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Ji S, Rizk MA, Galon EM, El-Alfy ES, Mizukawa Y, Kojima M, Ikegami-Kawai M, Kaya M, Liu M, Itoh I, Xuan X. Anti-babesial activity of a series of 6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline-2,4-diamines (DMQDAs). Acta Trop 2024; 249:107069. [PMID: 37952866 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Diminazene aceturate (DA), imidocarb dipropionate (ID), atovaquone (ATO), azithromycin (AZI), clindamycin, and quinine have been used to treat animal and human babesiosis for many years, despite their negative effects and rising indications of resistance. Thus, finding anti-babesial compounds that can either treat the infection or lower the dose of drugs given has been a primary objective. Quinazolines are one of the most important nitrogen heterocycles, with a wide range of pharmacological activities including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, sedative-hypnotic, anti-histaminic, anti-cancer, and anti-protozoan properties. The present study investigated the anti-babesial activities of twenty 6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline-2,4-diamines on Babesia spp. One candidate, 6,7-dimethoxy-N4-ethylisopropyl-N2-ethyl(pyridin-4-yl)quinazoline-2,4-diamine (SHG02), showed potent inhibition on Babesia gibsoni in vitro, as well as on B. microti and B. rodhaini in mice. Our findings indicate that the candidate compound SHG02 is promising for further development of anti-babesial drugs and provides a new structure to be explored for developing anti-Babesia therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengwei Ji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Mohamed Abdo Rizk
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Eloiza May Galon
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite 4122, Philippines
| | - El-Sayed El-Alfy
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Yuki Mizukawa
- Synstar Japan Co., Ltd., 2-9-46 Sakaecho, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0011, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Kojima
- Synstar Japan Co., Ltd., 2-9-46 Sakaecho, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0011, Japan
| | - Mayumi Ikegami-Kawai
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Hoshi University, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
| | - Motohiro Kaya
- Center for Industry-University Collaboration, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Mingming Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China
| | - Isamu Itoh
- Synstar Japan Co., Ltd., 2-9-46 Sakaecho, Odawara, Kanagawa 250-0011, Japan
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
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Ji S, Galon EM, Amer MM, Zafar I, Yanagawa M, Asada M, Zhou J, Liu M, Xuan X. Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase is a viable target for the radical cure of Babesia microti infection in immunocompromised hosts. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1048962. [DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1048962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis is a global emerging tick-borne disease caused by infection with intra-erythrocytic parasites of the genus Babesia. With the rise in human babesiosis cases, the discovery and development of new anti-Babesia drugs are essential. Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4K) is a widely present eukaryotic enzyme that phosphorylates lipids to regulate intracellular signaling and trafficking. Previously, we have shown that MMV390048, an inhibitor of PI4K, showed potent inhibition against Babesia species, revealing PI4K as a druggable target for babesiosis. However, twice-administered, 7-day regimens failed to clear Babesia microti parasites from the immunocompromised host. Hence, in this study, we wanted to clarify whether targeting PI4K has the potential for the radical cure of babesiosis. In a B. microti-infected SCID mouse model, a 64-day-consecutive treatment with MMV390048 resulted in the clearance of parasites. Meanwhile, an atovaquone (ATO) resistant parasite line was isolated from the group treated with ATO plus azithromycin. A nonsynonymous variant in the Y272C of the cytochrome b gene was confirmed by sequencing. Likewise, MMV390048 showed potent inhibition against ATO-resistant parasites. These results provide evidence of PI4K as a viable drug target for the radical cure of babesiosis, which will contribute to designing new compounds that can eradicate parasites.
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