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Sundararaman SA, Miller JJ, Daley EC, O'Brien KA, Kasak P, Daniels AM, Edwards RL, Heidel KM, Bague DA, Wilson MA, Koelper AJ, Kourtoglou EC, White AD, August SA, Apple GA, Rouamba RW, Durand AJ, Esteb JJ, Muller FL, Johnson RJ, Hoops GC, Dowd CS, Odom John AR. Prodrug activation in malaria parasites mediated by an imported erythrocyte esterase, acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.30.610542. [PMID: 39257815 PMCID: PMC11383709 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.30.610542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
The continued emergence of antimalarial drug resistance highlights the need to develop new antimalarial therapies. Unfortunately, new drug development is often hampered by poor drug-like properties of lead compounds. Prodrugging temporarily masks undesirable compound features, improving bioavailability and target penetration. We have found that lipophilic diester prodrugs of phosphonic acid antibiotics, such as fosmidomycin, exhibit significantly higher antimalarial potency than their parent compounds (1). However, the activating enzymes for these prodrugs were unknown. Here, we show that an erythrocyte enzyme, acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH) is the major activating enzyme of multiple lipophilic ester prodrugs. Surprisingly, this enzyme is taken up by the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, where it localizes to the parasite cytoplasm and retains enzymatic activity. Using a novel fluorogenic ester library, we characterize the structure activity relationship of APEH, and compare it to that of P. falciparum esterases. We show that parasite-internalized APEH plays an important role in the activation of substrates with branching at the alpha carbon, in keeping with its exopeptidase activity. Our findings highlight a novel mechanism for antimicrobial prodrug activation, relying on a host-derived enzyme to yield activation at a microbial target. Mutations in prodrug activating enzymes are a common mechanism for antimicrobial drug resistance (2-4). Leveraging an internalized host enzyme would circumvent this, enabling the design of prodrugs with higher barriers to drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Sundararaman
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J J Miller
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - E C Daley
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - K A O'Brien
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - P Kasak
- College of Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - A M Daniels
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - R L Edwards
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- Omniose, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - K M Heidel
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington DC, USA
| | - D A Bague
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington DC, USA
| | - M A Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - A J Koelper
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - E C Kourtoglou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - A D White
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - S A August
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - G A Apple
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - R W Rouamba
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - A J Durand
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - J J Esteb
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - F L Muller
- Lindonlight Collective, Houston, TX, USA
| | - R J Johnson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - G C Hoops
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - C S Dowd
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington DC, USA
| | - A R Odom John
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Wu X, Bu M, Yang Z, Ping H, Song C, Duan J, Zhang A. Design and synthesis of fosmidomycin analogs containing aza-linkers and their biological activity evaluation. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:846-856. [PMID: 37794283 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The enzymes involved in the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway are attractive targets of a new mode of action for developing anti-infective drugs and herbicides, and inhibitors against 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (IspC), the second key enzyme in the pathway, have been intensively investigated; however, few works are reported regarding IspC inhibitors designed for new herbicide discovery. RESULTS A series of fosmidomycin (FOS) analogs were designed with nitrogen-containing linkers replacing the trimethylene linker between the two active substructures of FOS, phosphonic acid and hydroxamic acid. Synthesis followed a facile three-step route of sequential aza-Michael addition of α-amino acids to dibenzyl vinylphosphonate, amidation of the amino acid carboxyl with O-benzyl hydroxylamine, and simultaneous removal of the benzyl protective groups. Biological activity evaluation of IspC and model plants revealed that some compounds had moderate enzyme and model plant growth inhibition effects. In particular, compound 10g, which has a N-(4-fluorophenylethyl) nitrogen-containing linker, exhibited the best plant inhibition activities, superior to the control FOS against the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napus L., Amaranthus retroflexus and Echinochloa crus-galli. A dimethylallyl pyrophosphate rescue assay on A. thaliana confirmed that both 10g and FOS exert their herbicidal activity by blocking the MEP pathway. This result consistent with molecular docking, which confirmed 10g and FOS binding to the IspC active site in a similar way. CONCLUSION Compound 10g has excellent herbicidal activity and represents the first herbicide lead structure of a new mode of action that targets IspC enzyme in the MEP pathway. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengwei Bu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zili Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongrui Ping
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunlin Song
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiang Duan
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Aidong Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
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Crispim M, Verdaguer IB, Hernández A, Kronenberger T, Fenollar À, Yamaguchi LF, Alberione MP, Ramirez M, de Oliveira SS, Katzin AM, Izquierdo L. Beyond the MEP Pathway: A novel kinase required for prenol utilization by malaria parasites. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011557. [PMID: 38277417 PMCID: PMC10849223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A proposed treatment for malaria is a combination of fosmidomycin and clindamycin. Both compounds inhibit the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, the parasitic source of farnesyl and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (FPP and GGPP, respectively). Both FPP and GGPP are crucial for the biosynthesis of several essential metabolites such as ubiquinone and dolichol, as well as for protein prenylation. Dietary prenols, such as farnesol (FOH) and geranylgeraniol (GGOH), can rescue parasites from MEP inhibitors, suggesting the existence of a missing pathway for prenol salvage via phosphorylation. In this study, we identified a gene in the genome of P. falciparum, encoding a transmembrane prenol kinase (PolK) involved in the salvage of FOH and GGOH. The enzyme was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and its FOH/GGOH kinase activities were experimentally validated. Furthermore, conditional knockout parasites (Δ-PolK) were created to investigate the biological importance of the FOH/GGOH salvage pathway. Δ-PolK parasites were viable but displayed increased susceptibility to fosmidomycin. Their sensitivity to MEP inhibitors could not be rescued by adding prenols. Additionally, Δ-PolK parasites lost their capability to utilize prenols for protein prenylation. Experiments using culture medium supplemented with whole/delipidated human plasma in transgenic parasites revealed that human plasma has components that can diminish the effectiveness of fosmidomycin. Mass spectrometry tests indicated that both bovine supplements used in culture and human plasma contain GGOH. These findings suggest that the FOH/GGOH salvage pathway might offer an alternate source of isoprenoids for malaria parasites when de novo biosynthesis is inhibited. This study also identifies a novel kind of enzyme related to isoprenoid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcell Crispim
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ignasi Bofill Verdaguer
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Agustín Hernández
- Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Integrated Unit for Research in Biodiversity (BIOTROP-CCBS), Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tuebingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Excellence Cluster "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections" (CMFI), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Àngel Fenollar
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - María Pía Alberione
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miriam Ramirez
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Alejandro Miguel Katzin
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
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Xie SC, Griffin MDW, Winzeler EA, Ribas de Pouplana L, Tilley L. Targeting Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetases for Antimalarial Drug Development. Annu Rev Microbiol 2023; 77:111-129. [PMID: 37018842 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-032421-121210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Infections caused by malaria parasites place an enormous burden on the world's poorest communities. Breakthrough drugs with novel mechanisms of action are urgently needed. As an organism that undergoes rapid growth and division, the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is highly reliant on protein synthesis, which in turn requires aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) to charge tRNAs with their corresponding amino acid. Protein translation is required at all stages of the parasite life cycle; thus, aaRS inhibitors have the potential for whole-of-life-cycle antimalarial activity. This review focuses on efforts to identify potent plasmodium-specific aaRS inhibitors using phenotypic screening, target validation, and structure-guided drug design. Recent work reveals that aaRSs are susceptible targets for a class of AMP-mimicking nucleoside sulfamates that target the enzymes via a novel reaction hijacking mechanism. This finding opens up the possibility of generating bespoke inhibitors of different aaRSs, providing new drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley C Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; , ,
| | - Michael D W Griffin
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; , ,
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA;
| | - Lluis Ribas de Pouplana
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain;
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Leann Tilley
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; , ,
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5
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Elahi R, Prigge ST. New insights into apicoplast metabolism in blood-stage malaria parasites. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 71:102255. [PMID: 36563485 PMCID: PMC9852000 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102255] [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: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The apicoplast of Plasmodium falciparum is the only source of essential isoprenoid precursors and Coenzyme A (CoA) in the parasite. Isoprenoid precursor synthesis relies on the iron-sulfur cluster (FeS) cofactors produced within the apicoplast, rendering FeS synthesis an essential function of this organelle. Recent reports provide important insights into the roles of FeS cofactors and the use of isoprenoid precursors and CoA both inside and outside the apicoplast. Here, we review the recent insights into the roles of these metabolites in blood-stage malaria parasites and discuss new questions that have been raised in light of these discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubayet Elahi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sean T Prigge
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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6
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Over 40 Years of Fosmidomycin Drug Research: A Comprehensive Review and Future Opportunities. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15121553. [PMID: 36559004 PMCID: PMC9782300 DOI: 10.3390/ph15121553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
To address the continued rise of multi-drug-resistant microorganisms, the development of novel drugs with new modes of action is urgently required. While humans biosynthesize the essential isoprenoid precursors isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) via the established mevalonate pathway, pathogenic protozoa and certain pathogenic eubacteria use the less well-known methylerythritol phosphate pathway for this purpose. Important pathogens using the MEP pathway are, for example, Plasmodium falciparum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The enzymes of that pathway are targets for antiinfective drugs that are exempt from target-related toxicity. 2C-Methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP), the second enzyme of the non-mevalonate pathway, has been established as the molecular target of fosmidomycin, an antibiotic that has so far failed to be approved as an anti-infective drug. This review describes the development and anti-infective properties of a wide range of fosmidomycin derivatives synthesized over the last four decades. Here we discuss the DXR inhibitor pharmacophore, which comprises a metal-binding group, a phosphate or phosphonate moiety and a connecting linker. Furthermore, non-fosmidomycin-based DXRi, bisubstrate inhibitors and several prodrug concepts are described. A comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) of nearly all inhibitor types is presented and some novel opportunities for further drug development of DXR inhibitors are discussed.
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7
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Bofill Verdaguer I, Sussmann RAC, Santiago VF, Palmisano G, Moura GC, Mesquita JT, Yamaguchi LF, Kato MJ, Katzin AM, Crispim M. Isoprenoid alcohols utilization by malaria parasites. Front Chem 2022; 10:1035548. [PMID: 36531309 PMCID: PMC9751614 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1035548] [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: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum is the etiological agent of human malaria, one of the most widespread diseases in tropical and subtropical regions. Drug resistance is one of the biggest problems in controlling the disease, which leads to the need to discover new antimalarial compounds. One of the most promissory drugs purposed is fosmidomycin, an inhibitor of the biosynthesis of isoprene units by the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, which in some cases failed in clinical studies. Once formed, isoprene units are condensed to form longer structures such as farnesyl and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, which are necessary for Heme O and A formation, ubiquinone, and dolichyl phosphate biosynthesis as well as for protein isoprenylation. Even though the natural substrates of polyprenyl transferases and synthases are polyprenyl pyrophosphates, it was already demonstrated that isoprenoid alcohols (polyprenols) such as farnesol (FOH) and geranylgeraniol (GGOH) can rescue parasites from fosmidomycin. This study better investigated how this rescue phenomenon occurs by performing drug-rescue assays. Similarly, to FOH and GGOH, it was observed that phytol (POH), a 20-carbon plant isoprenoid, as well as unsaponifiable lipid extracts from foods rescue parasites from the antimalarial effect of fosmidomycin. Contrarily, neither dolichols nor nonaprenol rescue parasites from fosmidomycin. Considering this, here we characterized the transport of FOH, GGOH, and POH. Once incorporated, it was observed that these substances are phosphorylated, condensed into longer isoprenoid alcohols, and incorporated into proteins and dolichyl phosphates. Through proteomic and radiolabelling approaches, it was found that prenylated proteins are naturally attached to several isoprenoids, derived from GGOH, dolichol, and POH if exogenously added. Furthermore, the results suggest the presence of at least two promiscuous protein prenyltransferases in the parasite: one enzyme which can use FPP among other unidentified substrates and another enzyme that can use GGPP, phytyl pyrophosphate (PPP), and dolichols, among other substrates not identified here. Thus, further evidence was obtained for dolichols and other isoprenoid products attached to proteins. This study helps to better understand the apicoplast-targeting antimalarial mechanism of action and a novel post-translational modification of proteins in P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignasi Bofill Verdaguer
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo A C Sussmann
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center for Environmental Sciences, Institute of Humanities, Arts and Sciences, Federal University of Southern Bahia, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Verônica Feijoli Santiago
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Cândido Moura
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Tonini Mesquita
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lydia Fumiko Yamaguchi
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Massuo Jorge Kato
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alejandro Miguel Katzin
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcell Crispim
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Dreneau A, Krebs FS, Munier M, Ngov C, Tritsch D, Lièvremont D, Rohmer M, Grosdemange-Billiard C. α,α-Difluorophosphonohydroxamic Acid Derivatives among the Best Antibacterial Fosmidomycin Analogues. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26165111. [PMID: 34443699 PMCID: PMC8397956 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26165111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Three α,α-difluorophosphonate derivatives of fosmidomycin were synthesized from diethyl 1,1-difluorobut-3-enylphosphonate and were evaluated on Escherichia coli. Two of them are among the best 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase inhibitors, with IC50 in the nM range, much better than fosmidomycin, the reference compound. They also showed an enhanced antimicrobial activity against E. coli on Petri dishes in comparison with the corresponding phosphates and the non-fluorinated phosphonate.
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9
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Pessanha de Carvalho L, Kreidenweiss A, Held J. Drug Repurposing: A Review of Old and New Antibiotics for the Treatment of Malaria: Identifying Antibiotics with a Fast Onset of Antiplasmodial Action. Molecules 2021; 26:2304. [PMID: 33921170 PMCID: PMC8071546 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is one of the most life-threatening infectious diseases and constitutes a major health problem, especially in Africa. Although artemisinin combination therapies remain efficacious to treat malaria, the emergence of resistant parasites emphasizes the urgent need of new alternative chemotherapies. One strategy is the repurposing of existing drugs. Herein, we reviewed the antimalarial effects of marketed antibiotics, and described in detail the fast-acting antibiotics that showed activity in nanomolar concentrations. Antibiotics have been used for prophylaxis and treatment of malaria for many years and are of particular interest because they might exert a different mode of action than current antimalarials, and can be used simultaneously to treat concomitant bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lais Pessanha de Carvalho
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany; (L.P.d.C.); (A.K.)
| | - Andrea Kreidenweiss
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany; (L.P.d.C.); (A.K.)
- Centre de Recherches Medicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné BP 242, Gabon
| | - Jana Held
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany; (L.P.d.C.); (A.K.)
- Centre de Recherches Medicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Lambaréné BP 242, Gabon
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10
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Abstract
The scientific community worldwide has realized that malaria elimination will not be possible without development of safe and effective transmission-blocking interventions. Primaquine, the only WHO recommended transmission-blocking drug, is not extensively utilized because of the toxicity issues in G6PD deficient individuals. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic interventions that can target malaria parasites and effectively block transmission. But at first, it is imperative to unravel the existing portfolio of transmission-blocking drugs. This review highlights transmission-blocking potential of current antimalarial drugs and drugs that are in various stages of clinical development. The collective analysis of the relationships between the structure and the activity of transmission-blocking drugs is expected to help in the design of new transmission-blocking antimalarials.
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11
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Mombo-Ngoma G, Remppis J, Sievers M, Zoleko Manego R, Endamne L, Kabwende L, Veletzky L, Nguyen TT, Groger M, Lötsch F, Mischlinger J, Flohr L, Kim J, Cattaneo C, Hutchinson D, Duparc S, Moehrle J, Velavan TP, Lell B, Ramharter M, Adegnika AA, Mordmüller B, Kremsner PG. Efficacy and Safety of Fosmidomycin-Piperaquine as Nonartemisinin-Based Combination Therapy for Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria: A Single-Arm, Age De-escalation Proof-of-Concept Study in Gabon. Clin Infect Dis 2019; 66:1823-1830. [PMID: 29293893 PMCID: PMC5982710 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix1122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fosmidomycin–piperaquine is being developed as nonartemisinin-based combination therapy to meet the challenge of emerging artemisinin resistance. Methods The study was a phase 2, single-arm, proof-of-concept study of the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of fosmidomycin–piperaquine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum monoinfection in Gabon. Adults and children of both sexes with initial parasite counts between 1000 and 150000/µL received oral treatment with fosmidomycin (twice daily doses of 30 mg/kg) and piperaquine (once daily dose of 16 mg/kg) for 3 days and followed-up for 63 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was the per-protocol polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–corrected day 28 adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR). Results One hundred patients were enrolled. The PCR-corrected day 28 ACPR rate was 83/83, or 100% (95% confidence interval, 96–100). Fourteen patients had asexual parasitaemia between day 28 and day 63; all were typed by PCR as new infections. Fosmidomycin–piperaquine therapy led to rapid parasite clearance (median, 36 hours; interquartile range [IQR], 6–60) and fever clearance time (median, 12 hours; IQR, 6–48). The electrocardiogram assessments showed 2 patients with prolonged QT interval >500 msec following study drug administration. The majority of adverse events affected the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and were transient and mild to moderate in severity. Conclusions This is the first report of the use of the combination fosmidomycin–piperaquine. The combination appeared to have high efficacy and be safe and well tolerated despite observed transient changes in electrocardiogram with prolongation of the QT interval. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02198807.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Université des Sciences de la Santé, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan Remppis
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Sievers
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rella Zoleko Manego
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lilian Endamne
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lumeka Kabwende
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Luzia Veletzky
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - The Trong Nguyen
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mirjam Groger
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felix Lötsch
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Mischlinger
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lena Flohr
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johanna Kim
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Chiara Cattaneo
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - David Hutchinson
- DMG Deutsche Malaria GmbH, formerly Jomaa Pharma GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Thirumalaisamy P Velavan
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany.,Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, Hanoi and Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University DaNang, Vietnam
| | - Bertrand Lell
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Ramharter
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany.,Bernhard Nocht Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Ayola Akim Adegnika
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Mordmüller
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter G Kremsner
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Libreville, Gabon.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, and German Centre for Infection Research, Hamburg, Germany
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12
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Edwards RL, Brothers RC, Wang X, Maron MI, Ziniel PD, Tsang PS, Kraft TE, Hruz PW, Williamson KC, Dowd CS, John ARO. MEPicides: potent antimalarial prodrugs targeting isoprenoid biosynthesis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8400. [PMID: 28827774 PMCID: PMC5567135 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07159-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistant to frontline therapeutics has prompted efforts to identify and validate agents with novel mechanisms of action. MEPicides represent a new class of antimalarials that inhibit enzymes of the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis, including the clinically validated target, deoxyxylulose phosphate reductoisomerase (Dxr). Here we describe RCB-185, a lipophilic prodrug with nanomolar activity against asexual parasites. Growth of P. falciparum treated with RCB-185 was rescued by isoprenoid precursor supplementation, and treatment substantially reduced metabolite levels downstream of the Dxr enzyme. In addition, parasites that produced higher levels of the Dxr substrate were resistant to RCB-185. Notably, environmental isolates resistant to current therapies remained sensitive to RCB-185, the compound effectively treated sexually-committed parasites, and was both safe and efficacious in malaria-infected mice. Collectively, our data demonstrate that RCB-185 potently and selectively inhibits Dxr in P. falciparum, and represents a promising lead compound for further drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Edwards
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Robert C Brothers
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Maxim I Maron
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Peter D Ziniel
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Patricia S Tsang
- Tuberculosis Research Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas E Kraft
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center, Munich, Nonnenwald, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Paul W Hruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kim C Williamson
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Cynthia S Dowd
- Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Audrey R Odom John
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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13
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Amberg-Johnson K, Hari SB, Ganesan SM, Lorenzi HA, Sauer RT, Niles JC, Yeh E. Small molecule inhibition of apicomplexan FtsH1 disrupts plastid biogenesis in human pathogens. eLife 2017; 6:29865. [PMID: 28826494 PMCID: PMC5576918 DOI: 10.7554/elife.29865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and related apicomplexan pathogens contain an essential plastid organelle, the apicoplast, which is a key anti-parasitic target. Derived from secondary endosymbiosis, the apicoplast depends on novel, but largely cryptic, mechanisms for protein/lipid import and organelle inheritance during parasite replication. These critical biogenesis pathways present untapped opportunities to discover new parasite-specific drug targets. We used an innovative screen to identify actinonin as having a novel mechanism-of-action inhibiting apicoplast biogenesis. Resistant mutation, chemical-genetic interaction, and biochemical inhibition demonstrate that the unexpected target of actinonin in P. falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii is FtsH1, a homolog of a bacterial membrane AAA+ metalloprotease. PfFtsH1 is the first novel factor required for apicoplast biogenesis identified in a phenotypic screen. Our findings demonstrate that FtsH1 is a novel and, importantly, druggable antimalarial target. Development of FtsH1 inhibitors will have significant advantages with improved drug kinetics and multistage efficacy against multiple human parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Amberg-Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford Medical School, Stanford, United States.,Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford Medical School, Stanford, United States
| | - Sanjay B Hari
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Suresh M Ganesan
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Hernan A Lorenzi
- Department of Infectious Disease, The J. Craig Venter Institute, Maryland, United States
| | - Robert T Sauer
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Ellen Yeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford Medical School, Stanford, United States.,Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford Medical School, Stanford, United States.,Department of Pathology, Stanford Medical School, Stanford, United States
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14
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Luo G, Li B, Li LG, Zhang T, Angelidaki I. Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Correlations with Microbial Community and Metal Resistance Genes in Full-Scale Biogas Reactors As Revealed by Metagenomic Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:4069-4080. [PMID: 28272884 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b05100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Digested residues from biogas plants are often used as biofertilizers for agricultural crops cultivation. The antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in digested residues pose a high risk to public health due to their potential spread to the disease-causing microorganisms and thus reduce the susceptibility of disease-causing microorganisms to antibiotics in medical treatment. A high-throughput sequencing (HTS)-based metagenomic approach was used in the present study to investigate the variations of ARGs in full-scale biogas reactors and the correlations of ARGs with microbial communities and metal resistance genes (MRGs). The total abundance of ARGs in all the samples varied from 7 × 10-3 to 1.08 × 10-1 copy of ARG/copy of 16S-rRNA gene, and the samples obtained from thermophilic biogas reactors had a lower total abundance of ARGs, indicating the superiority of thermophilic anaerobic digestion for ARGs removal. ARGs in all the samples were composed of 175 ARG subtypes; however, only 7 ARG subtypes were shared by all the samples. Principal component analysis and canonical correspondence analysis clustered the samples into three groups (samples from manure-based mesophilic reactors, manure-based thermophilic reactors, and sludge-based mesophilic reactors), and substrate, temperature, and hydraulic retention time (HRT) as well as volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were identified as crucial environmental variables affecting the ARGs compositions. Procrustes analysis revealed microbial community composition was the determinant of ARGs composition in biogas reactors, and there was also a significant correlation between ARGs composition and MRGs composition. Network analysis further revealed the co-occurrence of ARGs with specific microorganisms and MRGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Luo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University , 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Li
- Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control of Shenzhen, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University , Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Li-Guan Li
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Irini Angelidaki
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark , DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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15
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Sooriyaarachchi S, Chofor R, Risseeuw MDP, Bergfors T, Pouyez J, Dowd CS, Maes L, Wouters J, Jones TA, Van Calenbergh S, Mowbray SL. Targeting an Aromatic Hotspot in Plasmodium falciparum
1-Deoxy-d
-xylulose-5-phosphate Reductoisomerase with β-Arylpropyl Analogues of Fosmidomycin. ChemMedChem 2016; 11:2024-36. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201600249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeewani Sooriyaarachchi
- Science for Life Laboratory; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology; Uppsala University; Biomedical Center; Box 596 751 24 Uppsala Sweden
| | - René Chofor
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (FFW); Gent University; Ottergemsesteenweg 460 9000 Gent Belgium
| | - Martijn D. P. Risseeuw
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (FFW); Gent University; Ottergemsesteenweg 460 9000 Gent Belgium
| | - Terese Bergfors
- Science for Life Laboratory; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology; Uppsala University; Biomedical Center; Box 596 751 24 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Jenny Pouyez
- Department of Chemistry; University of Namur; Rue de Bruxelles 61 5000 Namur Belgium
| | - Cynthia S. Dowd
- Department of Chemistry; George Washington University; Washington DC 20052 USA
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH); University of Antwerp; Universiteitsplein 1 2610 Antwerp Belgium
| | - Johan Wouters
- Department of Chemistry; University of Namur; Rue de Bruxelles 61 5000 Namur Belgium
| | - T. Alwyn Jones
- Science for Life Laboratory; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology; Uppsala University; Biomedical Center; Box 596 751 24 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (FFW); Gent University; Ottergemsesteenweg 460 9000 Gent Belgium
| | - Sherry L. Mowbray
- Science for Life Laboratory; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology; Uppsala University; Biomedical Center; Box 596 751 24 Uppsala Sweden
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16
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Guggisberg AM, Sundararaman SA, Lanaspa M, Moraleda C, González R, Mayor A, Cisteró P, Hutchinson D, Kremsner PG, Hahn BH, Bassat Q, Odom AR. Whole-Genome Sequencing to Evaluate the Resistance Landscape Following Antimalarial Treatment Failure With Fosmidomycin-Clindamycin. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:1085-91. [PMID: 27443612 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel antimalarial therapies are needed in the face of emerging resistance to artemisinin combination therapies. A previous study found a high cure rate in Mozambican children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria 7 days after combination treatment with fosmidomycin-clindamycin. However, 28-day cure rates were low (45.9%), owing to parasite recrudescence. We sought to identify any genetic changes underlying parasite recrudescence. To this end, we used a selective whole-genome amplification method to amplify parasite genomes from blood spot DNA samples. Parasite genomes from pretreatment and postrecrudescence samples were subjected to whole-genome sequencing to identify nucleotide variants. Our data did not support the existence of a genetic change responsible for recrudescence following fosmidomycin-clindamycin treatment. Additionally, we found that previously described resistance alleles for these drugs do not represent biomarkers of recrudescence. Future studies should continue to optimize fosmidomycin combinations for use as antimalarial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sesh A Sundararaman
- Department of Medicine Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Miguel Lanaspa
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cinta Moraleda
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel González
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alfredo Mayor
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Cisteró
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Center for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Peter G Kremsner
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, University of Tübingen, Germany Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Beatrice H Hahn
- Department of Medicine Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Quique Bassat
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Mozambique
| | - Audrey R Odom
- Department of Pediatrics Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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17
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Wiesner J, Ziemann C, Hintz M, Reichenberg A, Ortmann R, Schlitzer M, Fuhst R, Timmesfeld N, Vilcinskas A, Jomaa H. FR-900098, an antimalarial development candidate that inhibits the non-mevalonate isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway, shows no evidence of acute toxicity and genotoxicity. Virulence 2016; 7:718-28. [PMID: 27260413 PMCID: PMC4991342 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2016.1195537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
FR-900098 is an inhibitor of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate (DXP) reductoisomerase, the second enzyme in the non-mevalonate isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. In previous studies, FR-900098 was shown to possess potent antimalarial activity in vitro and in a murine malaria model. In order to provide a basis for further preclinical and clinical development, we studied the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of FR-900098. We observed no acute toxicity in rats, i.e. there were no clinical signs of toxicity and no substance-related deaths after the administration of a single dose of 3000 mg/kg body weight orally or 400 mg/kg body weight intravenously. No mutagenic potential was detected in the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay (Ames test) or an in vitro mammalian cell gene mutation test using mouse lymphoma L5178Y/TK(+/-) cells (clone 3.7.2C), both with and without metabolic activation. In addition, FR-900098 demonstrated no clastogenic or aneugenic capability or significant adverse effects on blood formation in an in vivo micronucleus test with bone marrow erythrocytes from NMRI mice. We conclude that FR-900098 lacks acute toxicity and genotoxicity, supporting its further development as an antimalarial drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen Wiesner
- a Department of Bioresources , Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME , Gießen , Germany
| | - Christina Ziemann
- b Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM , Hannover , Germany
| | - Martin Hintz
- c Institut für Laboratoriumsmedizin und Pathobiochemie, Molekulare Diagnostik am Standort Gießen, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH , Gießen , Germany
| | - Armin Reichenberg
- d Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg , Marburg , Germany
| | - Regina Ortmann
- d Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg , Marburg , Germany
| | - Martin Schlitzer
- d Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg , Marburg , Germany
| | - Rainer Fuhst
- b Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM , Hannover , Germany
| | - Nina Timmesfeld
- e Institut für Medizinische Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg , Marburg , Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- a Department of Bioresources , Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME , Gießen , Germany.,f Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen , Gießen , Germany
| | - Hassan Jomaa
- g Institut für Laboratoriumsmedizin und Pathobiochemie, Molekulare Diagnostik am Standort Marburg, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH , Marburg , Germany
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18
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Armstrong CM, Meyers DJ, Imlay LS, Freel Meyers C, Odom AR. Resistance to the antimicrobial agent fosmidomycin and an FR900098 prodrug through mutations in the deoxyxylulose phosphate reductoisomerase gene (dxr). Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:5511-9. [PMID: 26124156 PMCID: PMC4538460 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00602-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a pressing need for new antimicrobial therapies to combat globally important drug-resistant human pathogens, including Plasmodium falciparum malarial parasites, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli. These organisms all possess the essential methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis, which is not found in humans. The first dedicated enzyme of the MEP pathway, 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (Dxr), is inhibited by the phosphonic acid antibiotic fosmidomycin and its analogs, including the N-acetyl analog FR900098 and the phosphoryl analog fosfoxacin. In order to identify mutations in dxr that confer resistance to these drugs, a library of E. coli dxr mutants was screened at lethal fosmidomycin doses. The most resistant allele (with the S222T mutation) alters the fosmidomycin-binding site of Dxr. The expression of this resistant allele increases bacterial resistance to fosmidomycin and other fosmidomycin analogs by 10-fold. These observations confirm that the primary cellular target of fosmidomycin is Dxr. Furthermore, cell lines expressing Dxr-S222T will be a powerful tool to confirm the mechanisms of action of future fosmidomycin analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Armstrong
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - David J Meyers
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Leah S Imlay
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Caren Freel Meyers
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Audrey R Odom
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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19
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Fernandes JF, Lell B, Agnandji ST, Obiang RM, Bassat Q, Kremsner PG, Mordmüller B, Grobusch MP. Fosmidomycin as an antimalarial drug: a meta-analysis of clinical trials. Future Microbiol 2015; 10:1375-90. [PMID: 26228767 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.15.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With first indications of resistance against artemisinin compounds, the development of novel alternative antimalarials remains an urgent need. One candidate is fosmidomycin (Fos), a phosphonic acid derivative. This PRISMA guideline-adhering and PROSPERO-registered systematic review and meta-analysis provides an overview of the state-of-the-art of the clinical development of Fos as an antimalarial. Pooling six clinical trials of Fos against uncomplicated malaria in African children yielded an overall day 28 cure rate of 85% (95% CI: 71-98%); a parasite clearance time of 39 h; and a fever clearance time of 30 h. In four adult cohorts, the corresponding values were 70% (95% CI: 40-100%), 49 and 42 h, respectively. Data suggest that besides the partner drug, formulation determines efficacy. We advocate further clinical development of Fos-combinations. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42014013688.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Francisco Fernandes
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, BP 118 Lambaréné, Gabon.,Center of Tropical Medicine & Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bertrand Lell
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, BP 118 Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Selidji Todagbe Agnandji
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, BP 118 Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Regis Maurin Obiang
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, BP 118 Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Quique Bassat
- Barcelona Center for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clíníc-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de investigação em saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Peter Gottfried Kremsner
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, BP 118 Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Benjamin Mordmüller
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, BP 118 Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Martin Peter Grobusch
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, BP 118 Lambaréné, Gabon.,Center of Tropical Medicine & Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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20
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Abstract
Despite substantial scientific progress over the past two decades, malaria remains a worldwide burden that causes hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. New, affordable and safe drugs are required to overcome increasing resistance against artemisinin-based treatments, treat vulnerable populations, interrupt the parasite life cycle by blocking transmission to the vectors, prevent infection and target malaria species that transiently remain dormant in the liver. In this Review, we discuss how the antimalarial drug discovery pipeline has changed over the past 10 years, grouped by the various target compound or product profiles, to assess progress and gaps, and to recommend priorities.
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21
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Chofor R, Sooriyaarachchi S, Risseeuw MDP, Bergfors T, Pouyez J, Johny C, Haymond A, Everaert A, Dowd CS, Maes L, Coenye T, Alex A, Couch RD, Jones TA, Wouters J, Mowbray SL, Van Calenbergh S. Synthesis and Bioactivity of β-Substituted Fosmidomycin Analogues Targeting 1-Deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate Reductoisomerase. J Med Chem 2015; 58:2988-3001. [DOI: 10.1021/jm5014264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- René Chofor
- Laboratory
for Medicinal Chemistry (FFW), Universiteit Gent, Ottergemsesteenweg
460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Sanjeewani Sooriyaarachchi
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Biomedical
Center, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martijn D. P. Risseeuw
- Laboratory
for Medicinal Chemistry (FFW), Universiteit Gent, Ottergemsesteenweg
460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Terese Bergfors
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Biomedical
Center, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jenny Pouyez
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Chinchu Johny
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110, United States
| | - Amanda Haymond
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110, United States
| | - Annelien Everaert
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Cynthia S. Dowd
- Department
of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory
for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical,
Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein
1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tom Coenye
- Laboratory
of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alexander Alex
- Evenor Consulting Ltd., The
New Barn, Mill Lane, Eastry, Kent CT13 0JW, United Kingdom
| | - Robin D. Couch
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110, United States
| | - T. Alwyn Jones
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Biomedical
Center, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Wouters
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Sherry L. Mowbray
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Biomedical
Center, Box 596, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory
for Medicinal Chemistry (FFW), Universiteit Gent, Ottergemsesteenweg
460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
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22
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Held J, Jeyaraj S, Kreidenweiss A. Antimalarial compounds in Phase II clinical development. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2015; 24:363-82. [PMID: 25563531 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2015.1000483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malaria is a major health problem in endemic countries and chemotherapy remains the most important tool in combating it. Treatment options are limited and essentially rely on a single drug class - the artemisinins. Efforts are ongoing to restrict the evolving threat of artemisinin resistance but declining sensitivity has been reported. Fueled by the ambitious aim of malaria eradication, novel antimalarial compounds, with improved properties, are now in the progressive phase of drug development. AREAS COVERED Herein, the authors describe antimalarial compounds currently in Phase II clinical development and present the results of these investigations. EXPERT OPINION Thanks to recent efforts, a number of promising antimalarial compounds are now in the pipeline. First safety data have been generated for all of these candidates, although their efficacy as antimalarials is still unclear for most of them. Of particular note are KAE609, KAF156 and DSM265, which are of chemical scaffolds new to malaria chemotherapy and would truly diversify antimalarial options. Apart from SAR97276, which also has a novel chemical scaffold that has had its development stopped, all other compounds in the pipeline belong to already known substance classes, which have been chemically modified. At this moment in time, there is not one standout compound that will revolutionize malaria treatment but several compounds that will add to its control in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Held
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard Karls Universität , Wilhelmstraße 27, D-72074 Tübingen , Germany +49 7071 29 85569 ; +49 7071 295189 ;
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23
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A chemical rescue screen identifies a Plasmodium falciparum apicoplast inhibitor targeting MEP isoprenoid precursor biosynthesis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 59:356-64. [PMID: 25367906 DOI: 10.1128/aac.03342-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The apicoplast is an essential plastid organelle found in Plasmodium parasites which contains several clinically validated antimalarial-drug targets. A chemical rescue screen identified MMV-08138 from the "Malaria Box" library of growth-inhibitory antimalarial compounds as having specific activity against the apicoplast. MMV-08138 inhibition of blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum growth is stereospecific and potent, with the most active diastereomer demonstrating a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 110 nM. Whole-genome sequencing of 3 drug-resistant parasite populations from two independent selections revealed E688Q and L244I mutations in P. falciparum IspD, an enzyme in the MEP (methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate) isoprenoid precursor biosynthesis pathway in the apicoplast. The active diastereomer of MMV-08138 directly inhibited PfIspD activity in vitro with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 7.0 nM. MMV-08138 is the first PfIspD inhibitor to be identified and, together with heterologously expressed PfIspD, provides the foundation for further development of this promising antimalarial drug candidate lead. Furthermore, this report validates the use of the apicoplast chemical rescue screen coupled with target elucidation as a discovery tool to identify specific apicoplast-targeting compounds with new mechanisms of action.
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24
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Masini T, Hirsch AKH. Development of Inhibitors of the 2C-Methyl-d-erythritol 4-Phosphate (MEP) Pathway Enzymes as Potential Anti-Infective Agents. J Med Chem 2014; 57:9740-63. [DOI: 10.1021/jm5010978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Masini
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh
7, NL-9747
AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anna K. H. Hirsch
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh
7, NL-9747
AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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25
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chemotherapy of malaria has become a rapidly changing field. Less than two decades ago, treatment regimens were increasingly bound to fail due to emerging drug resistance against 4-aminoquinolines and sulfa compounds. By now, artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) constitute the standard of care for uncomplicated falciparum malaria and are increasingly also taken into consideration for the treatment of non-falciparum malaria. AREAS COVERED This narrative review provides an overview of the state-of-art antimalarial drug therapy, highlights the global portfolio of current Phase III/IV clinical trials and summarizes current developments. EXPERT OPINION Malaria chemotherapy remains a dynamic field, with novel drugs and drug combinations continuing to emerge in order to outpace the development of large-scale drug resistance against the currently most important drug class, the artemisinin derivatives. More randomized controlled studies are urgently needed especially for the treatment of malaria in first trimester pregnant women. ACTs should be used for the treatment of imported malaria more consequently. Gaining sufficient efficacy and safety information on ACT use for non-falciparum species including Plasmodium ovale and malariae should be a research priority. Continuous investment into malaria drug development is a vital factor to combat artemisinin resistance and successfully improve malaria control toward the ultimate goal of elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Visser
- University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Centre, Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases , Amsterdam , The Netherlands
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26
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Butler MS, Robertson AAB, Cooper MA. Natural product and natural product derived drugs in clinical trials. Nat Prod Rep 2014; 31:1612-61. [DOI: 10.1039/c4np00064a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 383] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The 25 Natural Product (NP)-derived drugs launched since 2008 and the 100 NP-derived compounds and 33 Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in clinical trials or in registration at the end of 2013 are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S. Butler
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience
- The University of Queensland
- Brisbane, Australia
| | - Avril A. B. Robertson
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience
- The University of Queensland
- Brisbane, Australia
| | - Matthew A. Cooper
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience
- The University of Queensland
- Brisbane, Australia
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27
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Calderón F, Wilson DM, Gamo FJ. Antimalarial drug discovery: recent progress and future directions. PROGRESS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2013; 52:97-151. [PMID: 23384667 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-62652-3.00003-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Félix Calderón
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Spain
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