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Senkina J, Knapp S. Incorporation of an Isohexide Subunit into the Endochin-like Quinolone Scaffold. Molecules 2024; 29:3615. [PMID: 39125020 PMCID: PMC11314205 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29153615] [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: 06/15/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In order to improve the drug-likeness qualities, the antimalarial endochin-like quinolone (ELQ) scaffold has been modified by replacing the 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl portion with an isoidide unit that is further adjustable by varying the distal O-substituents. As expected, the water solubilities of the new analogs are greatly improved, and the melting points are lower. However, the antimalarial potency of the new analogs is reduced to EC50 > 1 millimolar, a result ascribable to the hydrophilic nature of the new substitution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Spencer Knapp
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 123 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
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2
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Pou S, Winter RW, Dodean RA, Liebman K, Li Y, Mather MW, Nepal B, Nilsen A, Handford MJ, Riscoe TM, Laxson S, Kirtley PJ, Aleshnick M, Zakharov L, Kelly JX, Smilkstein MJ, Wilder BK, Kortagere S, Vaidya AB, Alday PH, Doggett JS, Riscoe MK. 3-Position Biaryl Endochin-like Quinolones with Enhanced Antimalarial Performance. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:2419-2442. [PMID: 38862127 PMCID: PMC11245370 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00140] [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] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
ELQ-300 is a potent antimalarial drug with activity against blood, liver, and vector stages of the disease. A prodrug, ELQ-331, exhibits reduced crystallinity and improved in vivo efficacy in preclinical testing, and currently, it is in the developmental pipeline for once-a-week dosing for oral prophylaxis against malaria. Because of the high cost of developing a new drug for human use and the high risk of drug failure, it is prudent to have a back-up plan in place. Here we describe ELQ-596, a member of a new subseries of 3-biaryl-ELQs, with enhanced potency in vitro against multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites. ELQ-598, a prodrug of ELQ-596 with diminished crystallinity, is more effective vs murine malaria than its progenitor ELQ-331 by 4- to 10-fold, suggesting that correspondingly lower doses could be used to protect and cure humans of malaria. With a longer bloodstream half-life in mice compared to its progenitor, ELQ-596 highlights a novel series of next-generation ELQs with the potential for once-monthly dosing for protection against malaria infection. Advances in the preparation of 3-biaryl-ELQs are presented along with preliminary results from experiments to explore key structure-activity relationships for drug potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetics, and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sovitj Pou
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Rolf W. Winter
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Rozalia A. Dodean
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Katherine Liebman
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Yuexin Li
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Michael W. Mather
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Binod Nepal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Aaron Nilsen
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Mason J. Handford
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Teresa M. Riscoe
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Sydney Laxson
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Payton J. Kirtley
- Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI), Oregon Health and Science University (West Campus), 505 NW 185th Avenue, #1, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Maya Aleshnick
- Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI), Oregon Health and Science University (West Campus), 505 NW 185th Avenue, #1, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Lev Zakharov
- Center for Advanced Materials Characterization in Oregon (CAMCOR), 1443 E. 13th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97403, United States
| | - Jane X. Kelly
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Martin J. Smilkstein
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Brandon K. Wilder
- Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI), Oregon Health and Science University (West Campus), 505 NW 185th Avenue, #1, Beaverton, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Sandhya Kortagere
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - Akhil B. Vaidya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129
| | - P. Holland Alday
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
- School of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - J. Stone Doggett
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
- School of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
| | - Michael K. Riscoe
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239
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3
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Karunakaran D, Mutyam SK, Fu M, Chen J, Pham KHN, Pou S, Winter RW, Nilsen A, Dodean RA, Smilkstein MJ, Riscoe MK, Shankar G. Long-acting intramuscular injections of ELQ-331, an antimalarial agent. Eur J Pharm Sci 2024; 198:106795. [PMID: 38729224 PMCID: PMC11160314 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106795] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The overarching premise of this investigation is that injectable, long-acting antimalarial medication would encourage adherence to a dosage regimen for populations at risk of contracting the disease. To advance support for this goal, we have developed oil-based formulations of ELQ-331 (a prodrug of ELQ-300) that perform as long-acting, injectable chemoprophylactics with drug loading as high as 160 mg/ml of ELQ-331. In a pharmacokinetic study performed with rats, a single intramuscular injection of 12.14 mg/kg maintained higher plasma levels than the previously established minimum fully protective plasma concentration (33.25 ng/ml) of ELQ-300 for more than 4 weeks. The formulations were well tolerated by the rats and the tested dose produced no adverse reactions. We believe that by extending the length of time between subsequent injections, these injectable oil-based solutions of ELQ-331 can offer a more accessible, low-cost option for long-acting disease prevention and reduced transmission in malaria-endemic regions and may also be of use to travelers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipu Karunakaran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Group, Biosciences Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Shravan K Mutyam
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Group, Biosciences Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Melody Fu
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Group, Biosciences Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Jiaming Chen
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Group, Biosciences Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Kim Hue Nicky Pham
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Group, Biosciences Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Sovitj Pou
- VA Medical Center, Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, 3710 SW, US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Rolf W Winter
- VA Medical Center, Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, 3710 SW, US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Aaron Nilsen
- VA Medical Center, Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, 3710 SW, US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Rozalia A Dodean
- VA Medical Center, Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, 3710 SW, US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Martin J Smilkstein
- VA Medical Center, Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, 3710 SW, US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, USA; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Boulevard, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Michael K Riscoe
- VA Medical Center, Experimental Chemotherapy Lab, 3710 SW, US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, USA; Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Boulevard, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Gita Shankar
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Group, Biosciences Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
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4
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García-Guerrero AE, Marvin RG, Blackwell AM, Sigala PA. Biogenesis of cytochromes c and c 1 in the electron transport chain of malaria parasites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.01.575742. [PMID: 38352463 PMCID: PMC10862854 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.01.575742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Plasmodium malaria parasites retain an essential mitochondrional electron transport chain (ETC) that is critical for growth within humans and mosquitoes and a key antimalarial drug target. ETC function requires cytochromes c and c 1 that are unusual among heme proteins due to their covalent binding to heme via conserved CXXCH sequence motifs. Heme attachment to these proteins in most eukaryotes requires the mitochondrial enzyme holocytochrome c synthase (HCCS) that binds heme and the apo cytochrome to facilitate biogenesis of the mature cytochrome c or c 1. Although humans encode a single bifunctional HCCS that attaches heme to both proteins, Plasmodium parasites are like yeast and encode two separate HCCS homologs thought to be specific for heme attachment to cyt c (HCCS) or cyt c 1 (HCC1S). To test the function and specificity of P. falciparum HCCS and HCC1S, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to tag both genes for conditional expression. HCC1S knockdown selectively impaired cyt c 1 biogenesis and caused lethal ETC dysfunction that was not reversed by over-expression of HCCS. Knockdown of HCCS caused a more modest growth defect but strongly sensitized parasites to mitochondrial depolarization by proguanil, revealing key defects in ETC function. These results and prior heterologous studies in E. coli of cyt c hemylation by P. falciparum HCCS and HCC1S strongly suggest that both homologs are essential for mitochondrial ETC function and have distinct specificities for biogenesis of cyt c and c 1, respectively, in parasites. This study lays a foundation to develop novel strategies to selectively block ETC function in malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca G. Marvin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Amanda Mixon Blackwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Paul A. Sigala
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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5
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Duke VR, Philippon MJ, Lind DRG, Kasler H, Yamaura K, Huard M, Czachor M, Hollenbeck J, Brown J, Garcia A, Fukase N, Marcucio RS, Nelson AL, Hambright WS, Snapper DM, Huard J, Bahney CS. Murine Progeria Model Exhibits Delayed Fracture Healing with Dysregulated Local Immune Response. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596277. [PMID: 38854043 PMCID: PMC11160782 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Background Bone fracture is one of the most globally prevalent injuries, with an estimated 189 million bone fractures occurring annually. Delayed union or nonunion occurs in up to 15% of fractures and involves the interruption or complete failure of bone continuity following fracture. Preclinical testing is essential to support the translation of novel strategies to promote improved fracture repair treatment, but there is a paucity of small animal models that recapitulate clinical attributes associated with delayed fracture healing. This study explores whether the Zmpste24 -/- (Z24 -/- ) knockout mouse model of Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome presents with delayed fracture healing. Leveraging the previously characterized Z24 -/- phenotype of genomic instability, epigenetic changes, and fragility, we hypothesize that these underlying alterations will lead to significantly delayed fracture healing relative to age-matched wild type (WT) controls. Methods WT and Z24 -/- mice received intramedullary fixed tibia fractures at ∼12 weeks of age. Mice were sacrificed throughout the time course of repair for the collection of organs that would provide information regarding the local (fracture callus, bone marrow, inguinal lymph nodes) versus peripheral (peripheral blood, contralateral tibia, abdominal organs) tissue microenvironments. Analyses of these specimens include histomorphometry, μCT, mechanical strength testing, protein quantification, gene expression analysis, flow cytometry for cellular senescence, and immunophenotyping. Results Z24 -/- mice demonstrated a significantly delayed rate of healing compared to WT mice with consistently smaller fracture calli containing higher proportion of cartilage and less bone after injury. Cellular senescence and pro-inflammatory cytokines were elevated in the Z24 -/- mice before and after fracture. These mice further presented with a dysregulated immune system, exhibiting generally decreased lymphopoiesis and increased myelopoiesis locally in the bone marrow, with more naïve and less memory T cell but greater myeloid activation systemically in the peripheral blood. Surprisingly, the ipsilateral lymph nodes had increased T cell activation and other pro-inflammatory NK and myeloid cells, suggesting that elevated myeloid abundance and activation contributes to an injury-specific hyperactivation of T cells. Conclusion Taken together, these data establish the Z24 -/- progeria mouse as a model of delayed fracture healing that exhibits decreased bone in the fracture callus, with weaker overall bone quality, immune dysregulation, and increased cellular senescence. Based on this mechanism for delayed healing, we propose this Z24 -/- progeria mouse model could be useful in testing novel therapeutics that could address delayed healing. The Translational Potential of this Article This study employs a novel animal model for delayed fracture healing that researchers can use to screen fracture healing therapeutics to address the globally prevalent issue of aberrant fracture healing.
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6
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Pou S, Winter RW, Liebman KM, Dodean RA, Nilsen A, DeBarber A, Doggett JS, Riscoe MK. Synthesis of Deuterated Endochin-Like Quinolones. J Labelled Comp Radiopharm 2024; 67:186-196. [PMID: 38661253 PMCID: PMC11081819 DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.4092] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Malaria continues to be a serious and debilitating disease. The emergence and spread of high-level resistance to multiple antimalarial drugs by Plasmodium falciparum has brought about an urgent need for new treatments that will be active against multidrug resistant malaria infections. One such treatment, ELQ-331 (MMV-167), an alkoxy carbonate prodrug of 4(1H)-quinolone ELQ-300, is currently in preclinical development with the Medicines for Malaria Venture. Clinical development of ELQ-331 or similar compounds will require the availability of isotopically labeled analogs. Unfortunately, a suitable method for the deuteration of these important compounds was not found in the literature. Here, we describe a facile and scalable method for the deuteration of 4(1H)-quinolone ELQ-300, its alkoxycarbonate prodrug ELQ-331, and their respective N-oxides using deuterated acetic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sovitj Pou
- Medical Research Service, VA Healthcare System, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Rolf W Winter
- Medical Research Service, VA Healthcare System, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Rosie A Dodean
- Medical Research Service, VA Healthcare System, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Aaron Nilsen
- Medical Research Service, VA Healthcare System, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Andrea DeBarber
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - J Stone Doggett
- Medical Research Service, VA Healthcare System, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Michael K Riscoe
- Medical Research Service, VA Healthcare System, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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7
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Pietsch E, Ramaprasad A, Bielfeld S, Wohlfarter Y, Maco B, Niedermüller K, Wilcke L, Kloehn J, Keller MA, Soldati-Favre D, Blackman MJ, Gilberger TW, Burda PC. A patatin-like phospholipase is important for mitochondrial function in malaria parasites. mBio 2023; 14:e0171823. [PMID: 37882543 PMCID: PMC10746288 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01718-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE For their proliferation within red blood cells, malaria parasites depend on a functional electron transport chain (ETC) within their mitochondrion, which is the target of several antimalarial drugs. Here, we have used gene disruption to identify a patatin-like phospholipase, PfPNPLA2, as important for parasite replication and mitochondrial function in Plasmodium falciparum. Parasites lacking PfPNPLA2 show defects in their ETC and become hypersensitive to mitochondrion-targeting drugs. Furthermore, PfPNPLA2-deficient parasites show differences in the composition of their cardiolipins, a unique class of phospholipids with key roles in mitochondrial functions. Finally, we demonstrate that parasites devoid of PfPNPLA2 have a defect in gametocyte maturation, underlining the importance of a functional ETC for parasite transmission to the mosquito vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Pietsch
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Abhinay Ramaprasad
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sabrina Bielfeld
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Wohlfarter
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bohumil Maco
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Korbinian Niedermüller
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Louisa Wilcke
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Markus A. Keller
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michael J. Blackman
- Malaria Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tim-Wolf Gilberger
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Paul-Christian Burda
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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8
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Siqueira-Neto JL, Wicht KJ, Chibale K, Burrows JN, Fidock DA, Winzeler EA. Antimalarial drug discovery: progress and approaches. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:807-826. [PMID: 37652975 PMCID: PMC10543600 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00772-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent antimalarial drug discovery has been a race to produce new medicines that overcome emerging drug resistance, whilst considering safety and improving dosing convenience. Discovery efforts have yielded a variety of new molecules, many with novel modes of action, and the most advanced are in late-stage clinical development. These discoveries have led to a deeper understanding of how antimalarial drugs act, the identification of a new generation of drug targets, and multiple structure-based chemistry initiatives. The limited pool of funding means it is vital to prioritize new drug candidates. They should exhibit high potency, a low propensity for resistance, a pharmacokinetic profile that favours infrequent dosing, low cost, preclinical results that demonstrate safety and tolerability in women and infants, and preferably the ability to block Plasmodium transmission to Anopheles mosquito vectors. In this Review, we describe the approaches that have been successful, progress in preclinical and clinical development, and existing challenges. We illustrate how antimalarial drug discovery can serve as a model for drug discovery in diseases of poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kathryn J Wicht
- Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Holistic Drug Discovery and Development (H3D) Centre, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | | | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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9
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Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites constitute more than 6,000 species infecting a wide range of hosts. These include important pathogens such as those causing malaria and toxoplasmosis. Their evolutionary emergence coincided with the dawn of animals. Mitochondrial genomes of apicomplexan parasites have undergone dramatic reduction in their coding capacity, with genes for only three proteins and ribosomal RNA genes present in scrambled fragments originating from both strands. Different branches of the apicomplexans have undergone rearrangements of these genes, with Toxoplasma having massive variations in gene arrangements spread over multiple copies. The vast evolutionary distance between the parasite and the host mitochondria has been exploited for the development of antiparasitic drugs, especially those used to treat malaria, wherein inhibition of the parasite mitochondrial respiratory chain is selectively targeted with little toxicity to the host mitochondria. We describe additional unique characteristics of the parasite mitochondria that are being investigated and provide greater insights into these deep-branching eukaryotic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian M Lamb
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;
| | - Ijeoma C Okoye
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;
| | - Michael W Mather
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;
| | - Akhil B Vaidya
- Center for Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;
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10
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Esser L, Zhou F, Zeher A, Wu W, Huang R, Yu CA, Lane KD, Wellems TE, Xia D. Structure of complex III with bound antimalarial agent CK-2-68 provides insights into selective inhibition of Plasmodium cytochrome bc 1 complexes. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104860. [PMID: 37236355 PMCID: PMC10404626 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the various components of the protozoan Plasmodium mitochondrial respiratory chain, only Complex III is a validated cellular target for antimalarial drugs. The compound CK-2-68 was developed to specifically target the alternate NADH dehydrogenase of the malaria parasite respiratory chain, but the true target for its antimalarial activity has been controversial. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of mammalian mitochondrial Complex III bound with CK-2-68 and examine the structure-function relationships of the inhibitor's selective action on Plasmodium. We show that CK-2-68 binds specifically to the quinol oxidation site of Complex III, arresting the motion of the iron-sulfur protein subunit, which suggests an inhibition mechanism similar to that of Pf-type Complex III inhibitors such as atovaquone, stigmatellin, and UHDBT. Our results shed light on the mechanisms of observed resistance conferred by mutations, elucidate the molecular basis of the wide therapeutic window of CK-2-68 for selective action of Plasmodium vs. host cytochrome bc1, and provide guidance for future development of antimalarials targeting Complex III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lothar Esser
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Fei Zhou
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Allison Zeher
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; NIH Intramural Cryo-EM Consortium (NICE), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Weimin Wu
- Center for Molecular Microscopy, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Rick Huang
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; NIH Intramural Cryo-EM Consortium (NICE), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Chang-An Yu
- Department of Biochemistry, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Kristin D Lane
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas E Wellems
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Di Xia
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
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11
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Hayward JA, Makota FV, Cihalova D, Leonard RA, Rajendran E, Zwahlen SM, Shuttleworth L, Wiedemann U, Spry C, Saliba KJ, Maier AG, van Dooren GG. A screen of drug-like molecules identifies chemically diverse electron transport chain inhibitors in apicomplexan parasites. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011517. [PMID: 37471441 PMCID: PMC10403144 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexans are widespread parasites of humans and other animals, and include the causative agents of malaria (Plasmodium species) and toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii). Existing anti-apicomplexan therapies are beset with issues around drug resistance and toxicity, and new treatment options are needed. The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is one of the few processes that has been validated as a drug target in apicomplexans. To identify new inhibitors of the apicomplexan ETC, we developed a Seahorse XFe96 flux analyzer approach to screen the 400 compounds contained within the Medicines for Malaria Venture 'Pathogen Box' for ETC inhibition. We identified six chemically diverse, on-target inhibitors of the ETC in T. gondii, at least four of which also target the ETC of Plasmodium falciparum. Two of the identified compounds (MMV024937 and MMV688853) represent novel ETC inhibitor chemotypes. MMV688853 belongs to a compound class, the aminopyrazole carboxamides, that were shown previously to target a kinase with a key role in parasite invasion of host cells. Our data therefore reveal that MMV688853 has dual targets in apicomplexans. We further developed our approach to pinpoint the molecular targets of these inhibitors, demonstrating that all target Complex III of the ETC, with MMV688853 targeting the ubiquinone reduction (Qi) site of the complex. Most of the compounds we identified remain effective inhibitors of parasites that are resistant to Complex III inhibitors that are in clinical use or development, indicating that they could be used in treating drug resistant parasites. In sum, we have developed a versatile, scalable approach to screen for compounds that target the ETC in apicomplexan parasites, and used this to identify and characterize novel inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni A. Hayward
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - F. Victor Makota
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Daniela Cihalova
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Rachel A. Leonard
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Esther Rajendran
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Soraya M. Zwahlen
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Laura Shuttleworth
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ursula Wiedemann
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Christina Spry
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Kevin J. Saliba
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alexander G. Maier
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Giel G. van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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12
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Kreutzfeld O, Tumwebaze PK, Okitwi M, Orena S, Byaruhanga O, Katairo T, Conrad MD, Rasmussen SA, Legac J, Aydemir O, Giesbrecht D, Forte B, Campbell P, Smith A, Kano H, Nsobya SL, Blasco B, Duffey M, Bailey JA, Cooper RA, Rosenthal PJ. Susceptibility of Ugandan Plasmodium falciparum Isolates to the Antimalarial Drug Pipeline. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0523622. [PMID: 37158739 PMCID: PMC10269555 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05236-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria, especially Plasmodium falciparum infection, remains an enormous problem, and its treatment and control are seriously challenged by drug resistance. New antimalarial drugs are needed. To characterize the Medicines for Malaria Venture pipeline of antimalarials under development, we assessed the ex vivo drug susceptibilities to 19 compounds targeting or potentially impacted by mutations in P. falciparum ABC transporter I family member 1, acetyl-CoA synthetase, cytochrome b, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, elongation factor 2, lysyl-tRNA synthetase, phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase, plasmepsin X, prodrug activation and resistance esterase, and V-type H+ ATPase of 998 fresh P. falciparum clinical isolates collected in eastern Uganda from 2015 to 2022. Drug susceptibilities were assessed by 72-h growth inhibition (half-maximum inhibitory concentration [IC50]) assays using SYBR green. Field isolates were highly susceptible to lead antimalarials, with low- to midnanomolar median IC50s, near values previously reported for laboratory strains, for all tested compounds. However, outliers with decreased susceptibilities were identified. Positive correlations between IC50 results were seen for compounds with shared targets. We sequenced genes encoding presumed targets to characterize sequence diversity, search for polymorphisms previously selected with in vitro drug pressure, and determine genotype-phenotype associations. We identified many polymorphisms in target genes, generally in <10% of isolates, but none were those previously selected in vitro with drug pressure, and none were associated with significantly decreased ex vivo drug susceptibility. Overall, Ugandan P. falciparum isolates were highly susceptible to 19 compounds under development as next-generation antimalarials, consistent with a lack of preexisting or novel resistance-conferring mutations in circulating Ugandan parasites. IMPORTANCE Drug resistance necessitates the development of new antimalarial drugs. It is important to assess the activities of compounds under development against parasites now causing disease in Africa, where most malaria cases occur, and to determine if mutations in these parasites may limit the efficacies of new agents. We found that African isolates were generally highly susceptible to the 19 studied lead antimalarials. Sequencing of the presumed drug targets identified multiple mutations in these genes, but these mutations were generally not associated with decreased antimalarial activity. These results offer confidence that the activities of the tested antimalarial compounds now under development will not be limited by preexisting resistance-mediating mutations in African malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriana Kreutzfeld
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Martin Okitwi
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Stephen Orena
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Thomas Katairo
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Melissa D. Conrad
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Jennifer Legac
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ozkan Aydemir
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Barbara Forte
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Campbell
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Alasdair Smith
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Hiroki Kano
- Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Yokohama, Japan
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13
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Demarta-Gatsi C, Andenmatten N, Jiménez-Díaz MB, Gobeau N, Cherkaoui-Rabti MH, Fuchs A, Díaz P, Berja S, Sánchez R, Gómez H, Ruiz E, Sainz P, Salazar E, Gil-Merino R, Mendoza LM, Eguizabal C, Leroy D, Moehrle JJ, Tornesi B, Angulo-Barturen I. Predicting Optimal Antimalarial Drug Combinations from a Standardized Plasmodium falciparum Humanized Mouse Model. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0157422. [PMID: 37133382 PMCID: PMC10269072 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01574-22] [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: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of new combinations of antimalarial drugs is urgently needed to prevent the spread of parasites resistant to drugs in clinical use and contribute to the control and eradication of malaria. In this work, we evaluated a standardized humanized mouse model of erythrocyte asexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum (PfalcHuMouse) for the selection of optimal drug combinations. First, we showed that the replication of P. falciparum was robust and highly reproducible in the PfalcHuMouse model by retrospective analysis of historical data. Second, we compared the relative value of parasite clearance from blood, parasite regrowth after suboptimal treatment (recrudescence), and cure as variables of therapeutic response to measure the contributions of partner drugs to combinations in vivo. To address the comparison, we first formalized and validated the day of recrudescence (DoR) as a new variable and found that there was a log-linear relationship with the number of viable parasites per mouse. Then, using historical data on monotherapy and two small cohorts of PfalcHuMice evaluated with ferroquine plus artefenomel or piperaquine plus artefenomel, we found that only measurements of parasite killing (i.e., cure of mice) as a function of drug exposure in blood allowed direct estimation of the individual drug contribution to efficacy by using multivariate statistical modeling and intuitive graphic displays. Overall, the analysis of parasite killing in the PfalcHuMouse model is a unique and robust experimental in vivo tool to inform the selection of optimal combinations by pharmacometric pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Aline Fuchs
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pablo Díaz
- The Art of Discovery, Derio, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Sandra Berja
- The Art of Discovery, Derio, Basque Country, Spain
| | | | - Hazel Gómez
- The Art of Discovery, Derio, Basque Country, Spain
| | | | - Paula Sainz
- The Art of Discovery, Derio, Basque Country, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Cristina Eguizabal
- Cell Therapy, Stem Cells and Tissues Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
- Basque Centre for Blood Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Didier Leroy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
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14
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Dube P, Angula KT, Legoabe LJ, Jordaan A, Boitz Zarella JM, Warner DF, Doggett JS, Beteck RM. Quinolone-3-amidoalkanol: A New Class of Potent and Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Agent. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:17086-17102. [PMID: 37214682 PMCID: PMC10193574 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we describe 39 novel quinolone compounds bearing a hydrophilic amine chain and varied substituted benzyloxy units. These compounds demonstrate broad-spectrum activities against acid-fast bacterium, Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, fungi, and leishmania parasite. Compound 30 maintained antitubercular activity against moxifloxacin-, isoniazid-, and rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, while 37 exhibited low micromolar activities (<1 μg/mL) against World Health Organization (WHO) critical pathogens: Cryptococcus neoformans, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Compounds in this study are metabolically robust, demonstrating % remnant of >98% after 30 min in the presence of human, rat, and mouse liver microsomes. Several compounds thus reported here are promising leads for the treatment of diseases caused by infectious agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phelelisiwe
S. Dube
- Centre
of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Klaudia T. Angula
- Centre
of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Lesetja J. Legoabe
- Centre
of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Audrey Jordaan
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT
Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
- Institute
of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Jan M. Boitz Zarella
- Division
of Infectious Diseases, VA Portland Healthcare
System, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Digby F. Warner
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT
Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
- Institute
of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
- Wellcome
Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa),
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of
Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - J. Stone Doggett
- Division
of Infectious Diseases, VA Portland Healthcare
System, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Richard M. Beteck
- Centre
of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
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15
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Espino-Sanchez T, Wienkers H, Marvin R, Nalder SA, García-Guerrero A, VanNatta P, Jami-Alahmadi Y, Mixon Blackwell A, Whitby F, Wohlschlegel J, Kieber-Emmons M, Hill C, A. Sigala P. Direct tests of cytochrome c and c1 functions in the electron transport chain of malaria parasites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2301047120. [PMID: 37126705 PMCID: PMC10175771 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301047120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) of Plasmodium malaria parasites is a major antimalarial drug target, but critical cytochrome (cyt) functions remain unstudied and enigmatic. Parasites express two distinct cyt c homologs (c and c-2) with unusually sparse sequence identity and uncertain fitness contributions. P. falciparum cyt c-2 is the most divergent eukaryotic cyt c homolog currently known and has sequence features predicted to be incompatible with canonical ETC function. We tagged both cyt c homologs and the related cyt c1 for inducible knockdown. Translational repression of cyt c and cyt c1 was lethal to parasites, which died from ETC dysfunction and impaired ubiquinone recycling. In contrast, cyt c-2 knockdown or knockout had little impact on blood-stage growth, indicating that parasites rely fully on the more conserved cyt c for ETC function. Biochemical and structural studies revealed that both cyt c and c-2 are hemylated by holocytochrome c synthase, but UV-vis absorbance and EPR spectra strongly suggest that cyt c-2 has an unusually open active site in which heme is stably coordinated by only a single axial amino acid ligand and can bind exogenous small molecules. These studies provide a direct dissection of cytochrome functions in the ETC of malaria parasites and identify a highly divergent Plasmodium cytochrome c with molecular adaptations that defy a conserved role in eukaryotic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry Wienkers
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT84112
| | - Rebecca G. Marvin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT84112
| | - Shai-anne Nalder
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT84112
| | | | - Peter E. VanNatta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT84112
| | | | - Amanda Mixon Blackwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT84112
| | - Frank G. Whitby
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT84112
| | | | | | - Christopher P. Hill
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT84112
| | - Paul A. Sigala
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT84112
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16
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Nguyen W, Dans MG, Currie I, Awalt JK, Bailey BL, Lumb C, Ngo A, Favuzza P, Palandri J, Ramesh S, Penington J, Jarman KE, Mukherjee P, Chakraborty A, Maier AG, van Dooren GG, Papenfuss T, Wittlin S, Churchyard A, Baum J, Winzeler EA, Baud D, Brand S, Jackson PF, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE. 7- N-Substituted-3-oxadiazole Quinolones with Potent Antimalarial Activity Target the Cytochrome bc1 Complex. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:668-691. [PMID: 36853190 PMCID: PMC10012268 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
The development of new antimalarials is required because of the threat of resistance to current antimalarial therapies. To discover new antimalarial chemotypes, we screened the Janssen Jumpstarter library against the P. falciparum asexual parasite and identified the 7-N-substituted-3-oxadiazole quinolone hit class. We established the structure-activity relationship and optimized the antimalarial potency. The optimized analog WJM228 (17) showed robust metabolic stability in vitro, although the aqueous solubility was limited. Forward genetic resistance studies uncovered that WJM228 targets the Qo site of cytochrome b (cyt b), an important component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) that is essential for pyrimidine biosynthesis and an established antimalarial target. Profiling against drug-resistant parasites confirmed that WJM228 confers resistance to the Qo site but not Qi site mutations, and in a biosensor assay, it was shown to impact the ETC via inhibition of cyt b. Consistent with other cyt b targeted antimalarials, WJM228 prevented pre-erythrocytic parasite and male gamete development and reduced asexual parasitemia in a P. berghei mouse model of malaria. Correcting the limited aqueous solubility and the high susceptibility to cyt b Qo site resistant parasites found in the clinic will be major obstacles in the future development of the 3-oxadiazole quinolone antimalarial class.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Madeline G Dans
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Iain Currie
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Jon Kyle Awalt
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brodie L Bailey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Chris Lumb
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Anna Ngo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Paola Favuzza
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Josephine Palandri
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Saishyam Ramesh
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Penington
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | | | | | - Alexander G Maier
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Giel G van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Tony Papenfuss
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ U.K
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ U.K.,School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2031, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0760, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Delphine Baud
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva 1215, Switzerland
| | - Stephen Brand
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva 1215, Switzerland
| | - Paul F Jackson
- Global Public Health, Janssen R&D LLC, La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
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17
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Espino-Sanchez TJ, Wienkers H, Marvin RG, Nalder SA, García-Guerrero AE, VanNatta PE, Jami-Alahmadi Y, Blackwell AM, Whitby FG, Wohlschlegel JA, Kieber-Emmons MT, Hill CP, Sigala PA. Direct Tests of Cytochrome Function in the Electron Transport Chain of Malaria Parasites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.23.525242. [PMID: 36747727 PMCID: PMC9900762 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.23.525242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) of Plasmodium malaria parasites is a major antimalarial drug target, but critical cytochrome functions remain unstudied and enigmatic. Parasites express two distinct cyt c homologs ( c and c -2) with unusually sparse sequence identity and uncertain fitness contributions. P. falciparum cyt c -2 is the most divergent eukaryotic cyt c homolog currently known and has sequence features predicted to be incompatible with canonical ETC function. We tagged both cyt c homologs and the related cyt c 1 for inducible knockdown. Translational repression of cyt c and cyt c 1 was lethal to parasites, which died from ETC dysfunction and impaired ubiquinone recycling. In contrast, cyt c -2 knockdown or knock-out had little impact on blood-stage growth, indicating that parasites rely fully on the more conserved cyt c for ETC function. Biochemical and structural studies revealed that both cyt c and c -2 are hemylated by holocytochrome c synthase, but UV-vis absorbance and EPR spectra strongly suggest that cyt c -2 has an unusually open active site in which heme is stably coordinated by only a single axial amino-acid ligand and can bind exogenous small molecules. These studies provide a direct dissection of cytochrome functions in the ETC of malaria parasites and identify a highly divergent Plasmodium cytochrome c with molecular adaptations that defy a conserved role in eukaryotic evolution. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Mitochondria are critical organelles in eukaryotic cells that drive oxidative metabolism. The mitochondrion of Plasmodium malaria parasites is a major drug target that has many differences from human cells and remains poorly studied. One key difference from humans is that malaria parasites express two cytochrome c proteins that differ significantly from each other and play untested and uncertain roles in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC). Our study revealed that one cyt c is essential for ETC function and parasite viability while the second, more divergent protein has unusual structural and biochemical properties and is not required for growth of blood-stage parasites. This work elucidates key biochemical properties and evolutionary differences in the mitochondrial ETC of malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya J. Espino-Sanchez
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Henry Wienkers
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Rebecca G. Marvin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Shai-anne Nalder
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Aldo E. García-Guerrero
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Peter E. VanNatta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Yasaman Jami-Alahmadi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Amanda Mixon Blackwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Frank G. Whitby
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - James A. Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Christopher P. Hill
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Paul A. Sigala
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States,Corresponding author: Paul Sigala
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18
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El-Sheref EM, Tawfeek HN, Hassan AA, Bräse S, Elbastawesy MAI, Gomaa HAM, Mostafa YA, Youssif BGM. Synthesis of novel amidines via one-pot three component reactions: Selective topoisomerase I inhibitors with antiproliferative properties. Front Chem 2022; 10:1039176. [PMID: 36465858 PMCID: PMC9716094 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1039176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Novel series of amidines were synthesized via the interaction between alicyclic amines, cyclic ketones, and a highly electrophilic 4-azidoquinolin-2(1H)-ones without any catalyst or additive. All the obtained products were elucidated based on NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The reaction conditions were optimized using cyclohexanone (2), piperidine (3a), and 4-azido-quinolin-2(1H)-one (1a) under an air atmosphere. The new compounds 4a-l and 5a-c were tested for antiproliferative activity against four cancer cell lines using doxorubicin as a reference drug. The most potent derivatives were compounds 4b, 4d, 4e, 4i, and 5c, with GI50 ranging from 1.00 µM to 1.50 µM. Compound 5c was the most effective derivative against the four cancer cell lines, outperforming doxorubicin. The compounds 4b, 4d, 4e, 4i, and 5c were studied further as topoisomerase I and IIα inhibitors. The compounds tested showed selective inhibition of topo I over topo IIα. Finally, docking studies explain why these compounds prefer topo I over topo IIα.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hendawy N. Tawfeek
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, El Minia, Egypt
| | - Alaa A. Hassan
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, El Minia, Egypt
| | - S. Bräse
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, IBCS-FMS, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | | | - Hesham A. M. Gomaa
- Pharmacology Department, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yaser A. Mostafa
- Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Bahaa G. M. Youssif
- Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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19
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Berg A, Swartchick CB, Forrest N, Chavarria M, Deem MC, Sillin AN, Li Y, Riscoe TM, Nilsen A, Riscoe MK, Wood WJL. 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones with 3-alkyldiarylether groups: synthesis and Plasmodium falciparum inhibitory activity. Future Med Chem 2022; 14:1611-1620. [PMID: 36349868 PMCID: PMC9832320 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2022-0127] [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: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In 1948, the synthesis and Plasmodium lophurae activity of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones containing 3-alkyldiarylether side chains was reported. Method/results: The synthesis of five related compounds, designed to be more metabolically stable, was pursued. The compounds were synthesized using a radical alkylation reaction with naphthoquinones. One compound had a lower IC50 value against various strains of Plasmodium falciparum and assay data indicate that it binds to the Qo site of cytochrome bc1. With a low yield for the radical alkylation of the most active compound, a reductive alkylation method with used to improve reaction yields. Conclusion: Further synthetic knowledge was obtained, and the assay data indicate that there are sensitivity differences between avian and human malarial parasites for these molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Berg
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203, USA
| | - Chelsea B Swartchick
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203, USA
| | - Noah Forrest
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203, USA
| | - Matthew Chavarria
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203, USA
| | - Madeleine C Deem
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203, USA
| | - Alyson N Sillin
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203, USA
| | - Yuexin Li
- Portland VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Teresa M Riscoe
- Portland VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Aaron Nilsen
- Portland VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Michael K Riscoe
- Portland VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 Sam Jackson Boulevard, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Warren JL Wood
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd., Portland, OR 97203, USA
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20
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Alday PH, Nilsen A, Doggett JS. Structure-activity relationships of Toxoplasma gondii cytochrome bc1 inhibitors. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:997-1011. [PMID: 35772172 PMCID: PMC9561756 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2096588] [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: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Toxoplasma gondii is a prolific apicomplexan parasite that infects human and nonhuman animals worldwide and can cause severe brain and eye disease. Safer, more effective therapies for toxoplasmosis are needed. Cytochrome bc1 inhibitors are remarkably effective against toxoplasmosis and other apicomplexan-caused diseases. AREAS COVERED This work reviews T. gondii cytochrome bc1 inhibitors. Emphasis is placed on the structure-activity relationships of these inhibitors with regard to efficacy, pharmacokinetics, selectivity of T. gondii cytochrome bc1 over host, safety, and potential therapeutic strategies. EXPERT OPINION Cytochrome bc1 inhibitors are highly promising compounds for toxoplasmosis that have been effective in clinical and preclinical studies. Clinical experience with atovaquone previously validated cytochrome bc1 as a tractable drug target and, over the past decade, optimization of cytochrome bc1 inhibitors has resulted in improved bioavailability, metabolic stability, potency, blood-brain barrier penetration, and selectivity for the T. gondii cytochrome bc1 over the mammalian bc1. Recent studies have demonstrated preclinical safety, identified novel therapeutic strategies for toxoplasmosis using synergistic combinations or long-acting administration and provided insight into their role in chronic infection. This research has identified drug candidates that are more effective than clinically used drugs in preclinical measures of efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phil Holland Alday
- Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Aaron Nilsen
- Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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21
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Amporndanai K, Pinthong N, O’Neill PM, Hong WD, Amewu RK, Pidathala C, Berry NG, Leung SC, Ward SA, Biagini GA, Hasnain SS, Antonyuk SV. Targeting the Ubiquinol-Reduction (Q i) Site of the Mitochondrial Cytochrome bc1 Complex for the Development of Next Generation Quinolone Antimalarials. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11081109. [PMID: 35892964 PMCID: PMC9330653 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Antimalarials targeting the ubiquinol-oxidation (Qo) site of the Plasmodium falciparum bc1 complex, such as atovaquone, have become less effective due to the rapid emergence of resistance linked to point mutations in the Qo site. Recent findings showed a series of 2-aryl quinolones mediate inhibitions of this complex by binding to the ubiquinone-reduction (Qi) site, which offers a potential advantage in circumventing drug resistance. Since it is essential to understand how 2-aryl quinolone lead compounds bind within the Qi site, here we describe the co-crystallization and structure elucidation of the bovine cytochrome bc1 complex with three different antimalarial 4(1H)-quinolone sub-types, including two 2-aryl quinolone derivatives and a 3-aryl quinolone analogue for comparison. Currently, no structural information is available for Plasmodial cytochrome bc1. Our crystallographic studies have enabled comparison of an in-silico homology docking model of P. falciparum with the mammalian's equivalent, enabling an examination of how binding compares for the 2- versus 3-aryl analogues. Based on crystallographic and computational modeling, key differences in human and P. falciparum Qi sites have been mapped that provide new insights that can be exploited for the development of next-generation antimalarials with greater selective inhibitory activity against the parasite bc1 with improved antimalarial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangsa Amporndanai
- Molecular Biophysics Group, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK; (K.A.); (N.P.); (S.S.H.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0146, USA
| | - Nattapon Pinthong
- Molecular Biophysics Group, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK; (K.A.); (N.P.); (S.S.H.)
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Paul M. O’Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK; (W.D.H.); (R.K.A.); (C.P.); (N.G.B.); (S.C.L.)
- Correspondence: (P.M.O.); (S.V.A.); Tel.: +44-(0)-1517955145 (S.V.A.); +44-(0)-1517943552 (P.M.O.)
| | - W. David Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK; (W.D.H.); (R.K.A.); (C.P.); (N.G.B.); (S.C.L.)
| | - Richard K. Amewu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK; (W.D.H.); (R.K.A.); (C.P.); (N.G.B.); (S.C.L.)
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG 586, Ghana
| | - Chandrakala Pidathala
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK; (W.D.H.); (R.K.A.); (C.P.); (N.G.B.); (S.C.L.)
- Composite Interceptive Med-Science Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru 60099, Karnataka, India
| | - Neil G. Berry
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK; (W.D.H.); (R.K.A.); (C.P.); (N.G.B.); (S.C.L.)
| | - Suet C. Leung
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, UK; (W.D.H.); (R.K.A.); (C.P.); (N.G.B.); (S.C.L.)
| | - Stephen A. Ward
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (S.A.W.); (G.A.B.)
| | - Giancarlo A. Biagini
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK; (S.A.W.); (G.A.B.)
| | - S. Samar Hasnain
- Molecular Biophysics Group, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK; (K.A.); (N.P.); (S.S.H.)
| | - Svetlana V. Antonyuk
- Molecular Biophysics Group, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK; (K.A.); (N.P.); (S.S.H.)
- Correspondence: (P.M.O.); (S.V.A.); Tel.: +44-(0)-1517955145 (S.V.A.); +44-(0)-1517943552 (P.M.O.)
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22
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Abstract
A series of new trifluoromethyl-substituted quinolones and hydantoin hybrids has been synthesized and evaluated against Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 441, Klebsiella pneumonia MTCC 109, and Escherichia coli MTCC 442). Compound 19c, having the 6-propene group on the quinolone ring, showed similar activity to a standard drug (chloramphenicol) by exhibiting MIC values of 50 µg/mL against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Physicochemical properties of compound 19c were also determined, which were in line with Lipinski’s rule of five, suggesting the suitability of compound 19c in biological systems. Various types of binding interactions of 19c within the active site of DNA gyrase of S. aureus were also streamlined by molecular docking studies, suggesting its capability to block the catalytic process of the DNA gyrase, which could be the possible reason for its antibacterial potential.
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23
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van der Watt ME, Reader J, Birkholtz LM. Adapt or Die: Targeting Unique Transmission-Stage Biology for Malaria Elimination. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:901971. [PMID: 35755845 PMCID: PMC9218253 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.901971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites have a complex life cycle that includes development in the human host as well as the Anopheles vector. Successful transmission of the parasite between its host and vector therefore requires the parasite to balance its investments in asexual replication and sexual reproduction, varying the frequency of sexual commitment to persist within the human host and generate future opportunities for transmission. The transmission window is extended further by the ability of stage V gametocytes to circulate in peripheral blood for weeks, whereas immature stage I to IV gametocytes sequester in the bone marrow and spleen until final maturation. Due to the low gametocyte numbers in blood circulation and with the ease of targeting such life cycle bottlenecks, transmission represents an efficient target for therapeutic intervention. The biological process of Plasmodium transmission is a multistage, multifaceted process and the past decade has seen a much deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms and regulators involved. Clearly, specific and divergent processes are used during transmission compared to asexual proliferation, which both poses challenges but also opportunities for discovery of transmission-blocking antimalarials. This review therefore presents an update of our molecular understanding of gametocyte and gamete biology as well as the status of transmission-blocking activities of current antimalarials and lead development compounds. By defining the biological components associated with transmission, considerations for the development of new transmission-blocking drugs to target such untapped but unique biology is suggested as an important, main driver for transmission-blocking drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariëtte E van der Watt
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marié Birkholtz
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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24
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Progress Report: Antimicrobial Drug Discovery in the Resistance Era. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15040413. [PMID: 35455410 PMCID: PMC9030565 DOI: 10.3390/ph15040413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance continues to be a most serious threat to public health. This situation demands that the scientific community increase their efforts for the discovery of alternative strategies to circumvent the problems associated with conventional small molecule therapeutics. The Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) Report (published in June 2021) discloses the rapidly increasing number of bacterial infections that are mainly caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. These concerns have initiated various government agencies and other organizations to educate the public regarding the appropriate use of antibiotics. This review discusses a brief highlight on the timeline of antimicrobial drug discovery with a special emphasis on the historical development of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, new antimicrobial targets and approaches, recent developments in drug screening, design, and delivery were covered. This review also discusses the emergence and roles of various antibiotic adjuvants and combination therapies while shedding light on current challenges and future perspectives. Overall, the emergence of resistant microbial strains has challenged drug discovery but their efforts to develop alternative technologies such as nanomaterials seem to be promising for the future.
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25
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Simwela NV, Waters AP. Current status of experimental models for the study of malaria. Parasitology 2022; 149:1-22. [PMID: 35357277 PMCID: PMC9378029 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021002134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Infection by malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, especially in tropical regions of the world. Despite the availability of malaria control tools such as integrated vector management and effective therapeutics, these measures have been continuously undermined by the emergence of vector resistance to insecticides or parasite resistance to frontline antimalarial drugs. Whilst the recent pilot implementation of the RTS,S malaria vaccine is indeed a remarkable feat, highly effective vaccines against malaria remain elusive. The barriers to effective vaccines result from the complexity of both the malaria parasite lifecycle and the parasite as an organism itself with consequent major gaps in our understanding of their biology. Historically and due to the practical and ethical difficulties of working with human malaria infections, research into malaria parasite biology has been extensively facilitated by animal models. Animals have been used to study disease pathogenesis, host immune responses and their (dys)regulation and further disease processes such as transmission. Moreover, animal models remain at the forefront of pre-clinical evaluations of antimalarial drugs (drug efficacy, mode of action, mode of resistance) and vaccines. In this review, we discuss commonly used animal models of malaria, the parasite species used and their advantages and limitations which hinder their extrapolation to actual human disease. We also place into this context the most recent developments such as organoid technologies and humanized mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson V. Simwela
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew P. Waters
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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26
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Baugh SDP, Jackson MR, Rashad AA, Reitz AB, Lam PYS, Jorns MS. Synthesis and evaluation of potent novel inhibitors of human sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 54:128443. [PMID: 34763081 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128443] [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: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Here we report the first small-molecule inhibitors of human sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQOR) that decrease the rate of breakdown of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a potent cardioprotective signaling molecule. SQOR is a mitochondrial membrane-bound protein that catalyzes a two-electron oxidation of H2S to sulfane sulfur (S0), using glutathione (or sulfite) and coenzyme Q (CoQ) as S0 and electron acceptor, respectively. Inhibition of SQOR may constitute a new approach for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Starting from top hits identified in a high-throughput screen, we conducted SAR development guided by docking of lead candidates into our crystal structure of SQOR. We identified potent SQOR inhibitors such as 19 which has an IC50 of 29 nM for SQOR inhibition and favorable pharmacokinetic and ADME properties required for in vivo efficacy testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D P Baugh
- Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, Inc., Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Michael R Jackson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Adel Ahmed Rashad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Allen B Reitz
- Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, Inc., Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Patrick Y S Lam
- Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, Inc., Doylestown, PA 18902, USA
| | - Marilyn Schuman Jorns
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
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27
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Marfurt J, Wirjanata G, Prayoga P, Chalfein F, Leonardo L, Sebayang BF, Apriyanti D, Sihombing MAEM, Trianty L, Suwanarusk R, Brockman A, Piera KA, Luo I, Rumaseb A, MacHunter B, Auburn S, Anstey NM, Kenangalem E, Noviyanti R, Russell B, Poespoprodjo JR, Price RN. Longitudinal ex vivo and molecular trends of chloroquine and piperaquine activity against Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax before and after introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy in Papua, Indonesia. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2021; 17:46-56. [PMID: 34193398 PMCID: PMC8358472 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Drug resistant Plasmodium parasites are a major threat to malaria control and elimination. After reports of high levels of multidrug resistant P. falciparum and P. vivax in Indonesia, in 2005, the national first-line treatment policy for uncomplicated malaria was changed in March 2006, to dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine against all species. This study assessed the temporal trends in ex vivo drug susceptibility to chloroquine (CQ) and piperaquine (PIP) for both P. falciparum and P. vivax clinical isolates collected between 2004 and 2018, by using schizont maturation assays, and genotyped a subset of isolates for known and putative molecular markers of CQ and PIP resistance by using Sanger and next generation whole genome sequencing. The median CQ IC50 values varied significantly between years in both Plasmodium species, but there was no significant trend over time. In contrast, there was a significant trend for increasing PIP IC50s in both Plasmodium species from 2010 onwards. Whereas the South American CQ resistant 7G8 pfcrt SVMNT isoform has been fixed since 2005 in the study area, the pfmdr1 86Y allele frequencies decreased and became fixed at the wild-type allele in 2015. In P. vivax isolates, putative markers of CQ resistance (no pvcrt-o AAG (K10) insertion and pvmdr1 Y967F and F1076L) were fixed at the mutant alleles since 2005. None of the putative PIP resistance markers were detected in P. falciparum. The ex vivo drug susceptibility and molecular analysis of CQ and PIP efficacy for P. falciparum and P. vivax after 12 years of intense drug pressure with DHP suggests that whilst the degree of CQ resistance appears to have been sustained, there has been a slight decline in PIP susceptibility, although this does not appear to have reached clinically significant levels. The observed decreasing trend in ex vivo PIP susceptibility highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jutta Marfurt
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia.
| | - Grennady Wirjanata
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia
| | - Pak Prayoga
- Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation (PHCDF), Jl. Caritas No. 1, 99961, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
| | - Ferryanto Chalfein
- Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation (PHCDF), Jl. Caritas No. 1, 99961, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
| | - Leo Leonardo
- Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation (PHCDF), Jl. Caritas No. 1, 99961, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
| | - Boni F Sebayang
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jl. Diponegoro 69, 10430, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Dwi Apriyanti
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jl. Diponegoro 69, 10430, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Maic A E M Sihombing
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jl. Diponegoro 69, 10430, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Leily Trianty
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jl. Diponegoro 69, 10430, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Rossarin Suwanarusk
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia
| | - Alan Brockman
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia
| | - Kim A Piera
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia
| | - Irene Luo
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia
| | - Angela Rumaseb
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia
| | - Barbara MacHunter
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia
| | - Sarah Auburn
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nicholas M Anstey
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia
| | - Enny Kenangalem
- Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation (PHCDF), Jl. Caritas No. 1, 99961, Timika, Papua, Indonesia; District Health Authority, Timika, Papua, Indonesia
| | - Rintis Noviyanti
- Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, Jl. Diponegoro 69, 10430, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Bruce Russell
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia
| | - Jeanne R Poespoprodjo
- Papuan Health and Community Development Foundation (PHCDF), Jl. Caritas No. 1, 99961, Timika, Papua, Indonesia; Paediatric Research Office, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Ric N Price
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, PO Box 41096, Casuarina, NT, 0811, Darwin, Australia; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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28
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A New Thienopyrimidinone Chemotype Shows Multistage Activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Including Artemisinin-Resistant Parasites. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0027421. [PMID: 34724729 PMCID: PMC8557901 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00274-21] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human malaria infection begins with a one-time asymptomatic liver stage followed by a cyclic symptomatic blood stage. For decades, the research for novel antimalarials focused on the high-throughput screening of molecules that only targeted the asexual blood stages. In a search for new effective compounds presenting a triple action against erythrocytic and liver stages in addition to the ability to block the transmission of the disease via the mosquito vector, 2-amino-thienopyrimidinone derivatives were synthesized and tested for their antimalarial activity. One molecule, named gamhepathiopine (denoted as “M1” herein), was active at submicromolar concentrations against both erythrocytic (50% effective concentration [EC50] = 0.045 μM) and liver (EC50 = 0.45 μM) forms of Plasmodium falciparum. Furthermore, gamhepathiopine efficiently blocked the development of the sporogonic cycle in the mosquito vector by inhibiting the exflagellation step. Moreover, M1 was active against artemisinin-resistant forms (EC50 = 0.227 μM), especially at the quiescent stage. Nevertheless, in mice, M1 showed modest activity due to its rapid metabolization by P450 cytochromes into inactive derivatives, calling for the development of new parent compounds with improved metabolic stability and longer half-lives. These results highlight the thienopyrimidinone scaffold as a novel antiplasmodial chemotype of great interest to search for new drug candidates displaying multistage activity and an original mechanism of action with the potential to be used in combination therapies for malaria elimination in the context of artemisinin resistance. IMPORTANCE This work reports a new chemical structure that (i) displays activity against the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum at 3 stages of the parasitic cycle (blood stage, hepatic stage, and sexual stages), (ii) remains active against parasites that are resistant to the first-line treatment recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of severe malaria (artemisinins), and (iii) reduces transmission of the parasite to the mosquito vector in a mouse model. This new molecule family could open the way to the conception of novel antimalarial drugs with an original multistage mechanism of action to fight against Plasmodium drug resistance and block interhuman transmission of malaria.
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29
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Renard I, Ben Mamoun C. Treatment of Human Babesiosis: Then and Now. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091120. [PMID: 34578153 PMCID: PMC8469882 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia. With its increasing incidence worldwide and the risk of human-to-human transmission through blood transfusion, babesiosis is becoming a rising public health concern. The current arsenal for the treatment of human babesiosis is limited and consists of combinations of atovaquone and azithromycin or clindamycin and quinine. These combination therapies were not designed based on biological criteria unique to Babesia parasites, but were rather repurposed based on their well-established efficacy against other apicomplexan parasites. However, these compounds are associated with mild or severe adverse events and a rapid emergence of drug resistance, thus highlighting the need for new therapeutic strategies that are specifically tailored to Babesia parasites. Herein, we review ongoing babesiosis therapeutic and management strategies and their limitations, and further review current efforts to develop new, effective, and safer therapies for the treatment of this disease.
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30
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Anghel N, Imhof D, Winzer P, Balmer V, Ramseier J, Haenggeli K, Choi R, Hulverson MA, Whitman GR, Arnold SL, Ojo KK, Van Voorhis WC, Doggett JS, Ortega-Mora LM, Hemphill A. Endochin-like quinolones (ELQs) and bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs): Synergistic and additive effects of combined treatments against Neospora caninum infection in vitro and in vivo. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2021; 17:92-106. [PMID: 34482255 PMCID: PMC8416643 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The apicomplexan parasite Neospora caninum is an important causative agent of congenital neosporosis, resulting in abortion, birth of weak offspring and neuromuscular disorders in cattle, sheep, and many other species. Among several compound classes that are currently being developed, two have been reported to limit the effects of congenital neosporosis: (i) bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs) target calcium dependent protein kinase 1 (CDPK1), an enzyme that is encoded by an apicoplast-derived gene and found only in apicomplexans and plants. CDPK1 is essential for host cell invasion and egress; (ii) endochin-like quinolones (ELQs) are inhibitors of the cytochrome bc1 complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and thus inhibit oxidative phosphorylation. We here report on the in vitro and in vivo activities of BKI-1748, and of ELQ-316 and its respective prodrugs ELQ-334 and ELQ-422, applied either as single-compounds or ELQ-BKI-combinations. In vitro, BKI-1748 and ELQ-316, as well as BKI-1748 and ELQ-334, acted synergistically, while this was not observed for the BKI-1748/ELQ-422 combination treatment. In a N. caninum-infected pregnant BALB/c mouse model, the synergistic effects observed in vitro were not entirely reproduced, but 100% postnatal survival and 100% inhibition of vertical transmission was noted in the group treated with the BKI-1748/ELQ-334 combination. In addition, the combined drug applications resulted in lower neonatal mortality compared to treatments with single drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoleta Anghel
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB), University of Bern, Switzerland,Corresponding author. Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Dennis Imhof
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB), University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pablo Winzer
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB), University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vreni Balmer
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Ramseier
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kai Haenggeli
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences (GCB), University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ryan Choi
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Matthew A. Hulverson
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Grant R. Whitman
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Samuel L.M. Arnold
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA,Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kayode K. Ojo
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Wesley C. Van Voorhis
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA,Departments of Global Health and Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J. Stone Doggett
- VA Portland Health Care System, Research and Development Service, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Luis M. Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland,Corresponding author.
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31
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Pou S, Dodean RA, Frueh L, Liebman KM, Gallagher RT, Jin H, Jacobs RT, Nilsen A, Stuart DR, Doggett JS, Riscoe MK, Winter RW. A New Scalable Synthesis of ELQ-300, ELQ-316, and other Antiparasitic Quinolones. Org Process Res Dev 2021; 25:1841-1852. [PMID: 35110959 DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.1c00099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The Endochin-Like Quinolone (ELQ) compound class may yield effective, safe treatments for a range of important human and animal afflictions. However, to access the public health potential of this compound series, a synthetic route needed to be devised that lowers costs and is amenable to large scale production. In the new synthetic route described here, a substituted β-keto ester, formed by an Ullmann reaction and subsequent acylation, is reacted with an aniline via a Conrad-Limpach reaction to produce 3-substituted 4(1H)-quinolones such as ELQ-300 and ELQ-316. This synthetic route, the first described to be truly amenable to industrial scale production, is relatively short (5 reaction steps), does not require palladium, chromatographic separation or protecting group chemistry, and may be performed without high vacuum distillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sovitj Pou
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Rozalia A Dodean
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Lisa Frueh
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Katherine M Liebman
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Rory T Gallagher
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, 1719 SW 10 Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
| | - Haihong Jin
- Medicinal Chemistry Core, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Robert T Jacobs
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, route de Pré-Bois 20, P.O. Box 1826, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Aaron Nilsen
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States.,Medicinal Chemistry Core, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - David R Stuart
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, 1719 SW 10 Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
| | - J Stone Doggett
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States.,School of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Michael K Riscoe
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Rolf W Winter
- VA Portland Healthcare System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
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32
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Effective Therapy Targeting Cytochrome bc1 Prevents Babesia Erythrocytic Development and Protects from Lethal Infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0066221. [PMID: 34152821 PMCID: PMC8370247 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00662-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
An effective strategy to control blood-borne diseases and prevent outbreak recrudescence involves targeting conserved metabolic processes that are essential for pathogen viability. One such target for Plasmodium and Babesia, the infectious agents of malaria and babesiosis, respectively, is the mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 protein complex, which can be inhibited by endochin-like quinolones (ELQ) and atovaquone. We used the tick-transmitted and culturable blood-borne pathogen Babesia duncani to evaluate the structure-activity relationship, safety, efficacy, and mode of action of ELQs. We identified a potent and highly selective ELQ prodrug (ELQ-502), which, alone or in combination with atovaquone, eliminates B. microti and B. duncani infections in vitro and in mouse models of parasitemia and lethal infection. The strong efficacy at low dose, excellent safety, bioavailability, and long half-life of this experimental therapy make it an ideal clinical candidate for the treatment of human infections caused by Babesia and its closely related apicomplexan parasites.
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33
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Tisnerat C, Dassonville-Klimpt A, Gosselet F, Sonnet P. Antimalarial drug discovery: from quinine to the most recent promising clinical drug candidates. Curr Med Chem 2021; 29:3326-3365. [PMID: 34344287 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210803152419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a tropical threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, resulting in 409,000 deaths in 2019. The delay of mortality and morbidity has been compounded by the widespread of drug resistant parasites from Southeast Asia since two decades. The emergence of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium in Africa, where most cases are accounted, highlights the urgent need for new medicines. In this effort, the World Health Organization and Medicines for Malaria Venture joined to define clear goals for novel therapies and characterized the target candidate profile. This ongoing search for new treatments is based on imperative labor in medicinal chemistry which is summarized here with particular attention to hit-to-lead optimizations, key properties, and modes of action of these novel antimalarial drugs. This review, after presenting the current antimalarial chemotherapy, from quinine to the latest marketed drugs, focuses in particular on recent advances of the most promising antimalarial candidates in clinical and preclinical phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Tisnerat
- AGIR UR4294, UFR de Pharmacie, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens. France
| | | | | | - Pascal Sonnet
- AGIR UR4294, UFR de Pharmacie, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens. France
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34
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Krollenbrock A, Li Y, Kelly JX, Riscoe MK. Robenidine Analogues Are Potent Antimalarials in Drug-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1956-1968. [PMID: 33724773 PMCID: PMC8273112 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Robenidine is a veterinary drug used in the poultry industry to treat coccidiosis
caused by parasites in the Eimeria genus. Though this compound and
related aminoguanidines have recently been studied in other pathogens, the chemotype has
not been systematically explored to optimize antimalarial activity despite the close
genetic relationship between Eimeria and Plasmodium
(both are members of the Apicomplexa phylum of unicellular, spore-forming parasites). In
this study, a series of aminoguanidine robenidine analogues was prepared and tested
in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum, including
multidrug-resistant strains. Selected compounds were further evaluated in
vivo against murine Plasmodium yoelii in mice. Iterative
structure–activity relationship studies led to the discovery of 1,
an aminoguanidine with excellent activity against drug-resistant malaria in
vitro and impressive in vivo efficacy with an
ED50 value of 0.25 mg/kg/day in a standard 4-day test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Krollenbrock
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 Sam Jackson Boulevard, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
- VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Yuexin Li
- VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Jane Xu Kelly
- VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Michael K. Riscoe
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 Sam Jackson Boulevard, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
- VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
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35
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Jackson MR, Cox KD, Baugh SDP, Wakeen L, Rashad AA, Lam PYS, Polyak B, Jorns MS. Discovery of a first-in-class inhibitor of sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase that protects against adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 118:1771-1784. [PMID: 34132787 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a potent signaling molecule that activates diverse cardioprotective pathways by posttranslational modification (persulfidation) of cysteine residues in upstream protein targets. Heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) exhibit low levels of H2S. Sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase (SQOR) catalyzes the first irreversible step in the metabolism of H2S and plays a key role in regulating H2S-mediated signaling. Our aim here was to discover a first-in-class inhibitor of human SQOR and evaluate its cardioprotective effect in an animal model of HFrEF. METHODS AND RESULTS We identified a potent inhibitor of human SQOR (STI1, IC50 = 29 nM) by high-throughput screening of a small-molecule library, followed by focused medicinal chemistry optimization and structure-based design. STI1 is a competitive inhibitor that binds with high selectivity to the coenzyme Q-binding pocket in SQOR. STI1 exhibited very low cytotoxicity and attenuated the hypertrophic response of neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells induced by neurohormonal stressors. A mouse HFrEF model was produced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Treatment of TAC mice with STI1 mitigated the development of cardiomegaly, pulmonary congestion, dilatation of the left ventricle, and cardiac fibrosis and decreased the pressure gradient across the aortic constriction. Moreover, STI1 dramatically improved survival, preserved cardiac function, and prevented the progression to HFrEF by impeding the transition from compensated to decompensated left ventricle hypertrophy. CONCLUSION We demonstrate that the coenzyme Q-binding pocket in human SQOR is a druggable target and establish proof of concept for the potential of SQOR inhibitors to provide a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of HFrEF. TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE In HFrEF there is a compelling need for new drugs that mitigate the pathological remodeling induced by injury and improve patient survival. This study identifies SQOR-inhibiting drugs as a promising first-in-class therapy for HFrEF patients. Due to the well-established protective properties of H2S-induced signaling in renal physiology and disease, this novel class of heart failure therapeutics may also address the large unmet need of therapies for approximately 50% of heart failure patients that have coexisting chronic renal dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Jackson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA
| | - Kristie D Cox
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA
| | - Simon D P Baugh
- Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, Inc. Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Luke Wakeen
- Department of Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA
| | - Adel A Rashad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA
| | - Patrick Y S Lam
- Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, Inc. Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Boris Polyak
- Department of Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA
| | - Marilyn Schuman Jorns
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA
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36
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Yang T, Ottilie S, Istvan ES, Godinez-Macias KP, Lukens AK, Baragaña B, Campo B, Walpole C, Niles JC, Chibale K, Dechering KJ, Llinás M, Lee MCS, Kato N, Wyllie S, McNamara CW, Gamo FJ, Burrows J, Fidock DA, Goldberg DE, Gilbert IH, Wirth DF, Winzeler EA. MalDA, Accelerating Malaria Drug Discovery. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:493-507. [PMID: 33648890 PMCID: PMC8261838 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The Malaria Drug Accelerator (MalDA) is a consortium of 15 leading scientific laboratories. The aim of MalDA is to improve and accelerate the early antimalarial drug discovery process by identifying new, essential, druggable targets. In addition, it seeks to produce early lead inhibitors that may be advanced into drug candidates suitable for preclinical development and subsequent clinical testing in humans. By sharing resources, including expertise, knowledge, materials, and reagents, the consortium strives to eliminate the structural barriers often encountered in the drug discovery process. Here we discuss the mission of the consortium and its scientific achievements, including the identification of new chemically and biologically validated targets, as well as future scientific directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Eva S Istvan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Karla P Godinez-Macias
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Amanda K Lukens
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Beatriz Baragaña
- Wellcome Center for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Chris Walpole
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Building 56-341, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02139-4307, USA
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | | | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Chemistry, Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16082, USA
| | - Marcus C S Lee
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Nobutaka Kato
- Global Health Drug Discovery Institute, Zhongguancun Dongsheng International Science Park, 1 North Yongtaizhuang Road, Beijing 100192, China
| | - Susan Wyllie
- Wellcome Center for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Case W McNamara
- Calibr, a division of The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Francisco Javier Gamo
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jeremy Burrows
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Ian H Gilbert
- Wellcome Center for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Dyann F Wirth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Monastyrskyi A, Brockmeyer F, LaCrue AN, Zhao Y, Maher SP, Maignan JR, Padin-Irizarry V, Sakhno YI, Parvatkar PT, Asakawa AH, Huang L, Casandra D, Mashkouri S, Kyle DE, Manetsch R. Aminoalkoxycarbonyloxymethyl Ether Prodrugs with a pH-Triggered Release Mechanism: A Case Study Improving the Solubility, Bioavailability, and Efficacy of Antimalarial 4(1 H)-Quinolones with Single Dose Cures. J Med Chem 2021; 64:6581-6595. [PMID: 33979164 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical and clinical development of numerous small molecules is prevented by their poor aqueous solubility, limited absorption, and oral bioavailability. Herein, we disclose a general prodrug approach that converts promising lead compounds into aminoalkoxycarbonyloxymethyl (amino AOCOM) ether-substituted analogues that display significantly improved aqueous solubility and enhanced oral bioavailability, restoring key requirements typical for drug candidate profiles. The prodrug is completely independent of biotransformations and animal-independent because it becomes an active compound via a pH-triggered intramolecular cyclization-elimination reaction. As a proof-of-concept, the utility of this novel amino AOCOM ether prodrug approach was demonstrated on an antimalarial compound series representing a variety of antimalarial 4(1H)-quinolones, which entered and failed preclinical development over the last decade. With the amino AOCOM ether prodrug moiety, the 3-aryl-4(1H)-quinolone preclinical candidate was shown to provide single-dose cures in a rodent malaria model at an oral dose of 3 mg/kg, without the use of an advanced formulation technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrii Monastyrskyi
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, CHE 205, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Fabian Brockmeyer
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 102 Hurtig Hall, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Alexis N LaCrue
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Suite 304, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Yingzhao Zhao
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 102 Hurtig Hall, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Steven P Maher
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Coverdell Center, Rm 370B, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Jordany R Maignan
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, CHE 205, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Vivian Padin-Irizarry
- Department of Biology, Clayton State University, 2000 Clayton State Boulevard, Morrow, Georgia 30260, United States.,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Coverdell Center, Rm 370B, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Yana I Sakhno
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, CHE 205, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Prakash T Parvatkar
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 102 Hurtig Hall, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ami H Asakawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 102 Hurtig Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Lili Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 102 Hurtig Hall, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Debora Casandra
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Suite 304, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Sherwin Mashkouri
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Suite 304, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Blvd, Suite 304, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States.,Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Coverdell Center, Rm 370B, 500 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Roman Manetsch
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, CHE 205, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 102 Hurtig Hall, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 102 Hurtig Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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38
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van Gisbergen MW, Zwilling E, Dubois LJ. Metabolic Rewiring in Radiation Oncology Toward Improving the Therapeutic Ratio. Front Oncol 2021; 11:653621. [PMID: 34041023 PMCID: PMC8143268 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.653621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To meet the anabolic demands of the proliferative potential of tumor cells, malignant cells tend to rewire their metabolic pathways. Although different types of malignant cells share this phenomenon, there is a large intracellular variability how these metabolic patterns are altered. Fortunately, differences in metabolic patterns between normal tissue and malignant cells can be exploited to increase the therapeutic ratio. Modulation of cellular metabolism to improve treatment outcome is an emerging field proposing a variety of promising strategies in primary tumor and metastatic lesion treatment. These strategies, capable of either sensitizing or protecting tissues, target either tumor or normal tissue and are often focused on modulating of tissue oxygenation, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilization, glucose metabolism, mitochondrial function and the redox balance. Several compounds or therapies are still in under (pre-)clinical development, while others are already used in clinical practice. Here, we describe different strategies from bench to bedside to optimize the therapeutic ratio through modulation of the cellular metabolism. This review gives an overview of the current state on development and the mechanism of action of modulators affecting cellular metabolism with the aim to improve the radiotherapy response on tumors or to protect the normal tissue and therefore contribute to an improved therapeutic ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marike W van Gisbergen
- The M-Lab, Department of Precision Medicine, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Dermatology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Emma Zwilling
- The M-Lab, Department of Precision Medicine, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Ludwig J Dubois
- The M-Lab, Department of Precision Medicine, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Rocamora F, Gupta P, Istvan ES, Luth MR, Carpenter EF, Kümpornsin K, Sasaki E, Calla J, Mittal N, Carolino K, Owen E, Llinás M, Ottilie S, Goldberg DE, Lee MCS, Winzeler EA. PfMFR3: A Multidrug-Resistant Modulator in Plasmodium falciparum. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:811-825. [PMID: 33715347 PMCID: PMC8042660 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
![]()
In
malaria, chemical genetics is a powerful method for assigning
function to uncharacterized genes. MMV085203 and GNF-Pf-3600 are two
structurally related napthoquinone phenotypic screening hits that
kill both blood- and sexual-stage P. falciparum parasites in the low nanomolar to low micromolar range. In order
to understand their mechanism of action, parasites from two different
genetic backgrounds were exposed to sublethal concentrations of MMV085203
and GNF-Pf-3600 until resistance emerged. Whole genome sequencing
revealed all 17 resistant clones acquired nonsynonymous mutations
in the gene encoding the orphan apicomplexan transporter PF3D7_0312500
(pfmfr3) predicted to encode a member of the major
facilitator superfamily (MFS). Disruption of pfmfr3 and testing against a panel of antimalarial compounds showed decreased
sensitivity to MMV085203 and GNF-Pf-3600 as well as other compounds
that have a mitochondrial mechanism of action. In contrast, mutations
in pfmfr3 provided no protection against compounds
that act in the food vacuole or the cytosol. A dihydroorotate dehydrogenase
rescue assay using transgenic parasite lines, however, indicated a
different mechanism of action for both MMV085203 and GNF-Pf-3600 than
the direct inhibition of cytochrome bc1. Green fluorescent protein
(GFP) tagging of PfMFR3 revealed that it localizes to the parasite
mitochondrion. Our data are consistent with PfMFR3 playing roles in
mitochondrial transport as well as drug resistance for clinically
relevant antimalarials that target the mitochondria. Furthermore,
given that pfmfr3 is naturally polymorphic, naturally
occurring mutations may lead to differential sensitivity to clinically
relevant compounds such as atovaquone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances Rocamora
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Purva Gupta
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, Medical and Research Sections, La Jolla, California 92161, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Eva S. Istvan
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Madeline R. Luth
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | | | | | - Erika Sasaki
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jaeson Calla
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Nimisha Mittal
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Krypton Carolino
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Edward Owen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Huck Center for Malaria Research, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Daniel E. Goldberg
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | | | - Elizabeth A. Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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40
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Recombinant Toxoplasma gondii Ribosomal Protein P2 Modulates the Functions of Murine Macrophages In Vitro and Provides Immunity against Acute Toxoplasmosis In Vivo. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9040357. [PMID: 33917244 PMCID: PMC8068005 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9040357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Almost every warm-blooded animal can be an intermediate host for Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii); there is still no efficient vaccine and medicine available for T. gondii infections. Detected on the surface of free tachyzoites of T. gondii, T. gondii ribosomal protein P2 (TgRPP2) has been identified as a target for protection against toxoplasmosis. In the present study, TgRPP2 was firstly expressed in a prokaryotic expression system, and the purified recombinant TgRPP2 (rTgRPP2) was characterized by its modulation effects on murine macrophages. Then, the purified rTgRPP2 was injected into mice to evaluate the immune protection of rTgRPP2. The results indicated that rTgRPP2 could bind to murine Ana-1 cells and showed good reactogenicity. After incubation with purified rTgRPP2, the proliferation, apoptosis, phagocytosis, nitric oxide (NO) production, and cytokines secreted by murine macrophages were modulated. Furthermore, the in vivo experiments indicated that animals immunized with rTgRPP2 could generate a significantly high level of antibodies, cytokines, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, leading to a prolonged survival time. All of the results indicated that murine macrophages could be regulated by rTgRPP2 and are essential for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Immunization with rTgRPP2 triggered significant protection, with prolonged survival time in a mice model of acute toxoplasmosis. Our results lend credibility to the idea that rTgRPP2 could be a potential target for drug design and vaccine development.
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Sharma B, Singh P, Singh AK, Awasthi SK. Advancement of chimeric hybrid drugs to cure malaria infection: An overview with special emphasis on endoperoxide pharmacophores. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 219:113408. [PMID: 33989911 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum resistant to artemisinin-based combination therapy has led to a situation of haste in the scientific and pharmaceutical communities. Sincere efforts are redirected towards finding alternative chemotherapeutic agents that are capable of combating multidrug-resistant parasite strains. Extensive research yielded the concept of "Chimeric Bitherapy (CB)" which involves the linking of two molecules with individual pharmacological activity and exhibit dual mode of action into a single hybrid molecule. Current research in this field seems to endorse hybrid molecules as the next-generation antimalarial drugs and are more effective compared to the multi-component drugs because of the lower occurrence of drug-drug adverse effects. This review is an attempt to congregate complete survey on endoperoxide based hybrid antiplasmodial molecules that will give glimpse on the future directions for successful development and discovery of useful antimalarial hybrid drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhawana Sharma
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Preeti Singh
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Ashawani Kumar Singh
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Satish K Awasthi
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India.
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Sarewicz M, Pintscher S, Pietras R, Borek A, Bujnowicz Ł, Hanke G, Cramer WA, Finazzi G, Osyczka A. Catalytic Reactions and Energy Conservation in the Cytochrome bc1 and b6f Complexes of Energy-Transducing Membranes. Chem Rev 2021; 121:2020-2108. [PMID: 33464892 PMCID: PMC7908018 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This review focuses on key components of respiratory and photosynthetic energy-transduction systems: the cytochrome bc1 and b6f (Cytbc1/b6f) membranous multisubunit homodimeric complexes. These remarkable molecular machines catalyze electron transfer from membranous quinones to water-soluble electron carriers (such as cytochromes c or plastocyanin), coupling electron flow to proton translocation across the energy-transducing membrane and contributing to the generation of a transmembrane electrochemical potential gradient, which powers cellular metabolism in the majority of living organisms. Cytsbc1/b6f share many similarities but also have significant differences. While decades of research have provided extensive knowledge on these enzymes, several important aspects of their molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. We summarize a broad range of structural, mechanistic, and physiological aspects required for function of Cytbc1/b6f, combining textbook fundamentals with new intriguing concepts that have emerged from more recent studies. The discussion covers but is not limited to (i) mechanisms of energy-conserving bifurcation of electron pathway and energy-wasting superoxide generation at the quinol oxidation site, (ii) the mechanism by which semiquinone is stabilized at the quinone reduction site, (iii) interactions with substrates and specific inhibitors, (iv) intermonomer electron transfer and the role of a dimeric complex, and (v) higher levels of organization and regulation that involve Cytsbc1/b6f. In addressing these topics, we point out existing uncertainties and controversies, which, as suggested, will drive further research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Sarewicz
- Department
of Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Sebastian Pintscher
- Department
of Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Rafał Pietras
- Department
of Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Arkadiusz Borek
- Department
of Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Łukasz Bujnowicz
- Department
of Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Guy Hanke
- School
of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen
Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, U.K.
| | - William A. Cramer
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 United States
| | - Giovanni Finazzi
- Laboratoire
de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Centre National Recherche Scientifique,
Commissariat Energie Atomique et Energies Alternatives, Institut National
Recherche l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement, 38054 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Artur Osyczka
- Department
of Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
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43
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Atypical Molecular Basis for Drug Resistance to Mitochondrial Function Inhibitors in Plasmodium falciparum. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.02143-20. [PMID: 33361312 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02143-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The continued emergence of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites hinders global attempts to eradicate malaria, emphasizing the need to identify new antimalarial drugs. Attractive targets for chemotherapeutic intervention are the cytochrome (cyt) bc 1 complex, which is an essential component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (mtETC) required for ubiquinone recycling and mitochondrially localized dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) critical for de novo pyrimidine synthesis. Despite the essentiality of this complex, resistance to a novel acridone class of compounds targeting cyt bc 1 was readily attained, resulting in a parasite strain (SB1-A6) that was panresistant to both mtETC and DHODH inhibitors. Here, we describe the molecular mechanism behind the resistance of the SB1-A6 parasite line, which lacks the common cyt bc 1 point mutations characteristic of resistance to mtETC inhibitors. Using Illumina whole-genome sequencing, we have identified both a copy number variation (∼2×) and a single-nucleotide polymorphism (C276F) associated with pfdhodh in SB1-A6. We have characterized the role of both genetic lesions by mimicking the copy number variation via episomal expression of pfdhodh and introducing the identified single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) using CRISPR-Cas9 and assessed their contributions to drug resistance. Although both of these genetic polymorphisms have been previously identified as contributing to both DSM-1 and atovaquone resistance, SB1-A6 represents a unique genotype in which both alterations are present in a single line, suggesting that the combination contributes to the panresistant phenotype. This novel mechanism of resistance to mtETC inhibition has critical implications for the development of future drugs targeting the bc 1 complex or de novo pyrimidine synthesis that could help guide future antimalarial combination therapies and reduce the rapid development of drug resistance in the field.
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44
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Huang Z, Li R, Tang T, Ling D, Wang M, Xu D, Sun M, Zheng L, Zhu F, Min H, Boonhok R, Ding Y, Wen Y, Chen Y, Li X, Chen Y, Liu T, Han J, Miao J, Fang Q, Cao Y, Tang Y, Cui J, Xu W, Cui L, Zhu J, Wong G, Li J, Jiang L. A novel multistage antiplasmodial inhibitor targeting Plasmodium falciparum histone deacetylase 1. Cell Discov 2020; 6:93. [PMID: 33311461 PMCID: PMC7733455 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-020-00215-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although artemisinin combination therapies have succeeded in reducing the global burden of malaria, multidrug resistance of the deadliest malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is emerging worldwide. Innovative antimalarial drugs that kill all life-cycle stages of malaria parasites are urgently needed. Here, we report the discovery of the compound JX21108 with broad antiplasmodial activity against multiple life-cycle stages of malaria parasites. JX21108 was developed from chemical optimization of quisinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor. We identified P. falciparum histone deacetylase 1 (PfHDAC1), an epigenetic regulator essential for parasite growth and invasion, as a molecular target of JX21108. PfHDAC1 knockdown leads to the downregulation of essential parasite genes, which is highly consistent with the transcriptomic changes induced by JX21108 treatment. Collectively, our data support that PfHDAC1 is a potential drug target for overcoming multidrug resistance and that JX21108 treats malaria and blocks parasite transmission simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghui Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Ruoxi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Tongke Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Dazheng Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Manjiong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Dandan Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, and Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, China
| | - Maoxin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Lulu Zheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Hui Min
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Rachasak Boonhok
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Yan Ding
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yuhao Wen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yicong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xiaokang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China
| | - Taiping Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jiping Han
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jun Miao
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Qiang Fang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, and Anhui Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, China
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China
| | - Yun Tang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jie Cui
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wenyue Xu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Gary Wong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Lubin Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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Silva MG, Bastos RG, Stone Doggett J, Riscoe MK, Pou S, Winter R, Dodean RA, Nilsen A, Suarez CE. Endochin-like quinolone-300 and ELQ-316 inhibit Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, B. caballi and Theileria equi. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:606. [PMID: 33272316 PMCID: PMC7712603 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04487-3] [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: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The most common apicomplexan parasites causing bovine babesiosis are Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, while B. caballi and Theileria equi are responsible for equine piroplasmosis. Treatment and control of these diseases are usually achieved using potentially toxic chemotherapeutics, such as imidocarb diproprionate, but drug-resistant parasites are emerging, and alternative effective and safer drugs are needed. The endochin-like quinolones (ELQ)-300 and ELQ-316 have been proven to be safe and efficacious against related apicomplexans, such as Plasmodium spp., with ELQ-316 also being effective against Babesia microti, without showing toxicity in mammals. Methods The inhibitory effects of ELQ-300 and ELQ-316 were assessed on the growth of cultured B. bovis, B. bigemina, B. caballi and T. equi. The percentage of parasitized erythrocytes was measured by flow cytometry, and the effect of the ELQ compounds on the viability of horse and bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was assessed by monitoring cell metabolic activity using a colorimetric assay. Results We calculated the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 72 h, which ranged from 0.04 to 0.37 nM for ELQ-300, and from 0.002 to 0.1 nM for ELQ-316 among all cultured parasites tested at 72 h. None of the parasites tested were able to replicate in cultures in the presence of ELQ-300 and ELQ-316 at the maximal inhibitory concentration (IC100), which ranged from 1.3 to 5.7 nM for ELQ-300 and from 1.0 to 6.0 nM for ELQ-316 at 72 h. Neither ELQ-300 nor ELQ-316 altered the viability of equine and bovine PBMC at their IC100 in in vitro testing. Conclusions The compounds ELQ-300 and ELQ-316 showed significant inhibitory activity on the main parasites responsible for bovine babesiosis and equine piroplasmosis at doses that are tolerable to host cells. These ELQ drugs may be viable candidates for developing alternative protocols for the treatment of bovine babesiosis and equine piroplasmosis. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta G Silva
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Reginaldo G Bastos
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - J Stone Doggett
- Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Blvd., Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA
| | - Michael K Riscoe
- Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Blvd., Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA
| | - Sovitj Pou
- VA Portland Health Care System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Rolf Winter
- VA Portland Health Care System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Rozalia A Dodean
- VA Portland Health Care System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Aaron Nilsen
- Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Blvd., Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA.,VA Portland Health Care System, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Carlos E Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. .,Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, WSU, Pullman, WA, USA.
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46
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Fisher N, Meunier B, Biagini GA. The cytochrome bc 1 complex as an antipathogenic target. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:2935-2952. [PMID: 32573760 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The cytochrome bc1 complex is a key component of the mitochondrial respiratory chains of many eukaryotic microorganisms that are pathogenic for plants or humans, such as fungi responsible for crop diseases and Plasmodium falciparum, which causes human malaria. Cytochrome bc1 is an enzyme that contains two (ubi)quinone/quinol-binding sites, which can be exploited for the development of fungicidal and chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we review recent progress in determination of the structure and mechanism of action of cytochrome bc1 , and the associated development of antimicrobial agents (and associated resistance mechanisms) targeting its activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Fisher
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Brigitte Meunier
- CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Giancarlo A Biagini
- Parasitology Department, Research Centre for Drugs & Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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47
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Orally Bioavailable Endochin-Like Quinolone Carbonate Ester Prodrug Reduces Toxoplasma gondii Brain Cysts. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00535-20. [PMID: 32540978 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00535-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a potentially fatal infection for immunocompromised people and the developing fetus. Current medicines for toxoplasmosis have high rates of adverse effects that interfere with therapeutic and prophylactic regimens. Endochin-like quinolones (ELQs) are potent inhibitors of Toxoplasma gondii proliferation in vitro and in animal models of acute and latent infection. ELQ-316, in particular, was found to be effective orally against acute toxoplasmosis in mice and highly selective for T. gondii cytochrome b over human cytochrome b Despite its oral efficacy, the high crystallinity of ELQ-316 limits oral absorption, plasma concentrations, and therapeutic potential. A carbonate ester prodrug of ELQ-316, ELQ-334, was created to decrease crystallinity and increase oral bioavailability, which resulted in a 6-fold increase in both the maximum plasma concentration (C max) and the area under the curve (AUC) of ELQ-316. The increased bioavailability of ELQ-316, when administered as ELQ-334, resulted in efficacy against acute toxoplasmosis greater than that of an equivalent dose of ELQ-316 and had efficacy against latent toxoplasmosis similar to that of ELQ-316 administered intraperitoneally. Treatment with carbonate ester prodrugs is a successful strategy to overcome the limited oral bioavailability of ELQs for the treatment of toxoplasmosis.
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Kancharla P, Dodean RA, Li Y, Pou S, Pybus B, Melendez V, Read L, Bane CE, Vesely B, Kreishman-Deitrick M, Black C, Li Q, Sciotti RJ, Olmeda R, Luong TL, Gaona H, Potter B, Sousa J, Marcsisin S, Caridha D, Xie L, Vuong C, Zeng Q, Zhang J, Zhang P, Lin H, Butler K, Roncal N, Gaynor-Ohnstad L, Leed SE, Nolan C, Ceja FG, Rasmussen SA, Tumwebaze PK, Rosenthal PJ, Mu J, Bayles BR, Cooper RA, Reynolds KA, Smilkstein MJ, Riscoe MK, Kelly JX. Lead Optimization of Second-Generation Acridones as Broad-Spectrum Antimalarials. J Med Chem 2020; 63:6179-6202. [PMID: 32390431 PMCID: PMC7354843 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The global impact of malaria remains staggering despite extensive efforts to eradicate the disease. With increasing drug resistance and the absence of a clinically available vaccine, there is an urgent need for novel, affordable, and safe drugs for prevention and treatment of malaria. Previously, we described a novel antimalarial acridone chemotype that is potent against both blood-stage and liver-stage malaria parasites. Here, we describe an optimization process that has produced a second-generation acridone series with significant improvements in efficacy, metabolic stability, pharmacokinetics, and safety profiles. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of dual-stage targeting acridones as novel drug candidates for further preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Papireddy Kancharla
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
| | - Rozalia A. Dodean
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Yuexin Li
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Sovitj Pou
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Brandon Pybus
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Victor Melendez
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Lisa Read
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Charles E. Bane
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Brian Vesely
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Mara Kreishman-Deitrick
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Chad Black
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Qigui Li
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Richard J. Sciotti
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Raul Olmeda
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Thu-Lan Luong
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Heather Gaona
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Brittney Potter
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Jason Sousa
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Sean Marcsisin
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Diana Caridha
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Lisa Xie
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Chau Vuong
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Jing Zhang
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Ping Zhang
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Hsiuling Lin
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Kirk Butler
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Norma Roncal
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Lacy Gaynor-Ohnstad
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Susan E. Leed
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Christina Nolan
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, United States
| | - Frida G. Ceja
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | - Stephanie A. Rasmussen
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | | | - Philip J. Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States
| | - Jianbing Mu
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20852, USA
| | - Brett R. Bayles
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
- Global Public Health Program, Dominican University of California, San Rafael CA 94901
| | - Roland A. Cooper
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA 94901, United States
| | - Kevin A. Reynolds
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
| | - Martin J. Smilkstein
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Michael K. Riscoe
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Jane X. Kelly
- Department of Chemistry, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
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Abstract
As the world gets closer to eliminating malaria, the scientific community worldwide has begun to realize the importance of malaria transmission-blocking interventions. The onus of breaking the life cycle of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum predominantly rests upon transmission-blocking drugs because of emerging resistance to commonly used schizonticides and insecticides. This third part of our review series on malaria transmission-blocking entails transmission-blocking potential of preclinical transmission-blocking antimalarials and other non-malaria drugs/experimental compounds that are not in clinical or preclinical development for malaria but possess transmission-blocking potential. Collective analysis of the structure and the activity of these experimental compounds might pave the way toward generation of novel prototypes of next-generation transmission-blocking drugs.
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Novel Endochin-Like Quinolones Exhibit Potent In Vitro Activity against Plasmodium knowlesi but Do Not Synergize with Proguanil. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.02549-19. [PMID: 32094134 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02549-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Quinolones, such as the antimalarial atovaquone, are inhibitors of the malarial mitochondrial cytochrome bc 1 complex, a target critical to the survival of both liver- and blood-stage parasites, making these drugs useful as both prophylaxis and treatment. Recently, several derivatives of endochin have been optimized to produce novel quinolones that are active in vitro and in animal models. While these quinolones exhibit potent ex vivo activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, their activity against the zoonotic agent Plasmodium knowlesi is unknown. We screened several of these novel endochin-like quinolones (ELQs) for their activity against P. knowlesi in vitro and compared this with their activity against P. falciparum tested under identical conditions. We demonstrated that ELQs are potent against P. knowlesi (50% effective concentration, <117 nM) and equally effective against P. falciparum We then screened selected quinolones and partner drugs using a longer exposure (2.5 life cycles) and found that proguanil is 10-fold less potent against P. knowlesi than P. falciparum, while the quinolones demonstrate similar potency. Finally, we used isobologram analysis to compare combinations of the ELQs with either proguanil or atovaquone. We show that all quinolone combinations with proguanil are synergistic against P. falciparum However, against P. knowlesi, no evidence of synergy between proguanil and the quinolones was found. Importantly, the combination of the novel quinolone ELQ-300 with atovaquone was synergistic against both species. Our data identify potentially important species differences in proguanil susceptibility and in the interaction of proguanil with quinolones and support the ongoing development of novel quinolones as potent antimalarials that target multiple species.
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