1
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Giroud M, Kuhn B, Haap W. Drug Discovery Efforts to Identify Novel Treatments for Neglected Tropical Diseases - Cysteine Protease Inhibitors. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2170-2194. [PMID: 37916489 DOI: 10.2174/0109298673249097231017051733] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neglected tropical diseases are a severe burden for mankind, affecting an increasing number of people around the globe. Many of those diseases are caused by protozoan parasites in which cysteine proteases play a key role in the parasite's pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE In this review article, we summarize the drug discovery efforts of the research community from 2017 - 2022 with a special focus on the optimization of small molecule cysteine protease inhibitors in terms of selectivity profiles or drug-like properties as well as in vivo studies. The cysteine proteases evaluated by this methodology include Cathepsin B1 from Schistosoma mansoni, papain, cruzain, falcipain, and rhodesain. METHODS Exhaustive literature searches were performed using the keywords "Cysteine Proteases" and "Neglected Tropical Diseases" including the years 2017 - 2022. Overall, approximately 3'000 scientific papers were retrieved, which were filtered using specific keywords enabling the focus on drug discovery efforts. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Potent and selective cysteine protease inhibitors to treat neglected tropical diseases were identified, which progressed to pharmacokinetic and in vivo efficacy studies. As far as the authors are aware of, none of those inhibitors reached the stage of active clinical development. Either the inhibitor's potency or pharmacokinetic properties or safety profile or a combination thereof prevented further development of the compounds. More efforts with particular emphasis on optimizing pharmacokinetic and safety properties are needed, potentially by collaborations of academic and industrial research groups with complementary expertise. Furthermore, new warheads reacting with the catalytic cysteine should be exploited to advance the research field in order to make a meaningful impact on society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maude Giroud
- Pharma Research and Early Development pRED, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Medicinal Chemistry, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, Basel, CH-4070, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Kuhn
- Pharma Research and Early Development pRED, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Medicinal Chemistry, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, Basel, CH-4070, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Haap
- Pharma Research and Early Development pRED, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Medicinal Chemistry, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, Basel, CH-4070, Switzerland
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2
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Moreira-Filho JT, Neves BJ, Cajas RA, Moraes JD, Andrade CH. Artificial intelligence-guided approach for efficient virtual screening of hits against Schistosoma mansoni. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:2033-2050. [PMID: 37937522 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The impact of schistosomiasis, which affects over 230 million people, emphasizes the urgency of developing new antischistosomal drugs. Artificial intelligence is vital in accelerating the drug discovery process. Methodology & results: We developed classification and regression machine learning models to predict the schistosomicidal activity of compounds not experimentally tested. The prioritized compounds were tested on schistosomula and adult stages of Schistosoma mansoni. Four compounds demonstrated significant activity against schistosomula, with 50% effective concentration values ranging from 9.8 to 32.5 μM, while exhibiting no toxicity in animal and human cell lines. Conclusion: These findings represent a significant step forward in the discovery of antischistosomal drugs. Further optimization of these active compounds can pave the way for their progression into preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Teófilo Moreira-Filho
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Bruno Junior Neves
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Rayssa Araujo Cajas
- Research Center on Neglected Diseases (NPDN), Universidade Guarulhos, Guarulhos, 07023-070, Brazil
| | - Josué de Moraes
- Research Center on Neglected Diseases (NPDN), Universidade Guarulhos, Guarulhos, 07023-070, Brazil
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design (LabMol), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, 74605-170, Brazil
- Center for the Research and Advancement in Fragments and molecular Targets (CRAFT), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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3
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Silva DVSPD, Nascimento PHDB, Rocha JVRD, Marques DSC, Brayner FA, Alves LC, Araújo HDAD, Cruz Filho IJD, Albuquerque MCPDA, Lima MDCAD, Aires ADL. In vitro activity, ultrastructural analysis and in silico pharmacokinetic properties (ADMET) of thiazole compounds against adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni. Acta Trop 2023; 245:106965. [PMID: 37295486 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106965] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The present work aimed to carry out in vitro biological assays of thiazole compounds against adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni, as well as the in silico determination of pharmacokinetic parameters to predict the oral bioavailability of these compounds. In addition to presenting moderate to low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells, thiazole compounds are not considered hemolytic. All compounds were initially tested at concentrations ranging from 200 to 6.25 μM against adult worms of S. mansoni parasites. The results showed the best activity of PBT2 and PBT5 at a concentration of 200 μM, which caused 100% mortality after 3 h of incubation. While at 6 h of exposure, 100% mortality was observed at the concentration of 100 µM. Subsequent studies with these same compounds allowed classifying PBT5, PBT2, PBT6 and PBT3 compounds, which were considered active and PBT1 and PBT4 compounds, which were considered inactive. In the ultrastructural analysis the compounds PBT2 and PBT5 (200 µM) promoted integumentary changes with exposure of the muscles, formation of integumentary blisters, integuments with abnormal morphology and destruction of tubercles and spicules. Therefore, the compounds PBT2 and PBT5 are promising antiparasitics against S. mansoni.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro Henrique do Bomfim Nascimento
- Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP 50.670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - João Victor Ritinto da Rocha
- Centro de Ciências Médicas - Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Diego Santa Clara Marques
- Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP 50.670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Fábio André Brayner
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária. CEP 50670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil; Instituto Keizo Asami - iLIKA, UFPE, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP 50670-901, Recife-PE, Brazil
| | - Luiz Carlos Alves
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária. CEP 50670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil; Instituto Keizo Asami - iLIKA, UFPE, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP 50670-901, Recife-PE, Brazil
| | - Hallysson Douglas Andrade de Araújo
- Instituto Keizo Asami - iLIKA, UFPE, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP 50670-901, Recife-PE, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP 50.670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Iranildo José da Cruz Filho
- Centro de Biociências, Programa de Pós-graduação em Morfotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil; Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP 50.670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | | | - Maria do Carmo Alves de Lima
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Avenida Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária. CEP 50670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - André de Lima Aires
- Centro de Biociências, Programa de Pós-graduação em Morfotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil; Centro de Ciências Médicas - Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Instituto Keizo Asami - iLIKA, UFPE, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, CEP 50670-901, Recife-PE, Brazil.
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Caldwell N, Afshar R, Baragaña B, Bustinduy AL, Caffrey CR, Collins JJ, Fusco D, Garba A, Gardner M, Gomes M, Hoffmann KF, Hsieh M, Lo NC, McNamara CW, Nono JK, Padalino G, Read KD, Roestenberg M, Spangenberg T, Specht S, Gilbert IH. Perspective on Schistosomiasis Drug Discovery: Highlights from a Schistosomiasis Drug Discovery Workshop at Wellcome Collection, London, September 2022. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1046-1055. [PMID: 37083395 PMCID: PMC10186373 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
In September 2022, the Drug Discovery Unit at the University of Dundee, UK, organised an international meeting at the Wellcome Collection in London to explore the current clinical situation and challenges associated with treating schistosomiasis. The aim of this meeting was to discuss the need for new treatments in view of the clinical situation and to ascertain what the key requirements would be for any potential new anti-schistosomals. This information will be essential to inform ongoing drug discovery efforts for schistosomiasis. We also discussed the potential drug discovery pathway and associated criteria for progressing compounds to the clinic. To date, praziquantel (PZQ) is the only drug available to treat all species causing schistosomiasis, but it is often unable to completely clear parasites from an infected patient, partially due to its inactivity against juvenile worms. PZQ-mediated mass drug administration campaigns conducted in endemic areas (e.g., sub-Saharan Africa, where schistosomiasis is primarily prevalent) have contributed to reducing the burden of disease but will not eliminate the disease as a public health problem. The potential for Schistosoma to develop resistance towards PZQ, as the sole treatment available, could become a concern. Consequently, new anthelmintic medications are urgently needed, and this Perspective aims to capture some of the learnings from our discussions on the key criteria for new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Caldwell
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Drug Discovery Unit, Division
of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Rana Afshar
- Global
Health Institute of Merck, a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt,
Germany, Ares Trading
S.A., Route de Crassier 1, 1262 Eysins, Switzerland
| | - Beatriz Baragaña
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Drug Discovery Unit, Division
of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Amaya L. Bustinduy
- Department
of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene
& Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0657, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - James J. Collins
- Department
of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical
Center, Forest Park Road, Dallas, Texas 75235, United States
| | - Daniela Fusco
- Department
of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard
Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German
Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, 38124 Brunswick, Germany
| | - Amadou Garba
- Department
of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mark Gardner
- Salvensis
Ltd., 27 New Dover Rd., Canterbury, Kent CT1 3DN, United Kingdom
| | - Mireille Gomes
- Global
Health Institute of Merck, a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt,
Germany, Ares Trading
S.A., Route de Crassier 1, 1262 Eysins, Switzerland
| | - Karl F. Hoffmann
- Department
of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Edward Llwyd Building, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Hsieh
- Division
of Urology, Children’s National Hospital, and Department of
Urology, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20010, United States
| | - Nathan C. Lo
- Division
of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94110, United States
| | - Case W. McNamara
- Calibr,
a division of Scripps Research, North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Justin Komguep Nono
- Unit
of Immunobiology and Helminth Infections, Institute of Medical Research
and Medicinal Plant Studies (IMPM), Ministry
of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaoundé 13033, Cameroon
| | - Gilda Padalino
- School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, United
Kingdom
| | - Kevin D. Read
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Drug Discovery Unit, Division
of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Meta Roestenberg
- Department
of Parasitology and Department of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Spangenberg
- Global
Health Institute of Merck, a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt,
Germany, Ares Trading
S.A., Route de Crassier 1, 1262 Eysins, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Specht
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ian H. Gilbert
- Wellcome
Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Drug Discovery Unit, Division
of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
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5
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Alzain AA, Elbadwi FA. De Novo Design of Cathepsin B1 Inhibitors as Potential Anti-Schistosomal Agents Using Computational Studies. ADVANCES AND APPLICATIONS IN BIOINFORMATICS AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 15:29-41. [PMID: 35935393 PMCID: PMC9355347 DOI: 10.2147/aabc.s361626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis is the world’s second most devastating disease after malaria and the leading cause of disease and mortality for more than 200 million people in developing countries. Cysteine proteases, in particular SmCB1, are the most well-researched biological targets for this disorder. Objective To apply computational techniques to design new antischistosomal agents against SmCB1 protein with favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Methods The smCB1 receptor-based pharmacophore model was created and used to screen 567,000 fragments from the Enamine library. The best scoring fragments have been linked to build novel compounds that were subjected to molecular docking, MM-GBSA free energy estimation, ADME prediction, and molecular dynamics. Results A seven-point pharmacophore hypothesis ADDDRRR was created. The developed hypothesis was used to screen 1.3 M fragment conformations. Among them, 23,732 fragments matched the hypothesis and screened against the protein. The top 50 fragments were used to design new 7745 compounds using the Breed ligand panel which were subjected to docking and MMGBSA binding energy. This led to the identification of 10 compounds with better docking scores (−8.033– −7.483 kcal/mol) and lower-bound free energies (−58.49 – −40.02 kcal/mol) compared to the reference bound ligand. Most of the designed compounds demonstrated good drug-like properties. Concerning Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results, a low root mean square deviation (RMSD) range (0.25–1.2 Å) was found for the top 3 complexes which indicated their stability. Conclusion We identified compounds that could be potential candidates in the search for novel Schistosoma mansoni inhibitors by targeting SmCB1 utilizing various computational tools. Three newly designed compounds namely breed 1, 2, and 3 showed promising affinity to the target as well as favorable drug-like properties which might be considered potential anti-schistosomal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahim A Alzain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gezira, Gezira, Sudan
- Correspondence: Abdulrahim A Alzain, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gezira, Gezira, Sudan, Tel +249-511854501, Fax +249-511861180, Email
| | - Fatima A Elbadwi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gezira, Gezira, Sudan
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6
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Synthesis of New Thiadiazole-2-Oxides as Potential Antischistosomal Agents. Pharm Chem J 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11094-021-02533-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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7
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Prediction of antischistosomal small molecules using machine learning in the era of big data. Mol Divers 2021; 26:1597-1607. [PMID: 34351547 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-021-10288-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by helminths of the Schistosoma genus. Despite its high morbidity and socio-economic burden, therapeutics are just a handful with praziquantel being the main drug. Praziquantel is an old drug registered for human use in 1982 and has since been administered en masse for chemotherapy, risking the development of resistance, thus the need for new drugs with different mechanisms of action. This review examines the use of machine learning (ML) in this era of big data to aid in the prediction of novel antischistosomal molecules. It first discusses the challenges of drug discovery in schistosomiasis. Explanations are then offered for big data, its characteristics and then, some open databases where large biochemical data on schistosomiasis can be obtained for ML model development are examined. The concepts of artificial intelligence, ML, and deep learning and their drug applications are explored in schistosomiasis. The use of binary classification in predicting antischistosomal compounds and some algorithms that have been applied including random forest and naive Bayesian are discussed. For this review, some deep learning algorithms (deep neural networks) are proposed as novel algorithms for predicting antischistosomal molecules via binary classification. Databases specifically designed for housing bioactivity data on antischistosomal molecules enriched with functional genomic datasets and ontologies are thus urgently needed for developing predictive ML models. This shows the application of machine learning techniques for the discovery of novel antischistosomal small molecules via binary classification in the era of big data.
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Moreira-Filho JT, Silva AC, Dantas RF, Gomes BF, Souza Neto LR, Brandao-Neto J, Owens RJ, Furnham N, Neves BJ, Silva-Junior FP, Andrade CH. Schistosomiasis Drug Discovery in the Era of Automation and Artificial Intelligence. Front Immunol 2021; 12:642383. [PMID: 34135888 PMCID: PMC8203334 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.642383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma and affects over 200 million people worldwide. The control and treatment of this neglected tropical disease is based on a single drug, praziquantel, which raises concerns about the development of drug resistance. This, and the lack of efficacy of praziquantel against juvenile worms, highlights the urgency for new antischistosomal therapies. In this review we focus on innovative approaches to the identification of antischistosomal drug candidates, including the use of automated assays, fragment-based screening, computer-aided and artificial intelligence-based computational methods. We highlight the current developments that may contribute to optimizing research outputs and lead to more effective drugs for this highly prevalent disease, in a more cost-effective drug discovery endeavor.
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Affiliation(s)
- José T. Moreira-Filho
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Arthur C. Silva
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Rafael F. Dantas
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Barbara F. Gomes
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lauro R. Souza Neto
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose Brandao-Neto
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Raymond J. Owens
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell, United Kingdom
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetic, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Furnham
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno J. Neves
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Floriano P. Silva-Junior
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina H. Andrade
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
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Tavares NC, Mourão MM. Parasitemia Evaluation in Mice Infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e4017. [PMID: 34150924 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease. Its treatment relies on the use of a single drug, praziquantel. Due to treatment limitations, an alternative for schistosomiasis chemotherapy is required; thus, a better understanding of parasite biology and host-parasite interactions is valuable to aid the identification of new anti-Schistosoma drugs. The parasite has a complex life cycle, which results in challenges regarding the evaluation of Schistosoma mansoni development and mammalian infection establishment. Accordingly, this protocol describes methodologies to evaluate: (1) adult worm growth; (2) reproduction; and (3) granuloma formation; and consequently allows more comprehensive knowledge of S. mansoni development in a natural biological system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Clemente Tavares
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marina Moraes Mourão
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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10
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Jílková A, Rubešová P, Fanfrlík J, Fajtová P, Řezáčová P, Brynda J, Lepšík M, Mertlíková-Kaiserová H, Emal CD, Renslo AR, Roush WR, Horn M, Caffrey CR, Mareš M. Druggable Hot Spots in the Schistosomiasis Cathepsin B1 Target Identified by Functional and Binding Mode Analysis of Potent Vinyl Sulfone Inhibitors. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1077-1088. [PMID: 33175511 PMCID: PMC8154419 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease
caused by blood flukes of
the genus Schistosoma, is a global health problem
with over 200 million people infected. Treatment relies on just one
drug, and new chemotherapies are needed. Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1 (SmCB1) is a critical peptidase for the digestion of
host blood proteins and a validated drug target. We screened a library
of peptidomimetic vinyl sulfones against SmCB1 and identified the
most potent SmCB1 inhibitors reported to date that are active in the
subnanomolar range with second order rate constants (k2nd) of ∼2 × 105 M–1 s–1. High resolution crystal structures of the
two best inhibitors in complex with SmCB1 were determined. Quantum
chemical calculations of their respective binding modes identified
critical hot spot interactions in the S1′ and S2 subsites.
The most potent inhibitor targets the S1′ subsite with an N-hydroxysulfonic amide moiety and displays favorable functional
properties, including bioactivity against the pathogen, selectivity
for SmCB1 over human cathepsin B, and reasonable metabolic stability.
Our results provide structural insights for the rational design of
next-generation SmCB1 inhibitors as potential drugs to treat schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Rubešová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Řezáčová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Brynda
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lepšík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Mertlíková-Kaiserová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Cory D. Emal
- Eastern Michigan University, 541 Mark Jefferson, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197, United States
| | - Adam R. Renslo
- University of California San Francisco, 600 16th Street, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - William R. Roush
- The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
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11
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Jílková A, Horn M, Fanfrlík J, Küppers J, Pachl P, Řezáčová P, Lepšík M, Fajtová P, Rubešová P, Chanová M, Caffrey CR, Gütschow M, Mareš M. Azanitrile Inhibitors of the SmCB1 Protease Target Are Lethal to Schistosoma mansoni: Structural and Mechanistic Insights into Chemotype Reactivity. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:189-201. [PMID: 33301315 PMCID: PMC7802074 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Azapeptide
nitriles are postulated to reversibly covalently react
with the active-site cysteine residue of cysteine proteases and form
isothiosemicarbazide adducts. We investigated the interaction of azadipeptide
nitriles with the cathepsin B1 drug target (SmCB1) from Schistosoma
mansoni, a pathogen that causes the global neglected disease
schistosomiasis. Azadipeptide nitriles were superior inhibitors of
SmCB1 over their parent carba analogs. We determined the crystal structure
of SmCB1 in complex with an azadipeptide nitrile and analyzed the
reaction mechanism using quantum chemical calculations. The data demonstrate
that azadipeptide nitriles, in contrast to their carba counterparts,
undergo a change from E- to Z-configuration
upon binding, which gives rise to a highly favorable energy profile
of noncovalent and covalent complex formation. Finally, azadipeptide
nitriles were considerably more lethal than their carba analogs against
the schistosome pathogen in culture, supporting the further development
of this chemotype as a treatment for schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jim Küppers
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Petr Pachl
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Řezáčová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lepšík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Rubešová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Chanová
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Studničkova 2028/7, 12800 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Michael Gütschow
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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12
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Tavares NC, Gava SG, Torres GP, de Paiva CÊS, Moreira BP, Lunkes FMN, Montresor LC, Caldeira RL, Mourão MM. Schistosoma mansoni FES Tyrosine Kinase Involvement in the Mammalian Schistosomiasis Outcome and Miracidia Infection Capability in Biomphalaria glabrata. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:963. [PMID: 32595609 PMCID: PMC7300192 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by helminthes from the Schistosoma genus. This NTD can cause systemic symptoms induced by the deposition of parasite eggs in the host liver, promoting severe complications. Functional studies to increase knowledge about parasite biology are required for the identification of new drug targets, because the treatment is solely based on praziquantel administration, a drug in which the mechanism of action is still unknown. Protein kinases are important for cellular adaptation and maintenance of many organisms homeostasis and, thus, are considered good drug targets for many pathologies. Accordingly, those proteins are also important for Schistosoma mansoni, as the parasite relies on specific environmental signals to develop into its different stages. However, the specific roles of protein kinases in S. mansoni biology are not well understood. This work aims at investigating the tyrosine-protein kinase FES (Feline Sarcoma) functions in the maintenance of S. mansoni life cycle, especially in the establishment of mammalian and invertebrate hosts' infection. In this regard, the verification of Smfes expression among S. mansoni stages showed that Smfes is more expressed in infective free-living stages: miracidia and cercariae. Schistosomula exposed to SmFES-dsRNA in vitro presented a reduction in movement and size and increased mortality. Mice infected with Smfes-knocked-down schistosomula exhibited a striking reduction in the area of liver granuloma and an increased rate of immature eggs in the intestine. Female adult worms recovered from mice presented a reduced size and changes in the ovary and vitellarium; and males exhibited damage in the gynecophoral canal. Subsequently, miracidia hatched from eggs exposed to SmFES-dsRNA presented changes in its capability to infect and to sense the snail mucus. In addition, the SmFES RNAi effect was stable from miracidia to cercariae. The establishment of infection with those cercariae reproduced the same alterations observed for the knocked-down schistosomula infection. Our findings show that SmFES tyrosine kinase (1) is important in schistosomula development and survival; (2) has a role in adult worms pairing and, consequently, female maturation; (3) might be essential for egg antigen expression, thus responsible for inducing granuloma formation and immunomodulation; and (4) is essential for miracidia infection capability. In addition, this is the first time that a gene is kept knocked down during three different S. mansoni life stages and that a tyrosine kinase is implicated in the parasite reproduction and infection establishment in the mammalian host. Accordingly, SmFES should be explored as an alternative to support schistosomiasis treatment and morbidity control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Clemente Tavares
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Sandra Grossi Gava
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Gabriella Parreiras Torres
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Clara Ênia Soares de Paiva
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Pereira Moreira
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Felipe Miguel Nery Lunkes
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Langia Colli Montresor
- Moluscário Lobato Paraense, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Roberta Lima Caldeira
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marina Moraes Mourão
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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13
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Hegazy AHA, Galal LA, Hassan TM, Khalifa RMA. Reliability of heterophyid antigens in heterologous protection against human schistosomiasis. J Parasit Dis 2020; 44:349-354. [PMID: 32508409 PMCID: PMC7244675 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-020-01195-8] [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] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic disease which has been controlled by praziquantel for many decades; however, reemergence of praziquantel resistant strains has been a continuous threat. Therefore, the development of reliable antischistosomal vaccine is significantly demanded for optimal control. In the present study, comparison among Schistosoma haematobium, Schsitosoma mansoni and Pygidiopsis genata crude antigens was carried out by Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Hyperimmunization of rabbits with tested parasites' crude antigens was done to obtain hyperimmune sera. Western blotting was applied to show cross reactivity between parasites' crude antigens and either homologous or heterologous sera. Although there was no cross reaction between P. genata crude antigens and sera of both Schistosoma species and vice versa; it is supposed that the immunogenic band at 79 kDa might develop cross reactivity with Schistosma spp. SEA fractionation if used in future studies.
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14
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Synthesis and Bioactivity of Phthalimide Analogs as Potential Drugs to Treat Schistosomiasis, a Neglected Disease of Poverty. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:ph13020025. [PMID: 32028743 PMCID: PMC7169845 DOI: 10.3390/ph13020025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The neglected tropical disease, schistosomiasis, is caused by trematode blood flukes of the Schistosoma genus and infects approximately 200 million people worldwide. With just one partially effective drug available for disease treatment, new drugs are urgently needed. Herein, a series of 47 phthalimide (Pht) analogues possessing high-value bioactive scaffolds (i.e., benzimidazole and 1,2,3,-triazoles) was synthesized by click-chemistry. Compounds were evaluated for anti-schistosomal activity in culture against somules (post-infective larvae) and adults of Schistosoma mansoni, their predicted ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties, and toxicity vs. HepG2 cells. The majority showed favorable parameters for surface area, lipophilicity, bioavailability and Lipinski score. Thirteen compounds were active at 10 µM against both somules and adults (6d, 6f, 6i–6l, 6n–6p, 6s, 6r’, 6t’ and 6w). Against somules, the majority caused degeneracy and/or death after 72 h; whereas against adult parasites, five compounds (6l, 6d, 6f, 6r’ and 6s) elicited degeneracy, tegumental (surface) damage and/or death. Strongest potency against both developmental stages was recorded for compounds possessing n-butyl or isobutyl as a linker, and a pentafluorophenyl group on triazole. Apart from five compounds for which anti-parasite activity tracked with toxicity to HepG2 cells, there was apparently no toxicity to HepG2 cells (EC50 values ≥50 µM). The data overall suggest that phthaloyl-triazole compounds are favorable synthons for additional studies as anti-schistosomals.
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15
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Caffrey CR, El‐Sakkary N, Mäder P, Krieg R, Becker K, Schlitzer M, Drewry DH, Vennerstrom JL, Grevelding CG. Drug Discovery and Development for Schistosomiasis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/9783527808656.ch8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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16
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Lombardo FC, Pasche V, Panic G, Endriss Y, Keiser J. Life cycle maintenance and drug-sensitivity assays for early drug discovery in Schistosoma mansoni. Nat Protoc 2019; 14:461-481. [PMID: 30610241 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-018-0101-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Drug discovery for schistosomiasis is still limited to a handful of academic laboratories worldwide, with only a few novel antischistosomal lead compounds being actively researched. Despite recent international mobilization against the disease to stimulate and promote antischistosomal drug discovery, setting up a drug-screening flow with schistosome parasites remains challenging. Whereas numerous different protocols to obtain and cultivate schistosomes have been published, those describing the drug-screening process are scarce, and none gather together parasite cultivation and early drug discovery procedures. To help overcome this hurdle, we provide here a set of integrated methods either adapted from already-published protocols or based on our long-term experience in schistosomiasis research. Specifically, we detail the establishment and maintenance of the complex and several-week-long Schistosoma mansoni life cycle in a laboratory setting, as well as the means of retrieving and culturing the parasites at their relevant life stages. The in vitro and in vivo assays that are performed along the drug-screening cascade are also described. In these assays, which can be performed within 5 d, the effect of a drug is determined by phenotypic assessment of the parasites' viability and morphology, for which stage-specific scoring scales are proposed. Finally, the modalities for testing and evaluating a compound in vivo, constituting a procedure lasting up to 10 weeks, are presented in order to go from in vitro hit identification to the selection of early lead candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio C Lombardo
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Valérian Pasche
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gordana Panic
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yvette Endriss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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17
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Hernandez HW, Soeung M, Zorn KM, Ashoura N, Mottin M, Andrade CH, Caffrey CR, de Siqueira-Neto JL, Ekins S. High Throughput and Computational Repurposing for Neglected Diseases. Pharm Res 2018; 36:27. [PMID: 30560386 PMCID: PMC6792295 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-018-2558-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent are a heterogeneous group of communicable diseases that are found within the poorest populations of the world. There are 23 NTDs that have been prioritized by the World Health Organization, which are endemic in 149 countries and affect more than 1.4 billion people, costing these developing economies billions of dollars annually. The NTDs result from four different causative pathogens: protozoa, bacteria, helminth and virus. The majority of the diseases lack effective treatments. Therefore, new therapeutics for NTDs are desperately needed. Methods We describe various high throughput screening and computational approaches that have been performed in recent years. We have collated the molecules identified in these studies and calculated molecular properties. Results Numerous global repurposing efforts have yielded some promising compounds for various neglected tropical diseases. These compounds when analyzed as one would expect appear drug-like. Several large datasets are also now in the public domain and this enables machine learning models to be constructed that then facilitate the discovery of new molecules for these pathogens. Conclusions In the space of a few years many groups have either performed experimental or computational repurposing high throughput screens against neglected diseases. These have identified compounds which in many cases are already approved drugs. Such approaches perhaps offer a more efficient way to develop treatments which are generally not a focus for global pharmaceutical companies because of the economics or the lack of a viable market. Other diseases could perhaps benefit from these repurposing approaches. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s11095-018-2558-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melinda Soeung
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kimberley M Zorn
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27606, USA
| | | | - Melina Mottin
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias - UFG, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design Faculdade de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Goias - UFG, Goiânia, GO, 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, 92093, USA
| | - Jair Lage de Siqueira-Neto
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, 92093, USA
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27606, USA.
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18
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Effect of Phenotypic Screening of Extracts and Fractions of Erythrophleum ivorense Leaf and Stem Bark on Immature and Adult Stages of Schistosoma mansoni. J Parasitol Res 2018; 2018:9431467. [PMID: 29977614 PMCID: PMC6011076 DOI: 10.1155/2018/9431467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by a flatworm parasite that infects people in tropical and subtropical regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, South America, China, and Southeast Asia. The reliance on just one drug for current treatment emphasizes the need for new chemotherapeutic strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the phenotypic effects of extracts and fractions of leaf and stem bark of Erythrophleum ivorense (family Euphorbiaceae), a tree that grows in tropical parts of Africa, on two developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni, namely, postinfective larvae (schistosomula or somules) and adults. Methanol leaf and stem bark extracts of E. ivorense were successively fractionated with acetone, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol. These fractions were then incubated with somules at 0.3125 to 100 μg/mL and with adults at 1.25 μg/mL. The acetone fractions of both the methanol leaf and bark of E. ivorense were most active against the somules whereas the petroleum ether fractions showed least activity. For adult parasites, the acetone fraction of methanol bark extract also elicited phenotypic changes. The data arising provide the first step in the discovery of new treatments for an endemic infectious disease using locally sourced African medicinal plants.
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19
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Long T, Rojo-Arreola L, Shi D, El-Sakkary N, Jarnagin K, Rock F, Meewan M, Rascón AA, Lin L, Cunningham KA, Lemieux GA, Podust L, Abagyan R, Ashrafi K, McKerrow JH, Caffrey CR. Phenotypic, chemical and functional characterization of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) as a potential anthelmintic drug target. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005680. [PMID: 28704396 PMCID: PMC5526615 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reliance on just one drug to treat the prevalent tropical disease, schistosomiasis, spurs the search for new drugs and drug targets. Inhibitors of human cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (huPDEs), including PDE4, are under development as novel drugs to treat a range of chronic indications including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Alzheimer's disease. One class of huPDE4 inhibitors that has yielded marketed drugs is the benzoxaboroles (Anacor Pharmaceuticals). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A phenotypic screen involving Schistosoma mansoni and 1,085 benzoxaboroles identified a subset of huPDE4 inhibitors that induced parasite hypermotility and degeneration. To uncover the putative schistosome PDE4 target, we characterized four PDE4 sequences (SmPDE4A-D) in the parasite's genome and transcriptome, and cloned and recombinantly expressed the catalytic domain of SmPDE4A. Among a set of benzoxaboroles and catechol inhibitors that differentially inhibit huPDE4, a relationship between the inhibition of SmPDE4A, and parasite hypermotility and degeneration, was measured. To validate SmPDE4A as the benzoxaborole molecular target, we first generated Caenorhabditis elegans lines that express a cDNA for smpde4a on a pde4(ce268) mutant (hypermotile) background: the smpde4a transgene restored mutant worm motility to that of the wild type. We then showed that benzoxaborole inhibitors of SmPDE4A that induce hypermotility in the schistosome also elicit a hypermotile response in the C. elegans lines that express the smpde4a transgene, thereby confirming SmPDE4A as the relevant target. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The orthogonal chemical, biological and genetic strategies employed identify SmPDE4A's contribution to parasite motility and degeneration, and its potential as a drug target. Transgenic C. elegans is highlighted as a potential screening tool to optimize small molecule chemistries to flatworm molecular drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thavy Long
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Liliana Rojo-Arreola
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Da Shi
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Nelly El-Sakkary
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Kurt Jarnagin
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Fernando Rock
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Maliwan Meewan
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Alberto A. Rascón
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Lin Lin
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Katherine A. Cunningham
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - George A. Lemieux
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Larissa Podust
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Ruben Abagyan
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Kaveh Ashrafi
- Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Wang WL, Song LJ, Hu BC, Miao L, Chen XY, Fan WH, Yin XR, Shen S, Ding ZF, Yu CX. Decoquinate derivatives: A new class of potent antischistosomal agents against Schistosoma japonicum. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2017.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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21
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Bibo-Verdugo B, Jiang Z, Caffrey CR, O'Donoghue AJ. Targeting proteasomes in infectious organisms to combat disease. FEBS J 2017; 284:1503-1517. [PMID: 28122162 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Proteasomes are multisubunit, energy-dependent, proteolytic complexes that play an essential role in intracellular protein turnover. They are present in eukaryotes, archaea, and in some actinobacteria species. Inhibition of proteasome activity has emerged as a powerful strategy for anticancer therapy and three drugs have been approved for treatment of multiple myeloma. These compounds react covalently with a threonine residue located in the active site of a proteasome subunit to block protein degradation. Proteasomes in pathogenic organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium falciparum also have a nucleophilic threonine residue in the proteasome active site and are therefore sensitive to these anticancer drugs. This review summarizes efforts to validate the proteasome in pathogenic organisms as a therapeutic target. We describe several strategies that have been used to develop inhibitors with increased potency and selectivity for the pathogen proteasome relative to the human proteasome. In addition, we highlight a cell-based chemical screening approach that identified a potent, allosteric inhibitor of proteasomes found in Leishmania and Trypanosoma species. Finally, we discuss the development of proteasome inhibitors as anti-infective agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betsaida Bibo-Verdugo
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Zhenze Jiang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Chemistry & Biochemistry Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anthony J O'Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Discovery of Novel Antischistosomal Agents by Molecular Modeling Approaches. Trends Parasitol 2016; 32:874-886. [PMID: 27593339 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a chronic neglected tropical disease caused by Schistosoma worms, is reported in nearly 80 countries. Although the disease affects approximately 260 million people, the treatment relies exclusively on praziquantel, a drug discovered in the mid-1970s that lacks efficacy against the larval stages of the parasite. In addition, the dependence on a single treatment has raised concerns about drug resistance, and reduced susceptibility has already been found in laboratory and field isolates. Therefore, novel therapies for schistosomiasis are needed, and several approaches have been used to that end. One of these strategies, molecular modeling, has been increasingly integrated with experimental techniques, resulting in the discovery of novel antischistosomal agents.
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Drug repositioning approaches to parasitic diseases: a medicinal chemistry perspective. Drug Discov Today 2016; 21:1699-1710. [PMID: 27365271 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Identifying new indications for clinically useful drugs is a worthwhile approach for neglected tropical diseases. The number of successful repurposing cases in the field is growing as not-for-profit organizations, in association with academia and pharmaceutical companies, enable screening campaigns for the identification of new repositioning candidates. Current programs have delivered encouraging results as the use of state-of-the-art technologies, such as genomic and structural biology tools, and high-throughput screening platforms have become increasingly common in infectious disease research. Drug repositioning has played a key part in improving the lives of those suffering from these conditions, as evidenced by successful precedents and recent studies on preeminent parasitic disorders.
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Neves BJ, Muratov E, Machado RB, Andrade CH, Cravo PVL. Modern approaches to accelerate discovery of new antischistosomal drugs. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2016; 11:557-67. [PMID: 27073973 PMCID: PMC6534417 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2016.1178230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The almost exclusive use of only praziquantel for the treatment of schistosomiasis has raised concerns about the possible emergence of drug-resistant schistosomes. Consequently, there is an urgent need for new antischistosomal drugs. The identification of leads and the generation of high quality data are crucial steps in the early stages of schistosome drug discovery projects. AREAS COVERED Herein, the authors focus on the current developments in antischistosomal lead discovery, specifically referring to the use of automated in vitro target-based and whole-organism screens and virtual screening of chemical databases. They highlight the strengths and pitfalls of each of the above-mentioned approaches, and suggest possible roadmaps towards the integration of several strategies, which may contribute for optimizing research outputs and led to more successful and cost-effective drug discovery endeavors. EXPERT OPINION Increasing partnerships and access to funding for drug discovery have strengthened the battle against schistosomiasis in recent years. However, the authors believe this battle also includes innovative strategies to overcome scientific challenges. In this context, significant advances of in vitro screening as well as computer-aided drug discovery have contributed to increase the success rate and reduce the costs of drug discovery campaigns. Although some of these approaches were already used in current antischistosomal lead discovery pipelines, the integration of these strategies in a solid workflow should allow the production of new treatments for schistosomiasis in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Junior Neves
- a LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia , Universidade Federal de Goiás , Goiânia , Brazil
| | - Eugene Muratov
- b Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, Eshelman School of Pharmacy , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - Renato Beilner Machado
- c GenoBio - Laboratory of Genomics and Biotechnology, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública , Universidade Federal de Goiás , Goiânia , Brazil
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- a LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia , Universidade Federal de Goiás , Goiânia , Brazil
| | - Pedro Vitor Lemos Cravo
- c GenoBio - Laboratory of Genomics and Biotechnology, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública , Universidade Federal de Goiás , Goiânia , Brazil
- d Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical , Universidade Nova de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
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Terent'ev AO, Pastukhova ZY, Yaremenko IA, Novikov RA, Demchuk DV, Bruk LG, Levitsky DO, Fleury F, Nikishin GI. Selective transformation of tricyclic peroxides with pronounced antischistosomal activity into 2-hydroxy-1,5-diketones using iron (II) salts. Tetrahedron 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2016.04.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Skinner-Adams TS, Sumanadasa SD, Fisher GM, Davis RA, Doolan DL, Andrews KT. Defining the targets of antiparasitic compounds. Drug Discov Today 2016; 21:725-39. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Zhu L, Zhao J, Wang J, Hu C, Peng J, Luo R, Zhou C, Liu J, Lin J, Jin Y, Davis RE, Cheng G. MicroRNAs Are Involved in the Regulation of Ovary Development in the Pathogenic Blood Fluke Schistosoma japonicum. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005423. [PMID: 26871705 PMCID: PMC4752461 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes, blood flukes, are an important global public health concern. Paired adult female schistosomes produce large numbers of eggs that are primarily responsible for the disease pathology and critical for dissemination. Consequently, understanding schistosome sexual maturation and egg production may open novel perspectives for intervening with these processes to prevent clinical symptoms and to interrupt the life-cycle of these blood-flukes. microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of many biological processes including development, cell proliferation, metabolism, and signal transduction. Here, we report on the identification of Schistosoma japonicum miRNAs using small RNA deep sequencing in the key stages of male-female pairing, gametogenesis, and egg production. We identified 38 miRNAs, including 10 previously unknown miRNAs. Eighteen of the miRNAs were differentially expressed between male and female schistosomes and during different stages of sexual maturation. We identified 30 potential target genes for 16 of the S. japonicum miRNAs using antibody-based pull-down assays and bioinformatic analyses. We further validated some of these target genes using either in vitro luciferase assays or in vivo miRNA suppression experiments. Notably, suppression of the female enriched miRNAs bantam and miR-31 led to morphological alteration of ovaries in female schistosomes. These findings uncover key roles for specific miRNAs in schistosome sexual maturation and egg production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Zhu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Jiangping Zhao
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Jianbin Wang
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Chao Hu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Jinbiao Peng
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Luo
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Chunjing Zhou
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Juntao Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaojiao Lin
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
| | - Youxin Jin
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Richard E. Davis
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Guofeng Cheng
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China
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Song LJ, Luo H, Fan WH, Wang GP, Yin XR, Shen S, Wang J, Jin Y, Zhang W, Gao H, Liu Q, Wang WL, Feng B, Yu CX. Oxadiazole-2-oxides may have other functional targets, in addition to SjTGR, through which they cause mortality in Schistosoma japonicum. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:26. [PMID: 26791563 PMCID: PMC4721062 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1301-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis is one of the world's major public health problems. Besides praziquantel (PZQ), there is currently no other effective treatment against schistosomiasis. The development of new antischistosomal agents to curb the emergence of PZQ resistance should be a high priority. Oxadiazole-2-oxides have been identified as potential antischistosomal reagents, with thioredoxin glutathione reductase (TGR) being one of their molecular targets. METHODS To develop novel treatment reagents against Schistosoma japonicum, 30 novel oxadiazole-2-oxides were synthesised and their antischistosomal activities on juvenile and adult S. japonicum were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Their inhibitory activities against S. japonicum thioredoxin glutathione reductase (SjTGR) were also analysed. RESULTS Most of the oxadiazole-2-oxides showed good juvenile and adult S. japonica killing activities in vitro. However, the antischistosomal effects of these compounds were not positively correlated with either their inhibition of SjTGR, or with nitric oxide (NO) release. Compounds 4a, 4b, 7c, 13, 16 and 20 resulted in 87.7%, 83.1%, 87.1%, 84.6%, 90.8% and 69.5%, respectively, mortality in the adult worms, when used to treat infected mice at schistosomula stage. These mortality rates were similar to or higher than that of artemisinin. Furthermore, compounds 4a and 16 resulted in 66.7% and 69.4% reductions in the worm burdens, respectively, when infected mice were treated at the adult worm stage. These treatment effects were similar to PZQ. No differences in activity of the oxadiazole-2-oxides against female and male adult worms were observed. The toxicity of the oxadiazole-2-oxides on mammalian cells appeared to be similar to, or less than, that of PZQ. CONCLUSIONS The antischistosomal activity of the oxadiazole-2-oxides does not depend on NO production or the inhibition of SjTGR activity. There may be other functional targets of the oxadiazole-2-oxides in S. japonicum. Several of the novel oxadiazole-2-oxides synthesised in this study could be used to develop novel antischistosomal drugs and explore potential molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Jun Song
- Key Laboratory on Technology for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214064, China.
- Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Huan Luo
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Wen-Hua Fan
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Gu-Ping Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Xu-Ren Yin
- Key Laboratory on Technology for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214064, China.
- Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Shuang Shen
- Key Laboratory on Technology for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214064, China.
- Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory on Technology for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214064, China.
- Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Yi Jin
- Key Laboratory on Technology for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214064, China.
- Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory on Technology for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214064, China.
- Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Hong Gao
- Key Laboratory on Technology for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214064, China.
- Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Qian Liu
- Key Laboratory on Technology for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214064, China.
- Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Wen-Long Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Bainian Feng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Chuan-Xin Yu
- Key Laboratory on Technology for Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key laboratory of Parasite Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214064, China.
- Public Health Research Center, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
- Medical College, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
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Evaluation of the CCA Immuno-Chromatographic Test to Diagnose Schistosoma mansoni in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004357. [PMID: 26752073 PMCID: PMC4709075 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Kato-Katz (KK) stool smear is the standard test for the diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infection, but suffers from low sensitivity when infections intensities are moderate to low. Thus, misdiagnosed individuals remain untreated and contribute to the disease transmission, thereby forestalling public health efforts to move from a modality of disease control to one of elimination. As an alternative, the urine-based diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni via the circulating cathodic antigen immuno-chromatographic test (CCA-ICT) has been extensively evaluated in Africa with the conclusion that it may replace the KK test in areas where prevalences are moderate or high. Methods and Findings The objective was to measure the performance of the CCA-ICT in a sample study population composed of residents from non-endemic and endemic areas for schistosomiasis mansoni in two municipalities of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Volunteers (130) were classified into three infection status groups based on duplicate Kato-Katz thick smears from one stool sample (2KK test): 41 negative individuals from non-endemic areas, 41 negative individuals from endemic areas and 48 infected individuals from endemic areas. Infection status was also determined by the CCA-ICT and infection exposure by antibody ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) to S. mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA) and soluble (adult) worm antigen preparation (SWAP). Sensitivity and specificity were influenced by whether the trace score visually adjudicated in the CCA-ICT was characterized as positive or negative for S. mansoni infection. An analysis of a two-graph receiver operating characteristic was performed to change the cutoff point. When the trace score was interpreted as a positive rather than as a negative result, the specificity decreased from 97.6% to 78.0% whereas sensitivity increased from 68.7% to 85.4%. A significantly positive correlation between the CCA-ICT scores and egg counts was identified (r = 0.6252, p = 0.0001). However, the CCA-ICT misdiagnosed as negative 14.6% of 2KK positive individuals, predominantly those with light infections (fewer than 100 eggs/g feces). Considering 2KK as reference test, the discriminating power of the CCA-ICT (the area under the curve [AUC] = 0.817) was greater than the SEA-ELISA (AUC = 0.744) and SWAP-ELISA (AUC = 0.704). Conclusion Our data for the performance of the CCA-ICT in the Brazilian communities endemic for schistosomiasis mansoni support those from Africa, i.e., in areas with greater infection prevalence and intensities, the CCA-ICT may be useful as a tool to indicate community-based preventative chemotherapy without individual diagnosis. However, because of the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s recommendation for individual diagnosis in areas where prevalence is less than 15%, i.e., those areas in which infection intensities are likely to be lowest, the CCA-ICT lacks the sensitivity to be used as standalone diagnostic tool. Detecting parasite eggs in stool by the Kato-Katz (KK) stool smear is the standard diagnostic test for infection with the flatworm parasite, Schistosoma mansoni. However, the test can miss those who have low burdens of infection, i.e., with few eggs in their feces. These misdiagnosed individuals, therefore, do not receive drug treatment and can continue to transmit the parasite into the environment putting the community at risk of infection. As an alternative diagnostic approach, the circulating cathodic antigen immuno-chromatographic test (CCA-ICT) is a simple-to-use handheld device (similar to a pregnancy test) that only needs urine to provide a quick and visual indication of whether one is infected or not. The consensus from studies in Africa is that the CCA-ICT could replace the KK test in those areas where people are more likely to harbor moderate to high worm burdens (i.e., more eggs in stool), but, like the KK test, it can miss those harboring light infection intensities. We evaluated the CCA-ICT performance in urine samples from 130 individuals living in areas non-endemic and endemic for schistosomiasis mansoni within the municipalities of Governador Valadares and Manhuaçu, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The CCA-ICT performance characteristics, chiefly, sensitivity and specificity, depended on whether a ‘trace’ visual reading of the test was considered as a positive or negative diagnosis. We noted a positive correlation between the CCA-ICT scores and egg counts. However, the CCA-ICT misdiagnosed as negative about 15% of KK positive individuals, predominantly those with light infections. The CCA-ICT, nonetheless, had better discriminating power than commonly used antibody-based tests. We conclude that the CCA-ICT offers reasonable performance to diagnosis S. mansoni infection. However, in areas where infections intensities are light, the test lacks the sensitivity to be used as standalone diagnostic tool.
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Long T, Neitz RJ, Beasley R, Kalyanaraman C, Suzuki BM, Jacobson MP, Dissous C, McKerrow JH, Drewry DH, Zuercher WJ, Singh R, Caffrey CR. Structure-Bioactivity Relationship for Benzimidazole Thiophene Inhibitors of Polo-Like Kinase 1 (PLK1), a Potential Drug Target in Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004356. [PMID: 26751972 PMCID: PMC4709140 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosoma flatworm parasites cause schistosomiasis, a chronic and debilitating disease of poverty in developing countries. Praziquantel is employed for treatment and disease control. However, its efficacy spectrum is incomplete (less active or inactive against immature stages of the parasite) and there is a concern of drug resistance. Thus, there is a need to identify new drugs and drug targets. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We show that RNA interference (RNAi) of the Schistosoma mansoni ortholog of human polo-like kinase (huPLK)1 elicits a deleterious phenotypic alteration in post-infective larvae (schistosomula or somules). Phenotypic screening and analysis of schistosomula and adult S. mansoni with small molecule inhibitors of huPLK1 identified a number of potent anti-schistosomals. Among these was a GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) benzimidazole thiophene inhibitor that has completed Phase I clinical trials for treatment of solid tumor malignancies. We then obtained GSKs Published Kinase Inhibitor Sets (PKIS) 1 and 2, and phenotypically screened an expanded series of 38 benzimidazole thiophene PLK1 inhibitors. Computational analysis of controls and PLK1 inhibitor-treated populations of somules demonstrated a distinctive phenotype distribution. Using principal component analysis (PCA), the phenotypes exhibited by these populations were mapped, visualized and analyzed through projection to a low-dimensional space. The phenotype distribution was found to have a distinct shape and topology, which could be elicited using cluster analysis. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) was identified for the benzimidazole thiophenes that held for both somules and adult parasites. The most potent inhibitors produced marked phenotypic alterations at 1-2 μM within 1 h. Among these were compounds previously characterized as potent inhibitors of huPLK1 in cell assays. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The reverse genetic and chemical SAR data support a continued investigation of SmPLK1 as a possible drug target and/or the prosecution of the benzimidazole thiophene chemotype as a source of novel anti-schistosomals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thavy Long
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - R. Jeffrey Neitz
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Rachel Beasley
- Department of Computer Science, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Chakrapani Kalyanaraman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Brian M. Suzuki
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Matthew P. Jacobson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Colette Dissous
- Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - David H. Drewry
- Department of Chemical Biology, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - William J. Zuercher
- Department of Chemical Biology, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Rahul Singh
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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Cowan N, Yaremenko IA, Krylov IB, Terent’ev AO, Keiser J. Elucidation of the in vitro and in vivo activities of bridged 1,2,4-trioxolanes, bridged 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes, tricyclic monoperoxides, silyl peroxides, and hydroxylamine derivatives against Schistosoma mansoni. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:5175-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Guidi A, Mansour NR, Paveley RA, Carruthers IM, Besnard J, Hopkins AL, Gilbert IH, Bickle QD. Application of RNAi to Genomic Drug Target Validation in Schistosomes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003801. [PMID: 25992548 PMCID: PMC4438872 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Concerns over the possibility of resistance developing to praziquantel (PZQ), has stimulated efforts to develop new drugs for schistosomiasis. In addition to the development of improved whole organism screens, the success of RNA interference (RNAi) in schistosomes offers great promise for the identification of potential drug targets to initiate drug discovery. In this study we set out to contribute to RNAi based validation of putative drug targets. Initially a list of 24 target candidates was compiled based on the identification of putative essential genes in schistosomes orthologous of C. elegans essential genes. Knockdown of Calmodulin (Smp_026560.2) (Sm-Calm), that topped this list, produced a phenotype characterised by waves of contraction in adult worms but no phenotype in schistosomula. Knockdown of the atypical Protein Kinase C (Smp_096310) (Sm-aPKC) resulted in loss of viability in both schistosomula and adults and led us to focus our attention on other kinase genes that were identified in the above list and through whole organism screening of known kinase inhibitor sets followed by chemogenomic evaluation. RNAi knockdown of these kinase genes failed to affect adult worm viability but, like Sm-aPKC, knockdown of Polo-like kinase 1, Sm-PLK1 (Smp_009600) and p38-MAPK, Sm-MAPK p38 (Smp_133020) resulted in an increased mortality of schistosomula after 2-3 weeks, an effect more marked in the presence of human red blood cells (hRBC). For Sm-PLK-1 the same effects were seen with the specific inhibitor, BI2536, which also affected viable egg production in adult worms. For Sm-PLK-1 and Sm-aPKC the in vitro effects were reflected in lower recoveries in vivo. We conclude that the use of RNAi combined with culture with hRBC is a reliable method for evaluating genes important for larval development. However, in view of the slow manifestation of the effects of Sm-aPKC knockdown in adults and the lack of effects of Sm-PLK-1 and Sm-MAPK p38 on adult viability, these kinases may not represent suitable drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Guidi
- Department of Infection and Immunity, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nuha R. Mansour
- Department of Infection and Immunity, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ross A. Paveley
- Department of Infection and Immunity, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian M. Carruthers
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Jérémy Besnard
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew L. Hopkins
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Ian H. Gilbert
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Quentin D. Bickle
- Department of Infection and Immunity, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Target-based molecular modeling strategies for schistosomiasis drug discovery. Future Med Chem 2015; 7:753-64. [DOI: 10.4155/fmc.15.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by worms from the class Trematoda (genus Schistosoma), is a serious chronic condition that has been reported in approximately 80 countries. Nearly 250 million people are affected worldwide, mostly in the sub-Saharan Africa. Praziquantel, the mainstay of treatment, has been used for 30 years, and cases of resistance have been reported. The purpose of this perspective is to discuss current target-based molecular modeling strategies in schistosomiasis drug discovery. Advances in the field and the role played by the integration between computational modeling and experimental validation are also discussed. Finally, recent cases of the contribution of modern approaches in computational medicinal chemistry to the field are explored.
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Synthesis of a sugar-based thiosemicarbazone series and structure-activity relationship versus the parasite cysteine proteases rhodesain, cruzain, and Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:2666-77. [PMID: 25712353 DOI: 10.1128/aac.04601-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The pressing need for better drugs against Chagas disease, African sleeping sickness, and schistosomiasis motivates the search for inhibitors of cruzain, rhodesain, and Schistosoma mansoni CB1 (SmCB1), the major cysteine proteases from Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and S. mansoni, respectively. Thiosemicarbazones and heterocyclic analogues have been shown to be both antitrypanocidal and inhibitory against parasite cysteine proteases. A series of compounds was synthesized and evaluated against cruzain, rhodesain, and SmCB1 through biochemical assays to determine their potency and structure-activity relationships (SAR). This approach led to the discovery of 6 rhodesain, 4 cruzain, and 5 SmCB1 inhibitors with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of ≤ 10 μM. Among the compounds tested, the thiosemicarbazone derivative of peracetylated galactoside (compound 4i) was discovered to be a potent rhodesain inhibitor (IC50 = 1.2 ± 1.0 μM). The impact of a range of modifications was determined; removal of thiosemicarbazone or its replacement by semicarbazone resulted in virtually inactive compounds, and modifications in the sugar also diminished potency. Compounds were also evaluated in vitro against the parasites T. cruzi, T. brucei, and S. mansoni, revealing active compounds among this series.
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Reginato G, Catalani MP, Pezzati B, Di Fabio R, Bernardelli A, Curcuruto O, Moro E, Pozzan A, Mordini A. Stereoselective synthesis of 3-substituted tetrahydropyrazinoisoquinolines via intramolecular cyclization of enantiomerically enriched dihydro-2H-pyrazines. Org Lett 2015; 17:398-401. [PMID: 25629303 DOI: 10.1021/ol503431f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The preparation of 3-substituted tetrahydropyrazinoisoquinolines using the tributyltin hydride mediated intramolecular radical cyclization of suitably protected 2-substituted 3,4-dihydropyrazines is reported. The compounds are obtained as single enantiomers, as the relative configuration of the new generated stereogenic center is driven by the stereochemistry of the 2-substituted carbon in the starting materials, which is in turn derived from naturally occurring amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianna Reginato
- ICCOM - CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Jílková A, Horn M, Řezáčová P, Marešová L, Fajtová P, Brynda J, Vondrášek J, McKerrow JH, Caffrey CR, Mareš M. Activation route of the Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1 drug target: structural map with a glycosaminoglycan switch. Structure 2014; 22:1786-1798. [PMID: 25456815 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2014.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Cathepsin B1 (SmCB1) is a digestive protease of the parasitic blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni and a drug target for the treatment of schistosomiasis, a disease that afflicts over 200 million people. SmCB1 is synthesized as an inactive zymogen in which the N-terminal propeptide blocks the active site. We investigated the activation of the zymogen by which the propeptide is proteolytically removed and its regulation by sulfated polysaccharides (SPs). We determined crystal structures of three molecular forms of SmCB1 along the activation pathway: the zymogen, an activation intermediate with a partially cleaved propeptide, and the mature enzyme. We demonstrate that SPs are essential for the autocatalytic activation of SmCB1, as they interact with a specific heparin-binding domain in the propeptide. An alternative activation route is mediated by an S. mansoni asparaginyl endopeptidase (legumain) which is downregulated by SPs, indicating that SPs act as a molecular switch between both activation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, 12843 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Řezáčová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Structural Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Marešová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Brynda
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Structural Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Vondrášek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - James H McKerrow
- Department of Pathology, Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Department of Pathology, Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic.
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Lynagh T, Cromer BA, Dufour V, Laube B. Comparative pharmacology of flatworm and roundworm glutamate-gated chloride channels: Implications for potential anthelmintics. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2014; 4:244-55. [PMID: 25516835 PMCID: PMC4266781 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2014.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Flatworm and roundworm glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) were compared. Several glutamate analogues activated both GluCls in the millimolar range. Quisqualate selectively activated the flatworm GluCl. Propofol and thymol inhibited both GluCls in the micromolar range.
Pharmacological targeting of glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) is a potent anthelmintic strategy, evidenced by macrocyclic lactones that eliminate numerous roundworm infections by activating roundworm GluCls. Given the recent identification of flatworm GluCls and the urgent need for drugs against schistosomiasis, flatworm GluCls should be evaluated as potential anthelmintic targets. This study sought to identify agonists or modulators of one such GluCl, SmGluCl-2 from the parasitic flatworm Schistosoma mansoni. The effects of nine glutamate-like compounds and three monoterpenoid ion channel modulators were measured by electrophysiology at SmGluCl-2 recombinantly expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. For comparison with an established anthelmintic target, experiments were also performed on the AVR-14B GluCl from the parasitic roundworm Haemonchus contortus. l-Glutamate was the most potent agonist at both GluCls, but l-2-aminoadipate, d-glutamate and d-2-aminoadipate activated SmGluCl-2 (EC50 1.0 ± 0.1 mM, 2.4 ± 0.4 mM, 3.6 ± 0.7 mM, respectively) more potently than AVR-14B. Quisqualate activated only SmGluCl-2 whereas l-aspartate activated only AVR-14B GluCls. Regarding the monoterpenoids, both GluCls were inhibited by propofol, thymol and menthol, SmGluCl-2 most potently by thymol (IC50 484 ± 85 μM) and least potently by menthol (IC50 > 3 mM). Computational docking suggested that agonist and inhibitor potency is attributable to particular interactions with extracellular or membrane-spanning amino acid residues. These results reveal that flatworm GluCls are pharmacologically susceptible to numerous agonists and modulators and indicate that changes to the glutamate γ-carboxyl or to the propofol 6-isopropyl group can alter the differential pharmacology at flatworm and roundworm GluCls. This should inform the development of more potent compounds and in turn lead to novel anthelmintics.
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Key Words
- Anthelmintic
- Binding site
- ECD, extracellular domain
- GABA, γ-aminobutyric acid
- GABAAR, type A γ-aminobutyric acid receptor
- GluCl
- GluCl, glutamate-gated chloride channel
- GlyR, glycine receptor
- Propofol
- Schistosomiasis
- TMD, transmembrane domain
- Thymol
- cis-ACBD, cis-1-aminocyclobutane-1,3-dicarboxylate
- iGluR, (tetrameric) ionotropic glutamate receptor
- pLGIC, pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (or Cys-loop receptor)
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Lynagh
- Neurophysiology and Neurosensory Systems, Technical University of Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Brett A Cromer
- Health Innovations Research Institute and School of Medical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Vanessa Dufour
- Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, Institute of Parasitology, McGill University - MacDonald Campus, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Bodo Laube
- Neurophysiology and Neurosensory Systems, Technical University of Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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Njoroge M, Njuguna NM, Mutai P, Ongarora DSB, Smith PW, Chibale K. Recent approaches to chemical discovery and development against malaria and the neglected tropical diseases human African trypanosomiasis and schistosomiasis. Chem Rev 2014; 114:11138-63. [PMID: 25014712 DOI: 10.1021/cr500098f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Paul W Smith
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases , Singapore 138670, Singapore
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Rojo-Arreola L, Long T, Asarnow D, Suzuki BM, Singh R, Caffrey CR. Chemical and genetic validation of the statin drug target to treat the helminth disease, schistosomiasis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87594. [PMID: 24489942 PMCID: PMC3906178 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The mevalonate pathway is essential in eukaryotes and responsible for a diversity of fundamental synthetic activities. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway and is targeted by the ubiquitous statin drugs to treat hypercholesterolemia. Independent reports have indicated the cidal effects of statins against the flatworm parasite, S. mansoni, and the possibility that SmHMGR is a useful drug target to develop new statin-based anti-schistosome therapies. For six commercially available statins, we demonstrate concentration- and time-dependent killing of immature (somule) and adult S. mansoni in vitro at sub-micromolar and micromolar concentrations, respectively. Cidal activity trends with statin lipophilicity whereby simvastatin and pravastatin are the most and least active, respectively. Worm death is preventable by excess mevalonate, the product of HMGR. Statin activity against somules was quantified both manually and automatically using a new, machine learning-based automated algorithm with congruent results. In addition, to chemical targeting, RNA interference (RNAi) of HMGR also kills somules in vitro and, again, lethality is blocked by excess mevalonate. Further, RNAi of HMGR of somules in vitro subsequently limits parasite survival in a mouse model of infection by up to 80%. Parasite death, either via statins or specific RNAi of HMGR, is associated with activation of apoptotic caspase activity. Together, our genetic and chemical data confirm that S. mansoni HMGR is an essential gene and the relevant target of statin drugs. We discuss our findings in context of a potential drug development program and the desired product profile for a new schistosomiasis drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Rojo-Arreola
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Thavy Long
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Dan Asarnow
- Department of Computer Science, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Brian M. Suzuki
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Rahul Singh
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Silymarin reduces profibrogenic cytokines and reverses hepatic fibrosis in chronic murine schistosomiasis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 58:2076-83. [PMID: 24449779 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01936-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In chronic schistosomiasis, hepatic fibrosis is linked to the portal hypertension that causes morbidity in Schistosoma mansoni infection. Silymarin (SIL) is a hepatoprotective and antioxidant medicament largely prescribed against liver diseases that has previously been shown to prevent fibrosis during acute murine schistosomiasis. Here we employed silymarin to try to reverse established hepatic fibrosis in chronic schistosomiasis. Silymarin or vehicle was administered to BALB/c mice every 48 h, starting on the 40th (80 days of treatment), 70th (50 days), or 110th (10 days) day postinfection (dpi). All mice were sacrificed and analyzed at 120 dpi. Treatment with silymarin reduced liver weight and granuloma sizes, reduced the increase in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and reduced the established hepatic fibrosis (assessed by hydroxyproline contents and picrosirius staining). Treatment with silymarin also reduced the levels of interleukin-13 (IL-13) in serum and increased the gamma interferon (IFN-γ)/IL-13 ratio. There was a linear correlation between IL-13 levels in serum and hydroxyproline hepatic content in both infected untreated and SIL-treated mice, with decreased IL-13 levels corresponding to decreased hydroxyproline hepatic contents. Treatment with either SIL or N-acetylcysteine reduced both proliferation of fibroblast cell lines and basal/IL-13-induced production of collagen I, indicating that besides inhibiting IL-13 production during infection, SIL antioxidant properties most likely contribute to inhibition of collagen production downstream of IL-13. These results show that silymarin interferes with fibrogenic cytokines, reduces established fibrosis, and inhibits downstream effects of IL-13 on fibrogenesis, indicating the drug as a safe and cheap treatment to liver fibrotic disease in schistosomiasis.
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Zhang SM, Coultas KA. Identification of plumbagin and sanguinarine as effective chemotherapeutic agents for treatment of schistosomiasis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2013; 3:28-34. [PMID: 23641325 PMCID: PMC3638872 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2012.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a snail-borne parasitic disease, affects more than 200 million people worldwide. Currently the treatment of schistosomiasis relies on a single therapy of praziquantel, a drug developed over 30 years ago. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop alternative antischistosomal drugs. In the pursuit of novel antischistosomal drugs, we examined the antischistosomal activities of 45 compounds that had been reported to exhibit antimicrobial and/or antiparasitic activities. Two plant-derived compounds, plumbagin and sanguinarine, were found to possess potent antischistosomal activities in vitro. For both the compounds, a concentration of 10 μM (equivalent to 1.88 μg/ml for plumbagin and 3.68 μg/ml for sanguinarine) resulted in 100% mortality at 48 h, which meets the World Health Organization's (WHO) criterion of "hit" compounds for the control of schistosomiasis. Morphological changes and tegumental alterations of the dead worms treated by the two compounds were quite different. The significant morphological changes of worms after treatment by the two compounds suggest the two compounds target different biological pathways, both of which result in parasite's death. This study provides evidence to suggest plumbagin and sanguinarine have real potential as effective alternative chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Ming Zhang
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States
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Knopp S, Becker SL, Ingram KJ, Keiser J, Utzinger J. Diagnosis and treatment of schistosomiasis in children in the era of intensified control. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2013; 11:1237-58. [PMID: 24127662 DOI: 10.1586/14787210.2013.844066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In the current era of intensified and integrated control against schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases, there is a need to carefully rethink and take into consideration disease-specific issues pertaining to the diagnosis, prevention, control and local elimination. Here, we present a comprehensive overview about schistosomiasis including recent trends in the number of people treated with praziquantel and the latest developments in diagnosis and control. Particular emphasis is placed on children. Identified research needs are offered for consideration; namely, expanding our knowledge about schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children, assessing and quantifying the impact of schistosomiasis on infectious and noncommunicable diseases, developing new antischistosomal drugs and child-friendly formulations, designing and implementing setting-specific control packages and developing highly sensitive, but simple diagnostic tools that are able to detect very light infections in young children and in people living in areas targeted for schistosomiasis elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Knopp
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland
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El-Beshbishi SN, Taman A, El-Malky M, Azab MS, El-Hawary AK, El-Tantawy DA. In vivo effect of single oral dose of artemether against early juvenile stages of Schistosoma mansoni Egyptian strain. Exp Parasitol 2013; 135:240-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2013.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Revised: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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44
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“Omics” in the study of the major parasitic diseases malaria and schistosomiasis. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 19:258-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2012] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Developing a rapid throughput screen for detection of nematicidal activity of plant cysteine proteinases: the role of Caenorhabditis elegans cystatins. Parasitology 2013; 141:164-80. [PMID: 24001183 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182013001364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Plant cysteine proteinases (CPs) from papaya (Carica papaya) are capable of killing parasitic nematode worms in vitro and have been shown to possess anthelmintic effects in vivo. The acute damage reported in gastrointestinal parasites has not been found in free-living nematodes such as Caenorhabditis elegans nor among the free-living stages of parasitic nematodes. This apparent difference in susceptibility might be the result of active production of cysteine proteinase inhibitors (such as cystatins) by the free-living stages or species. To test this possibility, a supernatant extract of refined papaya latex (PLS) with known active enzyme content was used. The effect on wild-type (Bristol N2) and cystatin null mutant (cpi-1(-/-) and cpi-2(-/-)) C. elegans was concentration-, temperature- and time-dependent. Cysteine proteinases digested the worm cuticle leading to release of internal structures and consequent death. Both cystatin null mutant strains were highly susceptible to PLS attack irrespective of the temperature and concentration of exposure, whereas wild-type N2 worms were generally resistant but far more susceptible to attack at low temperatures. PLS was able to induce elevated cpi-1 and cpi-2 cystatin expression. We conclude that wild-type C. elegans deploy cystatins CPI-1 and CPI-2 to resist CP attack. The results suggest that the cpi-1 or cpi-2 null mutants (or a double mutant combination of the two) could provide a cheap and effective rapid throughput C. elegans-based assay for screening plant CP extracts for anthelmintic activity.
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Synthesis and SAR studies of praziquantel derivatives with activity against Schistosoma japonicum. Molecules 2013; 18:9163-78. [PMID: 23912271 PMCID: PMC6269691 DOI: 10.3390/molecules18089163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of praziquantel derivatives with activity against adult Schistosoma japonicum are described. Several of them showed better worm killing activity than praziquantel and could serve as leads for further optimization.
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47
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Xiong Y, Ai D, Meng P, Wei M, Hong Y, Zhang M, Huang L, Fu Z, Shi Y, Lin J. Cloning, expression, and preliminary characterization of the dysferlin tegument protein in Schistosoma japonicum. Parasitol Int 2013; 62:522-9. [PMID: 23892179 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2013.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Revised: 07/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The schistosomal tegument is a dynamic host-interactive layer. Proteins exposed to the host on the tegumental surface are important for completion of the parasitic lifecycle. Dysferlin is a member of the ferlin family and is involved in plasma membrane repair. Based on the results of a proteomics study of tegument surface proteins of Schistosoma japonicum in our laboratory, dysferlin was identified as a tegumental protein of S. japonicum. The gene encoding S. japonicum dysferlin (SjDF), which codes for several Ca(2+) binding sites, was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli, and characterized. Western blot analysis revealed that recombinant SjDF had good immunogenicity. Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that SjDF was upregulated mainly in adult worms and the transcription level in 42-day-old female worms was significantly higher than that in males. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that SjDF was mainly distributed in the tegument at various developmental stages. Experimental mice were treated with praziquantel and at 35days post-infection, we noted that damage to the tegument and subtegument worsened and did not recover at 36h post-treatment in the high-dose group and was accompanied by downregulation of SjDF mRNA, while the damage was less severe and recovered by this time in the low-dose group, and accompanied by upregulation of SjDF. Our results suggested that SjDF is a tegumental protein that may be important in schistosomal development and may participate in the repair process in muscle and tegument, and could present a viable vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanian Xiong
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, PR China
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48
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Xiong Y, Zhang M, Hong Y, Wei M, Ai D, Meng P, Han Y, Fu Z, Shi Y, Yang J, Lin J. Characterization Analysis of Schistosoma japonicum Plasma Membrane Repair Relative Gene Myoferlin. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66396. [PMID: 23823740 PMCID: PMC3688920 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Myoferlin is a member of the ferlin family of proteins, which are involved in plasma membrane repair, and has been identified as one of the tegument proteins of Schistosoma japonicum. The tegument proteins are potential candidates for vaccines and new drug targets. In this study, myoferlin of S. japonicum (SjMF) was cloned, expressed and characterized, the potential of SjMF recombinant protein (rSjMF) as a vaccine candidate was evaluated, and the effect of praziquantel on SjMF was detected by Real-time PCR. Immunofluorescence showed that this protein was mainly distributed on the surface of worms at different stages. Sequence analysis revealed that the SjMF open reading frame was conserved at all stages of the S. japonicum life cycle. And SjMF transcription was upregulated in 42-day-old worms, and was significantly higher in female worms. Western blotting revealed that rSjMF showed strong immunogenicity. The cytokine profile and IgG isotype analysis demonstrated that rSjMF plus ISA206 immunization induced a mixed T helper (Th)1/Th2 response. Purified rSjMF emulsified with ISA206 adjuvant significantly reduced worm burden from 21.8% to 23.21% and liver egg number from42.58% to 28.35%. Besides, SjMF transcription was downregulated when worms were exposed to low-dose praziquantel (PZQ) and upregulated when PZQ was degraded, accompanied by recovery of damaged tegument. When worms were exposed to high-dose PZQ, SjMF transcription was downregulated all the time and the damaged tegument did not recover. These findings indicated that SjMF is a potential vaccine against S. japonicum and provides the basis for further investigations into the biological function of SjMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanian Xiong
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming Zhang
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Hong
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Meimei Wei
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dezhou Ai
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Peipei Meng
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanhui Han
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiang Fu
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaojun Shi
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianmei Yang
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiaojiao Lin
- National Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis Control/Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Cantacessi C, Hofmann A, Pickering D, Navarro S, Mitreva M, Loukas A. TIMPs of parasitic helminths - a large-scale analysis of high-throughput sequence datasets. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:156. [PMID: 23721526 PMCID: PMC3679795 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases (TIMPs) are a multifunctional family of proteins that orchestrate extracellular matrix turnover, tissue remodelling and other cellular processes. In parasitic helminths, such as hookworms, TIMPs have been proposed to play key roles in the host-parasite interplay, including invasion of and establishment in the vertebrate animal hosts. Currently, knowledge of helminth TIMPs is limited to a small number of studies on canine hookworms, whereas no information is available on the occurrence of TIMPs in other parasitic helminths causing neglected diseases. METHODS In the present study, we conducted a large-scale investigation of TIMP proteins of a range of neglected human parasites including the hookworm Necator americanus, the roundworm Ascaris suum, the liver flukes Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini, as well as the schistosome blood flukes. This entailed mining available transcriptomic and/or genomic sequence datasets for the presence of homologues of known TIMPs, predicting secondary structures of defined protein sequences, systematic phylogenetic analyses and assessment of differential expression of genes encoding putative TIMPs in the developmental stages of A. suum, N. americanus and Schistosoma haematobium which infect the mammalian hosts. RESULTS A total of 15 protein sequences with high homology to known eukaryotic TIMPs were predicted from the complement of sequence data available for parasitic helminths and subjected to in-depth bioinformatic analyses. CONCLUSIONS Supported by the availability of gene manipulation technologies such as RNA interference and/or transgenesis, this work provides a basis for future functional explorations of helminth TIMPs and, in particular, of their role/s in fundamental biological pathways linked to long-term establishment in the vertebrate hosts, with a view towards the development of novel approaches for the control of neglected helminthiases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Cantacessi
- Center for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Structural Chemistry Program, Eskitis Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Darren Pickering
- Center for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Severine Navarro
- Center for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alex Loukas
- Center for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
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Rigouin C, Nylin E, Cogswell AA, Schaumlöffel D, Dobritzsch D, Williams DL. Towards an understanding of the function of the phytochelatin synthase of Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2037. [PMID: 23383357 PMCID: PMC3561135 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2012] [Accepted: 12/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytochelatin synthase (PCS) is a protease-like enzyme that catalyzes the production of metal chelating peptides, the phytochelatins, from glutathione (GSH). In plants, algae, and fungi phytochelatin production is important for metal tolerance and detoxification. PCS proteins also function in xenobiotic metabolism by processing GSH S-conjugates. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the role of PCS in the parasitic worm Schistosoma mansoni. Recombinant S. mansoni PCS proteins expressed in bacteria could both synthesize phytochelatins and hydrolyze various GSH S-conjugates. We found that both the N-truncated protein and the N- and C-terminal truncated form of the enzyme (corresponding to only the catalytic domain) work through a thiol-dependant and, notably, metal-independent mechanism for both transpeptidase (phytochelatin synthesis) and peptidase (hydrolysis of GSH S-conjugates) activities. PCS transcript abundance was increased by metals and xenobiotics in cultured adult worms. In addition, these treatments were found to increase transcript abundance of other enzymes involved in GSH metabolism. Highest levels of PCS transcripts were identified in the esophageal gland of adult worms. Taken together, these results suggest that S. mansoni PCS participates in both metal homoeostasis and xenobiotic metabolism rather than metal detoxification as previously suggested and that the enzyme may be part of a global stress response in the worm. Because humans do not have PCS, this enzyme is of particular interest as a drug target for schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is a chronic, debilitating disease that affects hundreds of millions of people. The treatment of schistosomiasis relies solely on monotherapy with praziquantel and there is concern that drug-resistant parasites will evolve. Therefore, it is imperative to identify new drugs for schistosomiasis treatment. In this study our goal was to characterize the function of the phytochelatin synthase of Schistosoma mansoni, previously suggested as a candidate for drug targeting to control schistosomiasis. Phytochelatin synthase catalyzes the production of metal chelating peptides, the phytochelatins, from glutathione (GSH). In plants, algae, and fungi phytochelatin production is important for metal tolerance and detoxification. PCS proteins also function in the elimination of xenobiotics by processing GSH S-conjugates. We found that SmPCS expressed in bacteria could both synthesize phytochelatins and hydrolyze various GSH S-conjugates. We found the enzyme works through a thiol-dependant and, notably, metal-independent mechanism for both transpeptidase (phytochelatin synthesis) and peptidase (hydrolysis of GSH S-conjugates) activities. The expression of the PCS gene in adult schistosome worms was increased by exposure to a number of metals and xenobiotics. In addition, these treatments were found to increase the expression of other enzymes involved in GSH metabolism. Highest levels of PCS transcripts were localized in the esophageal gland of adult worms. Taken together, these results suggest that S. mansoni PCS participates in both metal homoeostasis and xenobiotic metabolism rather than metal detoxification as previously suggested and that it may be part of a global stress response in the worm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coraline Rigouin
- Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Elyse Nylin
- Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Alexis A. Cogswell
- Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Dirk Schaumlöffel
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour/CNRS UMR 5254, Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique Bio-Inorganique et Environnement/IPREM, Hélioparc, Pau, France
| | - Dirk Dobritzsch
- Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Abteilung Pflanzenbiochemie, Halle, Saale, Germany
| | - David L. Williams
- Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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