cure infection because long-lived adult worms survive the treatment. Depletion of the endosymbiont Wolbachia, present in most filarial nematode species, results in death of adult worms and therefore represents a promising target for the treatment of filariasis. Here, we used a high-content imaging assay to screen the pure compounds collection of the natural products library at The Scripps Research Institute for anti- Wolbachia activity, leading to the identification of kirromycin B (1) as a lead candidate. Two additional congeners, kirromycin (2) and kirromycin C (3), were isolated and characterized from the same producing strain Streptomyces sp. CB00686. All three kirromycin congeners depleted Wolbachia in LDW1 Drosophila cells in vitro with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) in nanomolar range, while doxycycline, a registered drug with anti- Wolbachia activity, showed lower activity with an IC50 of 152 ± 55 nM. Furthermore, 1-3 eliminated the Wolbachia endosymbiont in Brugia pahangi ovaries ex vivo with higher efficiency (65%-90%) at 1 μM than that of doxycycline (50%). No cytotoxicity against HEK293T and HepG2 mammalian cells was observed with 1-3 at the highest concentration (40 μM) used in the assay. These results suggest kirromycin is an effective lead scaffold, further exploration of which could potentially lead to the development of novel treatments for filarial nematode infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengren Xu
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Shi-Ming Fang
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | | | - Mostafa E. Rateb
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
- Natural Products Library Initiative at The Scripps Research Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Xiangcheng Zhu
- Xiangya International Academy of Translational Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Natural Product Drug Discovery, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Yong Huang
- Xiangya International Academy of Translational Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Li-Xing Zhao
- Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
| | - Yanwen Duan
- Xiangya International Academy of Translational Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Natural Product Drug Discovery, Changsha, Hunan 410013, China
| | - Mitchell V. Hull
- Calibr at Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Case W. McNamara
- Calibr at Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Ben Shen
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
- Natural Products Library Initiative at The Scripps Research Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
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49
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Bakowski MA, Shiroodi RK, Liu R, Olejniczak J, Yang B, Gagaring K, Guo H, White PM, Chappell L, Debec A, Landmann F, Dubben B, Lenz F, Struever D, Ehrens A, Frohberger SJ, Sjoberg H, Pionnier N, Murphy E, Archer J, Steven A, Chunda VC, Fombad FF, Chounna PW, Njouendou AJ, Metuge HM, Ndzeshang BL, Gandjui NV, Akumtoh DN, Kwenti TDB, Woods AK, Joseph SB, Hull MV, Xiong W, Kuhen KL, Taylor MJ, Wanji S, Turner JD, Hübner MP, Hoerauf A, Chatterjee AK, Roland J, Tremblay MS, Schultz PG, Sullivan W, Chu XJ, Petrassi HM, McNamara CW. Discovery of short-course antiwolbachial quinazolines for elimination of filarial worm infections. Sci Transl Med 2019; 11:11/491/eaav3523. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aav3523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic filarial nematodes cause debilitating infections in people in resource-limited countries. A clinically validated approach to eliminating worms uses a 4- to 6-week course of doxycycline that targetsWolbachia, a bacterial endosymbiont required for worm viability and reproduction. However, the prolonged length of therapy and contraindication in children and pregnant women have slowed adoption of this treatment. Here, we describe discovery and optimization of quinazolines CBR417 and CBR490 that, with a single dose, achieve >99% elimination ofWolbachiain the in vivoLitomosoides sigmodontisfilarial infection model. The efficacious quinazoline series was identified by pairing a primary cell-based high-content imaging screen with an orthogonal ex vivo validation assay to rapidly quantifyWolbachiaelimination inBrugia pahangifilarial ovaries. We screened 300,368 small molecules in the primary assay and identified 288 potent and selective hits. Of 134 primary hits tested, only 23.9% were active in the worm-based validation assay, 8 of which contained a quinazoline heterocycle core. Medicinal chemistry optimization generated quinazolines with excellent pharmacokinetic profiles in mice. Potent antiwolbachial activity was confirmed inL. sigmodontis,Brugia malayi, andOnchocerca ochengiin vivo preclinical models of filarial disease and in vitro selectivity againstLoa loa(a safety concern in endemic areas). The favorable efficacy and in vitro safety profiles of CBR490 and CBR417 further support these as clinical candidates for treatment of filarial infections.
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50
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Clare RH, Clark R, Bardelle C, Harper P, Collier M, Johnston KL, Plant H, Plant D, McCall E, Slatko BE, Cantin L, Wu B, Ford L, Murray D, Rich K, Wigglesworth M, Taylor MJ, Ward SA. Development of a High-Throughput Cytometric Screen to Identify Anti- Wolbachia Compounds: The Power of Public-Private Partnership. SLAS DISCOVERY 2019; 24:537-547. [PMID: 30958712 PMCID: PMC6537165 DOI: 10.1177/2472555219838341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The Anti-Wolbachia (A·WOL) consortium at the Liverpool School of
Tropical Medicine (LSTM) has partnered with the Global High-Throughput Screening
(HTS) Centre at AstraZeneca to create the first anthelmintic HTS for neglected
tropical diseases (NTDs). The A·WOL consortium aims to identify novel
macrofilaricidal drugs targeting the essential bacterial symbiont
(Wolbachia) of the filarial nematodes causing
onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Working in collaboration, we have
validated a robust high-throughput assay capable of identifying compounds that
selectively kill Wolbachia over the host insect cell. We
describe the development and validation process of this complex, phenotypic
high-throughput assay and provide an overview of the primary outputs from
screening the AstraZeneca library of 1.3 million compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel H Clare
- 1 Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics Research, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK
| | - Roger Clark
- 2 Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Catherine Bardelle
- 2 Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Paul Harper
- 2 Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Matthew Collier
- 2 Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Kelly L Johnston
- 1 Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics Research, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK
| | - Helen Plant
- 2 Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Darren Plant
- 2 Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Eileen McCall
- 2 Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Barton E Slatko
- 3 Genome Biology Division, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Lindsey Cantin
- 3 Genome Biology Division, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Bo Wu
- 3 Genome Biology Division, New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, MA, USA
| | - Louise Ford
- 1 Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics Research, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK
| | - David Murray
- 2 Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Kirsty Rich
- 2 Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Mark Wigglesworth
- 2 Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, UK
| | - Mark J Taylor
- 1 Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics Research, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen A Ward
- 1 Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics Research, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK
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