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Askarani HK, Tahghighi A, Ahmadpoor M, Zamani Z. In vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of a synthetic dihydroartemisinin-eosin B hybrid. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:4013-4024. [PMID: 37999757 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02815-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
With the inexorable prevalence and spread of drug-resistant malaria strains, many efforts have been made to find alternative chemotherapeutic agents. In this regard, scientists have developed the concept of hybridization of two or more active pharmacophores into a single chemical compound, resulting in "antimalarial hybrids." The aim of this study was planned based on the highly synergistic effect of the physical hybrid of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) with eosin B (EB). Therefore, a chemical hybrid of the two compounds (DHA-EB) was synthesized, and its antimalarial activity was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The drug hybrid was fabricated through a propionyl ester linker between DHA and EB. The antiplasmodial activity of the new hybrid was tested in vitro on the blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum (chloroquine-sensitive, 3D7 strain) and also evaluated in vivo by Peters' standard test in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. The hybrid compound was also assessed for in vivo toxicity. Among all the compounds studied, a DHA-EB hybrid showed an appropriate inhibition percentage (53%) was at a very low dose (0.65 nM). The highest in vivo antimalarial activity until the 9th day was related to DHA-EB in a low dose (0.5 mg/kg). Also, the most survival rate was observed in the test group of hybrid compound at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg for 22 days. No external changes were identified in the toxicity assay. The weight of internal organs of treated animals and that of controls indicated nontoxicity of DHA-EB even after 60 days of consumption. In vitro and in vivo studies substantiated that DHA-EB hybrid has the potential for developing as a safe antimalarial drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajar Karimi Askarani
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Clinical Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azar Tahghighi
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Clinical Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Zahra Zamani
- Department of Biochemistry, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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Pal C. Redox modulating small molecules having antimalarial efficacy. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 218:115927. [PMID: 37992998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115927] [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: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
The search for effective antimalarial agents remains a critical priority because malaria is widely spread and drug-resistant strains are becoming more prevalent. In this review, a variety of small molecules capable of modulating redox processes were showcased for their potential as antimalarial agents. The compounds were designed to target the redox balance of Plasmodium parasites, which has a pivotal function in their ability to survive and multiply within the host organism. A thorough screening method was utilized to assess the effectiveness of these compounds against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the malaria-causing parasite. The results revealed that several of the tested compounds exhibited significant effectiveness against malaria, displaying IC50 values at a low micromolar range. Furthermore, these compounds displayed promising selectivity for the parasite, as they exhibited low cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells. Thorough mechanistic studies were undertaken to clarify how the active compounds exert their mode of action. The findings revealed that these compounds disrupted the parasites' redox balance, causing oxidative stress and interfering with essential cellular functions. Additionally, the compounds showed synergistic effects when combined with existing antimalarial drugs, suggesting their potential for combination therapies to combat drug resistance. Overall, this study highlights the potential of redox-modulating small molecules as effective antimalarial agents. The identified compounds demonstrate promising antimalarial activity, and their mechanism of action offers insights into targeting the redox balance of Plasmodium parasites. Further optimization and preclinical studies are warranted to determine their efficacy, safety, and potential for clinical development as novel antimalarial therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinmay Pal
- Department of Chemistry, Gobardanga Hindu College, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal 743273, India.
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A Study of Synergy of Combination of Eosin B with Chloroquine, Artemisinin, and Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine on Plasmodium falciparum In Vitro and Plasmodium berghei In Vivo. J Trop Med 2020; 2020:3013701. [PMID: 32565830 PMCID: PMC7285249 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3013701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Methods Drug assessment was carried out singly or in combination on Plasmodium falciparum in vitro using the candle jar method at three inhibitory concentrations. Percent parasitemia of live cells was obtained by microscopic counting. Peter's suppression test was carried out on mice infected with Plasmodium berghei after 3 administration of the drugs singly and in combination, and parasites were counted by microscopy for 10 days. Results Synergy was exhibited by isobolograms of eosin B combined with artesunate and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine with more than 10 fold reduction of all drugs in vitro. A good combination index was obtained with artesunate at 50% inibitory concentration with 3.4 nM eosin B and 1.7 nM artesunate in contrast to 124 nM eosin B and 7.6 nM artesunate singly. In vivo studies also showed a considerable lowering of the effective dose of eosin B 30 mg/kg: artesunate 3 mg/kg with 200 mg/kg eosin B and 60 mg/kg artesunate separately. Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine seemed to have the greatest synergistic effect with a combination index of 0.007, but this could be due to it consisting of a combination of three drugs. Eosin B's combination index with chloroquine was fair, and in vivo tests too did not show as much competence as the other two drugs. Conclusion and Interpretation. It can be concluded that eosin B can be used in combination with antimalarial drugs with favorable results.
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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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Staneva D, Yordanova S, Vasileva-Tonkova E, Stoyanov S, Grabchev I. Photophysical and antibacterial activity of light-activated quaternary eosin Y. OPEN CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1515/chem-2019-0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe functional characteristics of a new eosin dye with biocidal quaternary ammonium group (E) were studied in aqueous solution and in organic solvents of different polarity. The spectral properties depend on the nature and polarity of the respective solvents. The antimicrobial activity of compound E has been tested in vitro against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter johnsoni and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), Gram-positive bacteria (Sarcina lutea and Bacillus cereus) and the antifungal activity was tested against the yeasts Candida lipolytica in solution and after treated on cotton fabric. Broth dilution test has been used for quantitative evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of compound E against the model strains. The ability of compound E to inhibit the growth of model Gram-negative P. aeruginosa strain was assessed after 16 h of incubation in presence and absence of light. These experiments were conducted in planktonic format in solution and on cotton fabric. The results suggest that the new compound is effective in treating the relevant pathogens with better results being obtained by irradiation with light. In this case the quaternary ammonium group promotes the binding of eosin Y moiety to the bacterial cell wall thus accelerating bacterial photo inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desislava Staneva
- University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stanislava Yordanova
- Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Evgenia Vasileva-Tonkova
- The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stanimir Stoyanov
- Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivo Grabchev
- Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of Medicine, 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria
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SADEGHI TAFRESHI A, ZAMANI Z, SABBAGHIAN M, KHAVARI-NEJAD RA, ARJMAND M, SADEGHI S, MOHAMMADI M. A Metabolomic Investigation of the Effect of Eosin B on Game-tocyte of Plasmodium falciparum Using 1HNMR Spectroscopy. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2019; 14:592-603. [PMID: 32099562 PMCID: PMC7028228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently eosin B was shown to have an effect on the asexual stage of Plasmodium falciparum and in this study, its activity against gametocytes and changes in the culture medium metabolites were investigated using an1HNMR-based metabolomics approach. METHODS In the Biochemistry Department of Pasteur Institute of Iran in 2017, parasites were cultured and gametocytogenesis induced by heparin and 5% hematocrit. Sexual stage parasites were tested by eosin B in 90 well plates and IC50 determined using Lactate Dehydrogenase assay. Gametocytes were treated by IC50 dose of eosin B and the medium collected in the two groups: with eosin B and controls and sent for 1HNMR spectroscopy. The spectra were analyzed on MATLAB interface and the altered metabolites in the culture medium and eosin-affected biochemical pathways were identified by Human Metabolome Database and Metabo-analyst website. RESULTS The results revealed eosin B had an effective gametocytocidal activity against P. falciparum. The significant metabolites changed in the medium were thia-mine, Asp, Asn, Tyr, Lys, Ala, Phenylpyruvic acid, NAD+ and lipids. The main pathways identified were aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, Phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, Alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, Phenylala-nine metabolism, Nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, and lysine degradation. CONCLUSION Eosin B exhibited substantial gametocytocidal activity and affected important drug targets in the Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zahra ZAMANI
- Department of Biochemistry, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran,Correspondence
| | - Marjan SABBAGHIAN
- Department of Andrology at Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad ARJMAND
- Department of Biochemistry, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sedigheh SADEGHI
- Department of Biochemistry, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam MOHAMMADI
- Department of Biochemistry, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Leba LJ, Popovici J, Estevez Y, Pelleau S, Legrand E, Musset L, Duplais C. Antiplasmodial activities of dyes against Plasmodium falciparum asexual and sexual stages: Contrasted uptakes of triarylmethanes Brilliant green, Green S (E142), and Patent Blue V (E131) by erythrocytes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2017; 7:314-320. [PMID: 28886443 PMCID: PMC5587875 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2017.07.002] [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] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The search for safe antimalarial compounds acting against asexual symptom-responsible stages and sexual transmission-responsible forms of Plasmodium species is one of the major challenges in malaria elimination programs. So far, among current drugs approved for human use, only primaquine has transmission-blocking activity. The discovery of small molecules targeting different Plasmodium falciparum life stages remains a priority in antimalarial drug research. In this context, several independent studies have recently reported antiplasmodial and transmission-blocking activities of commonly used stains, dyes and fluorescent probes against P. falciparum including chloroquine-resistant isolates. Herein we have studied the antimalarial activities of dyes with different scaffold and we report that the triarylmethane dye (TRAM) Brilliant green inhibits the growth of asexual stages (IC50 ≤ 2 μM) and has exflagellation-blocking activity (IC50 ≤ 800 nM) against P. falciparum reference strains (3D7, 7G8) and chloroquine-resistant clinical isolate (Q206). In a second step we have investigated the antiplasmodial activities of two polysulfonated triarylmethane food dyes. Green S (E142) is weakly active against P. falciparum asexual stage (IC50 ≃ 17 μM) whereas Patent Blue V (E131) is inactive in both antimalarial assays. By applying liquid chromatography techniques for the culture supernatant analysis after cell washings and lysis, we report the detection of Brilliant green in erythrocytes, the selective uptake of Green S (E142) by infected erythrocytes, whereas Patent Blue V (E131) could not be detected within non-infected and 3D7-infected erythrocytes. Overall, our results suggest that two polysulfonated food dyes might display different affinity with transporters or channels on infected RBC membrane. Dyes are tested against P. falciparum 3D7, 7G8 lines, CQ-resistant field isolate Q206. Brilliant green is active against asexual and sexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Food dye Green S (E142) is weakly active against Plasmodium falciparum asexual forms. Food dye Green S (E142) is found in the cellular content of infected erythrocytes. Polysulfonated triarylmethane possibly interact with plasmodial surface anion channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis-Jérôme Leba
- Laboratoire de parasitologie, CNR du paludisme, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France; UMR QualiSud, Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, France
| | - Jean Popovici
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur in Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Yannick Estevez
- CNRS, UMR8172 EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, Cirad, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Stéphane Pelleau
- Laboratoire de parasitologie, CNR du paludisme, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Eric Legrand
- Laboratoire de parasitologie, CNR du paludisme, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France; Research Unit of Genetics and Genomics of Insect Vectors Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Lise Musset
- Laboratoire de parasitologie, CNR du paludisme, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Christophe Duplais
- CNRS, UMR8172 EcoFoG, AgroParisTech, Cirad, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana, France.
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Bagchi S, Kumar M, Sharma A. A multilayer screening approach toward the discovery of novel Pf-DHFR inhibitors. Comput Biol Chem 2016; 62:36-46. [PMID: 27061145 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2016.03.005] [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: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A small yet diverse xanthone library was build and computationally docked against wild type Pf-DHFR by Molegro Virtual Docker (MolDock). For analysis of results an integrated approach based on re-ranking, scaling (based on heavy atom counts), pose clustering and visual inspection was implemented. Standard methods such as self-docking (for docking), EF analysis, average rank determinations (for size normalization), and cluster quality indices (for pose clustering) were used for validation of results. Three compounds X5, X113A and X164B displayed contact footprints similar to the known inhibitors with good scores. Finally, 16 compounds were extracted from ZINC data base by similarity based screening, docking score and drug/lead likeness. Out of these 16 compounds, 11 displayed very close contact footprints to experimentally known inhibitors, indicating there potential utility in further drug discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Bagchi
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
| | - Anuj Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India.
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Controlled antiseptic/eosin release from chitosan-based hydrogel modified fibrous substrates. Carbohydr Polym 2015; 131:306-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Revised: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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10
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Oxidative stress control by apicomplexan parasites. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:351289. [PMID: 25722976 PMCID: PMC4324108 DOI: 10.1155/2015/351289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites cause infectious diseases that are either a severe public health problem or an economic burden. In this paper we will shed light on how oxidative stress can influence the host-pathogen relationship by focusing on three major diseases: babesiosis, coccidiosis, and toxoplasmosis.
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Effect of fluorescent dyes on in vitro-differentiated, late-stage Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2014; 58:7398-404. [PMID: 25267675 DOI: 10.1128/aac.03772-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes are not associated with clinical symptoms, but they are responsible for transmitting the pathogen to mosquitoes. Therefore, gametocytocidal interventions are important for malaria control and resistance containment. Currently available drugs and vaccines are not well suited for that purpose. Several dyes have potent antimicrobial activity, but their use against gametocytes has not been investigated systematically. The gametocytocidal activity of nine synthetic dyes and four control compounds was tested against stage V gametocytes of the laboratory strain 3D7 and three clinical isolates of P. falciparum with a bioluminescence assay. Five of the fluorescent dyes had submicromolar 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values against mature gametocytes. Three mitochondrial dyes, MitoRed, dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6), and rhodamine B, were highly active (IC(50)s < 200 nM). MitoRed showed the highest activity against gametocytes, with IC(50)s of 70 nM against 3D7 and 120 to 210 nM against clinical isolates. All compounds were more active against the laboratory strain 3D7 than against clinical isolates. In particular, the endoperoxides artesunate and dihydroartemisinin showed a 10-fold higher activity against 3D7 than against clinical isolates. In contrast to all clinically used antimalarials, several fluorescent dyes had surprisingly high in vitro activity against late-stage gametocytes. Since they also act against asexual blood stages, they shall be considered starting points for the development of new antimalarial lead compounds.
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Regner EL, Thompson CS, Iglesias AA, Guerrero SA, Arias DG. Biochemical characterization of thioredoxin reductase from Babesia bovis. Biochimie 2013; 99:44-53. [PMID: 24239559 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
This paper addresses the identification, cloning, expression, purification and functional characterization of thioredoxin reductase from Babesia bovis, the etiological agent of babesiosis. The work deals with in vitro steady state kinetic studies and other complementary analyses of the thioredoxin reductase found in the pathogenic protist. Thioredoxin reductase from B. bovis was characterized as a homodimeric flavoprotein that catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of Trx with a high catalytic efficiency. Moreover, the enzyme exhibited a disulfide reductase activity using DTNB as substrate, being this activity highly sensitive to inhibition by Eosin B. The thioredoxin reductase/thioredoxin system can reduce oxidized glutathione and S-nitrosoglutathione. Our in vitro data suggest that antioxidant defense in B. bovis could be supported by this enzyme. We have performed an enzymatic characterization, searching for targets for rational design of inhibitors. This work contributes to the better understanding of the redox biochemistry occurring in the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika L Regner
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Paraje "El Pozo" CC 242, S3000ZAA Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Carolina S Thompson
- Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Paraje "El Pozo" CC 242, S3000ZAA Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Sergio A Guerrero
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Paraje "El Pozo" CC 242, S3000ZAA Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego G Arias
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (UNL-CONICET), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Paraje "El Pozo" CC 242, S3000ZAA Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Efficacy of eosin B as a new antimalarial drug in a murine model. Malar Res Treat 2013; 2012:381724. [PMID: 23365788 PMCID: PMC3533449 DOI: 10.1155/2012/381724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2012] [Revised: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The initial success of any adopted anti-infective strategy to malaria is followed by a descent due to the emergence of resistance to it. The search for new drugs and drug targets is a consistent demand in this disease. Eosin B, a common laboratory dye, is reported to have good antiparasitic properties in vitro. It was studied for its antiparasitic effect in vivo on chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei murine malaria. Eosin B was administered in 2 different doses by either the oral or parenteral route, once or twice daily to mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Both the doses of eosin B 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg gave better results than the controls which were 40 mg/kg chloroquine and 100 mg/kg of arteether with P < 0.005 significance. Percentage suppressive activity by Peter's test of eosin B was better, though at a higher dose than both the controls. Survival rate of mice receiving the higher dose of eosin B was longer than that of the controls. When administered twice daily, the mice were fully cured after 4 days. Eosin B seems to be a promising drug exhibiting good antimalarial effects in the murine model of the disease.
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Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Parasitic diseases affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide and represent major health problems. Treatment is becoming extremely difficult due to the emergence of drug resistance, the absence of effective vaccines, and the spread of insecticide-resistant vectors. Thus, identification of affordable and readily available drugs against resistant parasites is of global demand. RECENT ADVANCES Susceptibility of many parasites to oxidative stress is a well-known phenomenon. Therefore, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or inhibition of endogenous antioxidant enzymes would be a novel therapeutic approach to develop antiparasitic drugs. This article highlights the unique metabolic pathways along with redox enzymes of unicellular (Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania donovani, Entamoeba histolytica, and Trichomonas vaginalis) and multicellular parasites (Schistosoma mansoni), which could be utilized to promote ROS-mediated toxicity. CRITICAL ISSUES Enzymes involved in various vital redox reactions could be potential targets for drug development. FUTURE DIRECTIONS The identification of redox-active antiparasitic drugs along with their mode of action will help researchers around the world in designing novel drugs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinmay Pal
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
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15
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In vitro activity of fluorescent dyes against asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:5982-5. [PMID: 22850520 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00709-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many successful antimicrobial drugs originate from synthetic dyes. This paper reports the in vitro activity of 14 fluorescent dyes against Plasmodium falciparum. Five of these dyes (Hoechst 33342, MitoRed, DiOC(6), SYTO 9, and rhodamine B) show activity at a low nanomolar concentration against two P. falciparum strains in the histidine-rich protein 2 drug sensitivity assay, while toxicity in HeLa cells is low. These dyes may be a starting point for developing new drugs against P. falciparum.
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Muregi FW, Ohta I, Masato U, Kino H, Ishih A. Resistance of a rodent malaria parasite to a thymidylate synthase inhibitor induces an apoptotic parasite death and imposes a huge cost of fitness. PLoS One 2011; 6:e21251. [PMID: 21698180 PMCID: PMC3116895 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2010] [Accepted: 05/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The greatest impediment to effective malaria control is drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, and thus understanding how resistance impacts on the parasite's fitness and pathogenicity may aid in malaria control strategy. Methodology/Principal Findings To generate resistance, P. berghei NK65 was subjected to 5-fluoroorotate (FOA, an inhibitor of thymidylate synthase, TS) pressure in mice. After 15 generations of drug pressure, the 2% DT (the delay time for proliferation of parasites to 2% parasitaemia, relative to untreated wild-type controls) reduced from 8 days to 4, equalling the controls. Drug sensitivity studies confirmed that FOA-resistance was stable. During serial passaging in the absence of drug, resistant parasite maintained low growth rates (parasitaemia, 15.5%±2.9, 7 dpi) relative to the wild-type (45.6%±8.4), translating into resistance cost of fitness of 66.0%. The resistant parasite showed an apoptosis-like death, as confirmed by light and transmission electron microscopy and corroborated by oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Conclusions/Significance The resistant parasite was less fit than the wild-type, which implies that in the absence of drug pressure in the field, the wild-type alleles may expand and allow drugs withdrawn due to resistance to be reintroduced. FOA resistance led to depleted dTTP pools, causing thymineless parasite death via apoptosis. This supports the tenet that unicellular eukaryotes, like metazoans, also undergo apoptosis. This is the first report where resistance to a chemical stimulus and not the stimulus itself is shown to induce apoptosis in a unicellular parasite. This finding is relevant in cancer therapy, since thymineless cell death induced by resistance to TS-inhibitors can further be optimized via inhibition of pyrimidine salvage enzymes, thus providing a synergistic impact. We conclude that since apoptosis is a process that can be pharmacologically modulated, the parasite's apoptotic machinery may be exploited as a novel drug target in malaria and other protozoan diseases of medical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis W Muregi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
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Huthmacher C, Hoppe A, Bulik S, Holzhütter HG. Antimalarial drug targets in Plasmodium falciparum predicted by stage-specific metabolic network analysis. BMC SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2010; 4:120. [PMID: 20807400 PMCID: PMC2941759 DOI: 10.1186/1752-0509-4-120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2009] [Accepted: 08/31/2010] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite enormous efforts to combat malaria the disease still afflicts up to half a billion people each year of which more than one million die. Currently no approved vaccine is available and resistances to antimalarials are widely spread. Hence, new antimalarial drugs are urgently needed. RESULTS Here, we present a computational analysis of the metabolism of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria pathogen. We assembled a compartmentalized metabolic model and predicted life cycle stage specific metabolism with the help of a flux balance approach that integrates gene expression data. Predicted metabolite exchanges between parasite and host were found to be in good accordance with experimental findings when the parasite's metabolic network was embedded into that of its host (erythrocyte). Knock-out simulations identified 307 indispensable metabolic reactions within the parasite. 35 out of 57 experimentally demonstrated essential enzymes were recovered and another 16 enzymes, if additionally the assumption was made that nutrient uptake from the host cell is limited and all reactions catalyzed by the inhibited enzyme are blocked. This predicted set of putative drug targets, shown to be enriched with true targets by a factor of at least 2.75, was further analyzed with respect to homology to human enzymes, functional similarity to therapeutic targets in other organisms and their predicted potency for prophylaxis and disease treatment. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the set of essential enzymes predicted by our flux balance approach represents a promising starting point for further drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Huthmacher
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité, Monbijoustraße 2, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Hoppe
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité, Monbijoustraße 2, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sascha Bulik
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité, Monbijoustraße 2, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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Pastrana-Mena R, Dinglasan RR, Franke-Fayard B, Vega-Rodríguez J, Fuentes-Caraballo M, Baerga-Ortiz A, Coppens I, Jacobs-Lorena M, Janse CJ, Serrano AE. Glutathione reductase-null malaria parasites have normal blood stage growth but arrest during development in the mosquito. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:27045-27056. [PMID: 20573956 PMCID: PMC2930704 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.122275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites contain a complete glutathione (GSH) redox system, and several enzymes of this system are considered potential targets for antimalarial drugs. Through generation of a γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS)-null mutant of the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei, we previously showed that de novo GSH synthesis is not critical for blood stage multiplication but is essential for oocyst development. In this study, phenotype analyses of mutant parasites lacking expression of glutathione reductase (GR) confirmed that GSH metabolism is critical for the mosquito oocyst stage. Similar to what was found for γ-GCS, GR is not essential for blood stage growth. GR-null parasites showed the same sensitivity to methylene blue and eosin B as wild type parasites, demonstrating that these compounds target molecules other than GR in Plasmodium. Attempts to generate parasites lacking both GR and γ-GCS by simultaneous disruption of gr and γ-gcs were unsuccessful. This demonstrates that the maintenance of total GSH levels required for blood stage survival is dependent on either de novo GSH synthesis or glutathione disulfide (GSSG) reduction by Plasmodium GR. Our studies provide new insights into the role of the GSH system in malaria parasites with implications for the development of drugs targeting GSH metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Pastrana-Mena
- Department of Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067
| | - Rhoel R Dinglasan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Blandine Franke-Fayard
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, L4-Q, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Joel Vega-Rodríguez
- Department of Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067
| | - Mariela Fuentes-Caraballo
- Department of Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067
| | - Abel Baerga-Ortiz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Chris J Janse
- Leiden Malaria Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Center of Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, L4-Q, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Adelfa E Serrano
- Department of Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-5067.
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Development of binding assays to screen ligands for Plasmodium falciparum thioredoxin and glutathione reductases by ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2010; 878:987-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2010.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2009] [Revised: 02/24/2010] [Accepted: 02/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Fatumo S, Plaimas K, Mallm JP, Schramm G, Adebiyi E, Oswald M, Eils R, König R. Estimating novel potential drug targets of Plasmodium falciparum by analysing the metabolic network of knock-out strains in silico. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2008; 9:351-8. [PMID: 18313365 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2008.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2007] [Revised: 12/21/2007] [Accepted: 01/17/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is one of the world's most common and serious diseases causing death of about 3 million people each year. Its most severe occurrence is caused by the protozoan Plasmodium falciparum. Biomedical research could enable treating the disease by effectively and specifically targeting essential enzymes of this parasite. However, the parasite has developed resistance to existing drugs making it indispensable to discover new drugs. We have established a simple computational tool which analyses the topology of the metabolic network of P. falciparum to identify essential enzymes as possible drug targets. We investigated the essentiality of a reaction in the metabolic network by deleting (knocking-out) such a reaction in silico. The algorithm selected neighbouring compounds of the investigated reaction that had to be produced by alternative biochemical pathways. Using breadth first searches, we tested qualitatively if these products could be generated by reactions that serve as potential deviations of the metabolic flux. With this we identified 70 essential reactions. Our results were compared with a comprehensive list of 38 targets of approved malaria drugs. When combining our approach with an in silico analysis performed recently [Yeh, I., Hanekamp, T., Tsoka, S., Karp, P.D., Altman, R.B., 2004. Computational analysis of Plasmodium falciparum metabolism: organizing genomic information to facilitate drug discovery. Genome Res. 14, 917-924] we could improve the precision of the prediction results. Finally we present a refined list of 22 new potential candidate targets for P. falciparum, half of which have reasonable evidence to be valid targets against micro-organisms and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Segun Fatumo
- Computer and Information Sciences Department, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
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Abstract
Synthesis de novo, acquisition by salvage and interconversion of purines and pyrimidines represent the fundamental requirements for their eventual assembly into nucleic acids as nucleotides and the deployment of their derivatives in other biochemical pathways. A small number of drugs targeted to nucleotide metabolism, by virtue of their effect on folate biosynthesis and recycling, have been successfully used against apicomplexan parasites such as Plasmodium and Toxoplasma for many years, although resistance is now a major problem in the prevention and treatment of malaria. Many targets not involving folate metabolism have also been explored at the experimental level. However, the unravelling of the genome sequences of these eukaryotic unicellular organisms, together with increasingly sophisticated molecular analyses, opens up possibilities of introducing new drugs that could interfere with these processes. This review examines the status of established drugs of this type and the potential for further exploiting the vulnerability of apicomplexan human pathogens to inhibition of this key area of metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Hyde
- Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7ND, UK.
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