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Martinez MZ, Olmo F, Taylor MC, Caudron F, Wilkinson SR. Dissecting the interstrand crosslink DNA repair system of Trypanosoma cruzi. DNA Repair (Amst) 2023; 125:103485. [PMID: 36989950 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2023.103485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) are toxic lesions that can block essential biological processes. Here we show Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is susceptible to ICL-inducing compounds including mechlorethamine and novel nitroreductase-activated prodrugs that have potential in treating this infection. To resolve such lesions, cells co-opt enzymes from "classical" DNA repair pathways that alongside dedicated factors operate in replication-dependent and -independent mechanisms. To assess ICL repair in T. cruzi, orthologues of SNM1, MRE11 and CSB were identified and their function assessed. The T. cruzi enzymes could complement the mechlorethamine susceptibility phenotype displayed by corresponding yeast and/or T. brucei null confirming their role as ICL repair factors while GFP-tagged TcSNM1, TcMRE11 and TcCSB were shown to localise to the nuclei of insect and/or intracellular form parasites. Gene disruption demonstrated that while each activity was non-essential for T. cruzi viability, nulls displayed a growth defect in at least one life cycle stage with TcMRE11-deficient trypomastigotes also compromised in mammalian cell infectivity. Phenotyping revealed all nulls were more susceptible to mechlorethamine than controls, a trait complemented by re-expression of the deleted gene. To assess interplay, the gene disruption approach was extended to generate T. cruzi deficient in TcSNM1/TcMRE11 or in TcSNM1/TcCSB. Analysis demonstrated these activities functioned across two ICL repair pathways with TcSNM1 and TcMRE11 postulated to operate in a replication-dependent system while TcCSB helps resolve transcription-blocking lesions. By unravelling how T. cruzi repairs ICL damage, specific inhibitors targeting repair components could be developed and used to increase the potency of trypanocidal ICL-inducing compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Zavala Martinez
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Francisco Olmo
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Martin C Taylor
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Fabrice Caudron
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Shane R Wilkinson
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK.
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2
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Bhattacharya A, Corbeil A, do Monte-Neto RL, Fernandez-Prada C. Of Drugs and Trypanosomatids: New Tools and Knowledge to Reduce Bottlenecks in Drug Discovery. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11070722. [PMID: 32610603 PMCID: PMC7397081 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis (Leishmania species), sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma brucei), and Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) are devastating and globally spread diseases caused by trypanosomatid parasites. At present, drugs for treating trypanosomatid diseases are far from ideal due to host toxicity, elevated cost, limited access, and increasing rates of drug resistance. Technological advances in parasitology, chemistry, and genomics have unlocked new possibilities for novel drug concepts and compound screening technologies that were previously inaccessible. In this perspective, we discuss current models used in drug-discovery cascades targeting trypanosomatids (from in vitro to in vivo approaches), their use and limitations in a biological context, as well as different examples of recently discovered lead compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arijit Bhattacharya
- Department of Microbiology, Adamas University, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 126, India;
| | - Audrey Corbeil
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
| | | | - Christopher Fernandez-Prada
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-450-773-8521 (ext. 32802)
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3
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Alcântara LM, Ferreira TCS, Fontana V, Chatelain E, Moraes CB, Freitas-Junior LH. A Multi-Species Phenotypic Screening Assay for Leishmaniasis Drug Discovery Shows That Active Compounds Display a High Degree of Species-Specificity. Molecules 2020; 25:E2551. [PMID: 32486239 PMCID: PMC7321149 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25112551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
High genetic and phenotypic variability between Leishmania species and strains within species make the development of broad-spectrum antileishmanial drugs challenging. Thus, screening panels consisting of several diverse Leishmania species can be useful in enabling compound prioritization based on their spectrum of activity. In this study, a robust and reproducible high content assay was developed, and 1280 small molecules were simultaneously screened against clinically relevant cutaneous and visceral species: L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis, and L. donovani. The assay is based on THP-1 macrophages infected with stationary phase promastigotes and posterior evaluation of both compound antileishmanial activity and host cell toxicity. The profile of compound activity was species-specific, and out of 51 active compounds, only 14 presented broad-spectrum activity against the three species, with activities ranging from 52% to 100%. Notably, the compounds CB1954, Clomipramine, Maprotiline, Protriptyline, and ML-9 presented pan-leishmanial activity, with efficacy greater than 70%. The results highlight the reduced number of compound classes with pan-leishmanial activity that might be available from diversity libraries, emphasizing the need to screen active compounds against a panel of species and strains. The assay reported here can be adapted to virtually any Leishmania species without the need for genetic modification of parasites, providing the basis for the discovery of broad spectrum anti-leishmanial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Alcântara
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; (L.M.A.); (T.C.S.F.); (V.F.)
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Thalita C. S. Ferreira
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; (L.M.A.); (T.C.S.F.); (V.F.)
- Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Fontana
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; (L.M.A.); (T.C.S.F.); (V.F.)
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland;
| | - Carolina B. Moraes
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; (L.M.A.); (T.C.S.F.); (V.F.)
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Lucio H. Freitas-Junior
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; (L.M.A.); (T.C.S.F.); (V.F.)
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
- Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP 05503-900, Brazil
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Dattani A, Wilkinson SR. Deciphering the interstrand crosslink DNA repair network expressed by Trypanosoma brucei. DNA Repair (Amst) 2019; 78:154-166. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Fonseca-Berzal C, Arán VJ, Escario JA, Gómez-Barrio A. Experimental models in Chagas disease: a review of the methodologies applied for screening compounds against Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:3367-3380. [PMID: 30232605 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-6084-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
One of the main problems of Chagas disease (CD), the parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is the lack of a completely satisfactory treatment, which is currently based on two old nitroheterocyclic drugs (i.e., nifurtimox and benznidazole) that show important limitations for treating patients. In this context, many laboratories look for alternative therapies potentially applicable to the treatment, and therefore, research in CD chemotherapy works in the design of experimental protocols for detecting molecules with activity against T. cruzi. Phenotypic assays are considered the most valuable strategy for screening these antiparasitic compounds. Among them, in vitro experiments are the first step to test potential anti-T. cruzi drugs directly on the different parasite forms (i.e., epimastigotes, trypomastigotes, and amastigotes) and to detect cytotoxicity. Once the putative trypanocidal drug has been identified in vitro, it must be moved to in vivo models of T. cruzi infection, to explore (i) acute toxicity, (ii) efficacy during the acute infection, and (iii) efficacy in the chronic disease. Moreover, in silico approaches for predicting activity have emerged as a supporting tool for drug screening procedures. Accordingly, this work reviews those in vitro, in vivo, and in silico methods that have been routinely applied during the last decades, aiming to discover trypanocidal compounds that contribute to developing more effective CD treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Fonseca-Berzal
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Vicente J Arán
- Instituto de Química Médica (IQM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), c/ Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Escario
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alicia Gómez-Barrio
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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A Bioactive Trypanosoma cruzi Bromodomain Inhibitor from Chemically Engineered Extracts. ACS COMBINATORIAL SCIENCE 2018; 20:220-228. [PMID: 29481050 DOI: 10.1021/acscombsci.7b00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
A set of chemically engineered extracts enriched in compounds including N-N and N-O fragments in their structures was prepared. Bromodomain binding screening and bioguided fractionation led to the identification of one oxime hit that interacts with TcBDF3 with affinity in the submicromolar range and that shows interesting antiparasitic properties against the different life cycle stages of T. cruzi.
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7
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Tetrasubstituted Imidazolium Salts as Potent Antiparasitic Agents against African and American Trypanosomiases. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23010177. [PMID: 29337878 PMCID: PMC6017328 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23010177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Imidazolium salts are privileged compounds in organic chemistry, and have valuable biological properties. Recent studies show that symmetric imidazolium salts with bulky moieties can display antiparasitic activity against T. cruzi. After developing a facile methodology for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted imidazolium salts from propargylamines and isocyanides, we screened a small library of these adducts against the causative agents of African and American trypanosomiases. These compounds display nanomolar activity against T. brucei and low (or sub) micromolar activity against T. cruzi, with excellent selectivity indexes and favorable molecular properties, thereby emerging as promising hits for the treatment of Chagas disease and sleeping sickness.
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8
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González L, García-Huertas P, Triana-Chávez O, García GA, Murta SMF, Mejía-Jaramillo AM. Aldo-keto reductase and alcohol dehydrogenase contribute to benznidazole natural resistance in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Microbiol 2017; 106:704-718. [PMID: 28884498 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The improvement of Chagas disease treatment is focused not only on the development of new drugs but also in understanding mechanisms of action and resistance to drugs conventionally used. Thus, some strategies aim to detect specific changes in proteins between sensitive and resistant parasites and to evaluate the role played in these processes by functional genomics. In this work, we used a natural Trypanosoma cruzi population resistant to benznidazole, which has clones with different susceptibilities to this drug without alterations in the NTR I gene. Using 2DE-gel electrophoresis, the aldo-keto reductase and the alcohol dehydrogenase proteins were found up regulated in the natural resistant clone and therefore their possible role in the resistance to benznidazole and glyoxal was investigated. Both genes were overexpressed in a drug sensitive T. cruzi clone and the biological changes in response to these compounds were evaluated. The results showed that the overexpression of these proteins enhances resistance to benznidazole and glyoxal in T. cruzi. Moreover, a decrease in mitochondrial and cell membrane damage was observed, accompanied by a drop in the intracellular concentration of reactive oxygen species after treatment. Our results suggest that these proteins are involved in the mechanism of action of benznidazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura González
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Paola García-Huertas
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Omar Triana-Chávez
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Gabriela Andrea García
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben"- ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Ana M Mejía-Jaramillo
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
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9
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Ranzani AT, Nowicki C, Wilkinson SR, Cordeiro AT. Identification of Specific Inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi Malic Enzyme Isoforms by Target-Based HTS. SLAS DISCOVERY 2017; 22:1150-1161. [PMID: 28459632 DOI: 10.1177/2472555217706649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease. The lack of an efficient and safe treatment supports the research into novel metabolic targets, with the malic enzyme (ME) representing one such potential candidate. T. cruzi expresses a cytosolic (TcMEc) and a mitochondrial (TcMEm) ME isoform, with these activities functioning to generate NADPH, a key source of reducing equivalents that drives a range of anabolic and protective processes. To identify specific inhibitors that target TcMEs, two independent high-throughput screening strategies using a diversity library containing 30,000 compounds were employed. IC50 values of 262 molecules were determined for both TcMEs, as well as for three human ME isoforms, with the inhibitors clustered into six groups according to their chemical similarity. The most potent hits belonged to a sulfonamide group that specifically target TcMEc. Moreover, several selected inhibitors of both TcMEs showed a trypanocidal effect against the replicative forms of T. cruzi. The chemical diversity observed among those compounds that inhibit TcMEs activity emphasizes the druggability of these enzymes, with a sulfonamide-based subset of compounds readily able to block TcMEc function at a low nanomolar range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Americo T Ranzani
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristina Nowicki
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológica (IQUIFIB-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Shane R Wilkinson
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Artur T Cordeiro
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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10
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Sola I, Artigas A, Taylor MC, Pérez-Areales FJ, Viayna E, Clos MV, Pérez B, Wright CW, Kelly JM, Muñoz-Torrero D. Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-cyanoalkyl-, N-aminoalkyl-, and N-guanidinoalkyl-substituted 4-aminoquinoline derivatives as potent, selective, brain permeable antitrypanosomal agents. Bioorg Med Chem 2016; 24:5162-5171. [PMID: 27591008 PMCID: PMC5080452 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Current drugs against human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) suffer from several serious drawbacks. The search for novel, effective, brain permeable, safe, and inexpensive antitrypanosomal compounds is therefore an urgent need. We have recently reported that the 4-aminoquinoline derivative huprine Y, developed in our group as an anticholinesterasic agent, exhibits a submicromolar potency against Trypanosoma brucei and that its homo- and hetero-dimerization can result in to up to three-fold increased potency and selectivity. As an alternative strategy towards more potent smaller molecule anti-HAT agents, we have explored the introduction of ω-cyanoalkyl, ω-aminoalkyl, or ω-guanidinoalkyl chains at the primary amino group of huprine or the simplified 4-aminoquinoline analogue tacrine. Here, we describe the evaluation of a small in-house library and a second generation of newly synthesized derivatives, which has led to the identification of 13 side chain modified 4-aminoquinoline derivatives with submicromolar potencies against T. brucei. Among these compounds, the guanidinononyltacrine analogue 15e exhibits a 5-fold increased antitrypanosomal potency, 10-fold increased selectivity, and 100-fold decreased anticholinesterasic activity relative to the parent huprine Y. Its biological profile, lower molecular weight relative to dimeric compounds, reduced lipophilicity, and ease of synthesis, make it an interesting anti-HAT lead, amenable to further optimization to eliminate its remaining anticholinesterasic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Sola
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Artigas
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martin C Taylor
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - F Javier Pérez-Areales
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Viayna
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Victòria Clos
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Institute of Neurosciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Institute of Neurosciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Colin W Wright
- Bradford School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1 DP, United Kingdom
| | - John M Kelly
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease is a chronic infection associated with long-term morbidity. Increased funding and advocacy for drug discovery for neglected diseases have prompted the introduction of several important technological advances, and Chagas disease is among the neglected conditions that has mostly benefited from technological developments. A number of screening campaigns, and the development of new and improved in vitro and in vivo assays, has led to advances in the field of drug discovery. AREAS COVERED This review highlights the major advances in Chagas disease drug screening, and how these are being used not only to discover novel chemical entities and drug candidates, but also increase our knowledge about the disease and the parasite. Different methodologies used for compound screening and prioritization are discussed, as well as novel techniques for the investigation of these targets. The molecular mechanism of action is also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Technological advances have been executed with scientific rigour for the development of new in vitro cell-based assays and in vivo animal models, to bring about novel and better drugs for Chagas disease, as well as to increase our understanding of what are the necessary properties for a compound to be successful in the clinic. The gained knowledge, combined with new exciting approaches toward target deconvolution, will help identifying new targets for Chagas disease chemotherapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina B Moraes
- a Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio) , Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM) , Campinas , Brazil
| | - Caio H Franco
- a Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio) , Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM) , Campinas , Brazil.,b Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology , Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo , Sao Paulo , Brazil
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Bermudez J, Davies C, Simonazzi A, Pablo Real J, Palma S. Current drug therapy and pharmaceutical challenges for Chagas disease. Acta Trop 2016; 156:1-16. [PMID: 26747009 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the most significant health problems in the American continent in terms of human health, and socioeconomic impact is Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Infection was originally transmitted by reduviid insects, congenitally from mother to fetus, and by oral ingestion in sylvatic/rural environments, but blood transfusions, organ transplants, laboratory accidents, and sharing of contaminated syringes also contribute to modern day transmission. Likewise, Chagas disease used to be endemic from Northern Mexico to Argentina, but migrations have earned it global. The parasite has a complex life cycle, infecting different species, and invading a variety of cells - including muscle and nerve cells of the heart and gastrointestinal tract - in the mammalian host. Human infection outcome is a potentially fatal cardiomyopathy, and gastrointestinal tract lesions. In absence of a vaccine, vector control and treatment of patients are the only tools to control the disease. Unfortunately, the only drugs now available for Chagas' disease, Nifurtimox and Benznidazole, are relatively toxic for adult patients, and require prolonged administration. Benznidazole is the first choice for Chagas disease treatment due to its lower side effects than Nifurtimox. However, different strategies are being sought to overcome Benznidazole's toxicity including shorter or intermittent administration schedules-either alone or in combination with other drugs. In addition, a long list of compounds has shown trypanocidal activity, ranging from natural products to specially designed molecules, re-purposing drugs commercialized to treat other maladies, and homeopathy. In the present review, we will briefly summarize the upturns of current treatment of Chagas disease, discuss the increment on research and scientific publications about this topic, and give an overview of the state-of-the-art research aiming to produce an alternative medication to treat T. cruzi infection.
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13
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Di Pietro O, Vicente-García E, Taylor MC, Berenguer D, Viayna E, Lanzoni A, Sola I, Sayago H, Riera C, Fisa R, Clos MV, Pérez B, Kelly JM, Lavilla R, Muñoz-Torrero D. Multicomponent reaction-based synthesis and biological evaluation of tricyclic heterofused quinolines with multi-trypanosomatid activity. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 105:120-37. [PMID: 26479031 PMCID: PMC4638191 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, which are caused by the trypanosomatids Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania species, are among the most deadly neglected tropical diseases. The development of drugs that are active against several trypanosomatids is appealing from a clinical and economic viewpoint, and seems feasible, as these parasites share metabolic pathways and hence might be treatable by common drugs. From benzonapthyridine 1, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) for which we have found a remarkable trypanocidal activity, we have designed and synthesized novel benzo[h][1,6]naphthyridines, pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinolines, azepino[3,2-c]quinolines, and pyrano[3,2-c]quinolines through 2–4-step sequences featuring an initial multicomponent Povarov reaction as the key step. To assess the therapeutic potential of the novel compounds, we have evaluated their in vitro activity against T. brucei, T. cruzi, and Leishmania infantum, as well as their brain permeability, which is of specific interest for the treatment of late-stage HAT. To assess their potential toxicity, we have determined their cytotoxicity against rat myoblast L6 cells and their AChE inhibitory activity. Several tricyclic heterofused quinoline derivatives were found to display an interesting multi-trypanosomatid profile, with one-digit micromolar potencies against two of these parasites and two-digit micromolar potency against the other. Pyranoquinoline 39, which displays IC50 values of 1.5 μM, 6.1 μM and 29.2 μM against T. brucei, L. infantum and T. cruzi, respectively, brain permeability, better drug-like properties (lower lipophilicity and molecular weight and higher CNS MPO desirability score) than hit 1, and the lowest AChE inhibitory activity of the series (IC50 > 30 μM), emerges as an interesting multi-trypanosomatid lead, amenable to further optimization particularly in terms of its selectivity index over mammalian cells. Novel classes of tricyclic heterofused quinolines have been synthesized. Their 2–4-step syntheses involve a multicomponent Povarov reaction as the key step. Some compounds exhibit single digit micromolar potencies against 2 trypanosomatids. All compounds with multi-trypanosomatid activity can cross the blood–brain barrier. Most compounds with multi-trypanosomatid activity have drug like properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornella Di Pietro
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Martin C Taylor
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Diana Berenguer
- Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Viayna
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Lanzoni
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene Sola
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Helena Sayago
- Barcelona Science Park, Baldiri Reixac, 10-12, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Riera
- Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Fisa
- Laboratori de Parasitologia, Departament de Microbiologia i Parasitologia Sanitàries, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Victòria Clos
- Departament de Farmacologia, de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén Pérez
- Departament de Farmacologia, de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - John M Kelly
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Rodolfo Lavilla
- Barcelona Science Park, Baldiri Reixac, 10-12, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain; Laboratori de Química Orgànica, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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14
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Sullivan JA, Tong JL, Wong M, Kumar A, Sarkar H, Ali S, Hussein I, Zaman I, Meredith EL, Helsby NA, Hu L, Wilkinson SR. Unravelling the role of SNM1 in the DNA repair system ofTrypanosoma brucei. Mol Microbiol 2015; 96:827-38. [DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James A. Sullivan
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - Jie Lun Tong
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - Martin Wong
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - Ambika Kumar
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - Hajrah Sarkar
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - Sarah Ali
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - Ikran Hussein
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - Iqra Zaman
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - Emma Louise Meredith
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - Nuala A. Helsby
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology; University of Auckland; Private Bag 92019 Auckland New Zealand
| | - Longqin Hu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry; Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy; Rutgers; The State University of New Jersey; Piscataway NJ 08854 USA
| | - Shane R. Wilkinson
- School of Biological & Chemical Sciences; Queen Mary University of London; Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
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15
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Sola I, Castellà S, Viayna E, Galdeano C, Taylor MC, Gbedema SY, Pérez B, Clos MV, Jones DC, Fairlamb AH, Wright CW, Kelly JM, Muñoz-Torrero D. Synthesis, biological profiling and mechanistic studies of 4-aminoquinoline-based heterodimeric compounds with dual trypanocidal-antiplasmodial activity. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:5156-67. [PMID: 25678015 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2014] [Revised: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Dual submicromolar trypanocidal-antiplasmodial compounds have been identified by screening and chemical synthesis of 4-aminoquinoline-based heterodimeric compounds of three different structural classes. In Trypanosoma brucei, inhibition of the enzyme trypanothione reductase seems to be involved in the potent trypanocidal activity of these heterodimers, although it is probably not the main biological target. Regarding antiplasmodial activity, the heterodimers seem to share the mode of action of the antimalarial drug chloroquine, which involves inhibition of the haem detoxification process. Interestingly, all of these heterodimers display good brain permeabilities, thereby being potentially useful for late stage human African trypanosomiasis. Future optimization of these compounds should focus mainly on decreasing cytotoxicity and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Sola
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sílvia Castellà
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabet Viayna
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Galdeano
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martin C Taylor
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Y Gbedema
- Bradford School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1 DP, United Kingdom; Department of Pharmaceutics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Belén Pérez
- Departament de Farmacologia, de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Victòria Clos
- Departament de Farmacologia, de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193-Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Deuan C Jones
- Division of Biological Chemistry & Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Alan H Fairlamb
- Division of Biological Chemistry & Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Colin W Wright
- Bradford School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1 DP, United Kingdom
| | - John M Kelly
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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16
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Novel nitro(triazole/imidazole)-based heteroarylamides/sulfonamides as potential antitrypanosomal agents. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 87:79-88. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.09.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Revised: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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17
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Lewis MD, Francisco AF, Taylor MC, Kelly JM. A new experimental model for assessing drug efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi infection based on highly sensitive in vivo imaging. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 20:36-43. [PMID: 25296657 PMCID: PMC4361455 DOI: 10.1177/1087057114552623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, one of the world’s major neglected infections. Although development of improved antiparasitic drugs is considered a priority, there have been no significant treatment advances in the past 40 years. Factors that have limited progress include an incomplete understanding of pathogenesis, tissue tropism, and disease progression. In addition, in vivo models, which allow parasite burdens to be tracked throughout the chronic stage of infection, have been lacking. To address these issues, we have developed a highly sensitive in vivo imaging system based on bioluminescent T. cruzi, which express a red-shifted luciferase that emits light in the tissue-penetrating orange-red region of the spectrum. The exquisite sensitivity of this noninvasive murine model has been exploited to monitor parasite burden in real time throughout the chronic stage, has allowed the identification of the gastrointestinal tract as the major niche of long-term infection, and has demonstrated that chagasic heart disease can develop in the absence of locally persistent parasites. Here, we review the parameters of the imaging system and describe how this experimental model can be incorporated into drug development programs as a valuable tool for assessing efficacy against both acute and chronic T. cruzi infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Lewis
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Amanda Fortes Francisco
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Martin C Taylor
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - John M Kelly
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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18
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de Carvalho AS, Salomão K, de Castro SL, Conde TR, Zamith HPDS, Caffarena ER, Hall BS, Wilkinson SR, Boechat N. Megazol and its bioisostere 4H-1,2,4-triazole: comparing the trypanocidal, cytotoxic and genotoxic activities and their in vitro and in silico interactions with the Trypanosoma brucei nitroreductase enzyme. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2014; 109:315-23. [PMID: 24676659 PMCID: PMC4131783 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276140497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Megazol (7) is a 5-nitroimidazole that is highly active against Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei, as well as drug-resistant forms of trypanosomiasis. Compound 7 is not used clinically due to its mutagenic and genotoxic properties, but has been largely used as a lead compound. Here, we compared the activity of 7 with its 4H-1,2,4-triazole bioisostere (8) in bloodstream forms of T. brucei and T. cruzi and evaluated their activation by T. brucei type I nitroreductase (TbNTR) enzyme. We also analysed the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of these compounds in whole human blood using Comet and fluorescein diacetate/ethidium bromide assays. Although the only difference between 7 and 8 is the substitution of sulphur (in the thiadiazole in 7) for nitrogen (in the triazole in 8), the results indicated that 8 had poorer antiparasitic activity than 7 and was not genotoxic, whereas 7 presented this effect. The determination of Vmax indicated that although 8 was metabolised more rapidly than 7, it bounds to the TbNTR with better affinity, resulting in equivalent kcat/KM values. Docking assays of 7 and 8 performed within the active site of a homology model of the TbNTR indicating that 8 had greater affinity than 7.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelly Salomão
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de
Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Taline Ramos Conde
- Departamento de Farmacologia e Toxicologia, Instituto Nacional de
Controle de Qualidade em Saúde - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ,
Brasil
| | - Helena Pereira da Silva Zamith
- Departamento de Farmacologia e Toxicologia, Instituto Nacional de
Controle de Qualidade em Saúde - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ,
Brasil
| | | | - Belinda Suzette Hall
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of
London, London, UK
| | | | - Núbia Boechat
- Departamento de Síntese de Fármacos, Farmanguinhos - Fiocruz, Rio de
Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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19
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Novel 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based compounds as potential anti-Chagasic drugs: in vivo studies. Future Med Chem 2014; 5:1763-76. [PMID: 24144412 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.13.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in Latin America and leads to an estimated 14,000 deaths per year and around 100 million people at risk of infection. Drugs currently used in the treatment of Chagas are old, partially effective and have numerous side effects. METHODOLOGY We have previously reported that 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based compounds demonstrate significant and selective activity against T. cruzi amastigotes in infected L6 cells via activation of a type I nitroreductase, specific to trypanosomatids. In the present work we evaluated in vivo 13 of these compounds based on their high in vitro potency against T. cruzi (IC50 < 1 µM) and selectivity (SI: toxicity to L6 cells/toxicity against T. cruzi amastigotes > 200). Representative compounds of different chemical classes were included. A fast luminescence assay with transgenic parasites that express luciferase, and live imaging techniques were used. A total of 11 out of 13 compounds demonstrated significant antichagasic activity when administered intraperitoneally for 5-10 days at relatively small doses. The best in vivo activity was demonstrated by amides and sulfonamide derivatives. ADMET studies were performed for specific compounds. CONCLUSION At least three compounds were identified as effective, non-toxic antichagasic agents suitable for further development.
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20
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Lewis MD, Fortes Francisco A, Taylor MC, Burrell-Saward H, McLatchie AP, Miles MA, Kelly JM. Bioluminescence imaging of chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infections reveals tissue-specific parasite dynamics and heart disease in the absence of locally persistent infection. Cell Microbiol 2014; 16:1285-300. [PMID: 24712539 PMCID: PMC4190689 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Summary Chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infections lead to cardiomyopathy in 20–30% of cases. A causal link between cardiac infection and pathology has been difficult to establish because of a lack of robust methods to detect scarce, focally distributed parasites within tissues. We developed a highly sensitive bioluminescence imaging system based on T. cruzi expressing a novel luciferase that emits tissue-penetrating orange-red light. This enabled long-term serial evaluation of parasite burdens in individual mice with an in vivo limit of detection of significantly less than 1000 parasites. Parasite distributions during chronic infections were highly focal and spatiotemporally dynamic, but did not localize to the heart. End-point ex vivo bioluminescence imaging allowed tissue-specific quantification of parasite loads with minimal sampling bias. During chronic infections, the gastro-intestinal tract, specifically the colon and stomach, was the only site where T. cruzi infection was consistently observed. Quantitative PCR-inferred parasite loads correlated with ex vivo bioluminescence and confirmed the gut as the parasite reservoir. Chronically infected mice developed myocarditis and cardiac fibrosis, despite the absence of locally persistent parasites. These data identify the gut as a permissive niche for long-term T. cruzi infection and show that canonical features of Chagas disease can occur without continual myocardium-specific infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Lewis
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
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21
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Fonseca-Berzal C, Escario JA, Arán VJ, Gómez-Barrio A. Further insights into biological evaluation of new anti-Trypanosoma cruzi 5-nitroindazoles. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:1049-56. [PMID: 24435615 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3740-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Twelve molecules from a series of 35 new 5-nitroindazole derivatives, selected from a successful primary screening on Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, have been evaluated against intracellular amastigotes according to the previous results of their trypanocidal activity and unspecific cytotoxicity. 2-Benzyl-1-propyl (22), 2-benzyl-1-isopropyl (23), and 2-benzyl-1-butyl (24) 5-nitroindazolin-3-ones have inhibited the growth of amastigotes similarly to the reference drugs benznidazole and nifurtimox, inducing complete growth inhibition at concentrations lower than 8 μM (IC₅₀ < 5 μM) and accomplishing great selectivity indexes on the intracellular form of the parasite (SI > 30). Further in vivo assays were developed only for two of the most active molecules (22 and 24), reaching significant reductions in parasitemia levels (52 % and 77%, respectively) after their oral administration to infected mice. In addition, none of the mice in experimental and benznidazole groups died, unlike in the control group which is only treated with the vehicle. The trypanocidal properties found in some of the 5-nitroindazole derivatives assayed in the present work represent an interesting contribution to the urgent need for searching new antichagasic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Fonseca-Berzal
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (CEI Campus Moncloa, UCM-UPM & CSIC), Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain,
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22
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Parshikov IA, Silva EO, Furtado NAJC. Transformation of saturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds by microorganisms. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2013; 98:1497-506. [PMID: 24352731 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-013-5429-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Revised: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The saturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds include many drugs and compounds that may be used as synthons for the synthesis of other pharmacologically active substances. The need for new derivatives of saturated nitrogen-containing heterocycles for organic synthesis, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry, including optically active derivatives, has increased interest in microbial synthesis. This review provides an overview of microbial technologies that can be valuable to produce new derivatives of saturated nitrogen-containing heterocycles, including hydroxylated derivatives. The chemo-, regio- and enantioselectivity of microbial processes can be indispensable for the synthesis of new compounds. Microbial processes carried out with fungi, including Beauveria bassiana, Cunninghamella verticillata, Penicillium simplicissimum, Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and bacteria, including Pseudomonas sp., Sphingomonas sp. and Rhodococcus erythropolis, biotransform many substrates efficiently. Among the biological activities of saturated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds are antimicrobial, antitumor, antihypertensive and anti-HIV activities; some derivatives are effective for the treatment and prevention of malaria and trypanosomiasis, and others are potent glycosidase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor A Parshikov
- Institute of Applied Mechanics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia,
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23
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Serafim EOP, Silva ATDAE, Moreno ADH, Vizioli EDO, Ferreira EI, Peccinini RG, Ribeiro ML, Chung MC. Pharmacokinetics of hydroxymethylnitrofurazone, a promising new prodrug for Chagas' disease treatment. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 57:6106-9. [PMID: 24080661 PMCID: PMC3837917 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02522-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydroxymethylnitrofurazone (NFOH) is a trypanocidal prodrug of nitrofurazone (NF), devoid of mutagenic toxicity. The purpose of this work was to study the chemical conversion of NFOH into NF in sodium acetate buffer (pH 1.2 and 7.4) and in human plasma and to determine preclinical pharmacokinetic parameters in rats. At pH 1.2, the NFOH was totally transformed into NF, the parent drug, after 48 h, while at pH 7.4, after the same period, the hydrolysis rate was 20%. In human plasma, 50% of NFOH was hydrolyzed after 24 h. In the investigation of kinetic disposition, the concentration of drug in serum versus time curve was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters after a single-dose regimen. NFOH showed a time to maximum concentration of drug in serum (Tmax) as 1 h, suggesting faster absorption than NF (4 h). The most important results observed were the volume of distribution (V) of NFOH through the tissues, which showed a rate that is 20-fold higher (337.5 liters/kg of body weight) than that of NF (17.64 liters/kg), and the concentration of NF obtained by in vivo metabolism of NFOH, which was about four times lower (maximum concentration of drug in serum [Cmax] = 0.83 μg/ml; area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h [AUC0-12] = 5.683 μg/ml · h) than observed for administered NF (Cmax = 2.78 μg/ml; AUC0-12 = 54.49 μg/ml · h). These findings can explain the superior activity and lower toxicity of the prodrug NFOH in relation to its parent drug and confirm NFOH as a promising anti-Chagas' disease drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana Ometto Pavan Serafim
- Lapdesf, Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Chemical Institute, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Andréia de Haro Moreno
- Lapdesf, Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Ednir de Oliveira Vizioli
- Lapdesf, Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Igne Ferreira
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rosângela Gonçalves Peccinini
- Department of Natural Drugs and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Lucia Ribeiro
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Chemical Institute, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Man Chin Chung
- Lapdesf, Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo State, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
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Evaluating aziridinyl nitrobenzamide compounds as leishmanicidal prodrugs. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 58:370-7. [PMID: 24165190 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01459-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many of the nitroaromatic agents used in medicine function as prodrugs and must undergo activation before exerting their toxic effects. In most cases, this is catalyzed by flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-dependent type I nitroreductases (NTRs), a class of enzyme absent from higher eukaryotes but expressed by bacteria and several eukaryotic microbes, including trypanosomes and Leishmania. Here, we utilize this difference to evaluate whether members of a library of aziridinyl nitrobenzamides have activity against Leishmania major. Biochemical screens using purified L. major NTR (LmNTR) revealed that compounds containing an aziridinyl-2,4-dinitrobenzyl core were effective substrates for the enzyme and showed that the 4-nitro group was important for this activity. To facilitate drug screening against intracellular amastigote parasites, we generated leishmanial cells that expressed the luciferase reporter gene and optimized a mammalian infection model in a 96-well plate format. A subset of aziridinyl-2,4-dinitrobenzyl compounds possessing a 5-amide substituent displayed significant growth-inhibitory properties against the parasite, with the most potent agents generating 50% inhibitory concentrations of <100 nM for the intracellular form. This antimicrobial activity was shown to be LmNTR specific since L. major NTR(+/-) heterozygote parasites were slightly resistance to most aziridinyl dinitrobenzyl agents tested. When the most potent leishmanicidal agents were screened against the mammalian cells in which the amastigote parasites were propagated, no growth-inhibitory effect was observed at concentrations of up to 100 μM. We conclude that the aziridinyl nitrobenzamides represent a new lead structure that may have the potential to treat leishmanial infections.
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Fonseca-Berzal C, Merchán Arenas DR, Romero Bohórquez AR, Escario JA, Kouznetsov VV, Gómez-Barrio A. Selective activity of 2,4-diaryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines on Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes and amastigotes expressing β-galactosidase. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:4851-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.06.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Papadopoulou MV, Bloomer WD, Rosenzweig HS, Kaiser M, Chatelain E, Ioset JR. Novel 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based piperazines and 2-amino-1,3-benzothiazoles as antichagasic agents. Bioorg Med Chem 2013; 21:6600-7. [PMID: 24012457 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2013.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Revised: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 08/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown that 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based amines demonstrate significant trypanocidal activity, in particular against Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative parasite of Chagas disease. In the present work we further expanded our research by evaluating in vitro the trypanocidal activity of nitrotriazole-based piperazines and nitrotriazole-based 2-amino-1,3-benzothiazoles to establish additional SARs. All nitrotriazole-based derivatives were active or moderately active against T. cruzi; however two of them did not fulfill the selectivity criteria. Five derivatives were active or moderately active against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense while one derivative was moderately active against Leishmania donovani. Active compounds against T. cruzi demonstrated selectivity indexes (toxicity to host cells/toxicity to T. cruzi amastigotes) from 117 to 1725 and 12 of 13 compounds were up to 39-fold more potent than the reference compound benznidazole. Detailed SARs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Papadopoulou
- NorthShore University HealthSystem, Department of Radiation Medicine, 2650 Ridge Ave., Evanston, IL 60201, USA.
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Van Reet N, Pyana P, Rogé S, Claes F, Büscher P. Luminescent multiplex viability assay for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:207. [PMID: 23856321 PMCID: PMC3728213 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND New compounds for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) are urgently required. Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) gambiense is the leading cause of HAT, yet T.b. gambiense is often not the prime target organism in drug discovery. This may be attributed to the difficulties in handling this subspecies and the lack of an efficient viability assay to monitor drug efficacy. METHODS In this study, a T.b. gambiense strain, recently isolated in the D.R. Congo, was made bioluminescent by transfection with Renilla luciferase (RLuc) without altering its in vitro and in vivo growth characteristics. A luminescent multiplex viability assay (LMVA), based on measurement of the Renilla luciferase activity and the ATP content of the cells within the same experiment, was investigated as an alternative to the standard fluorimetric resazurin viability assay for drug sensitivity testing of T.b. gambiense. RESULTS In a 96-well format, the RLuc transfected strain showed a detection limit of 2 × 10(4) cells ml(-1) for the Renilla luciferase measurement and 5 × 10(3) cells ml(-1) for the ATP measurement. Both assays of the LMVA showed linearity up to 10(6) cells ml(-1) and correlated well with the cell density during exponential growth of the long slender bloodstream forms. The LMVA was compared to the fluorimetric resazurin viability assay for drug sensitivity testing of pentamidine, eflornithine, nifurtimox and melarsoprol with both the wild type and the RLuc transfected population. For each drug, the IC50 value of the RLuc population was similar to that of the wild type when determined with either the fluorimetric resazurin method or the LMVA. For eflornithine, nifurtimox and melarsoprol we found no difference between the IC50 values in both viability assays. In contrast, the IC50 value of pentamidine was higher when determined with the fluorimetric resazurin method than in both assays of the LMVA. CONCLUSIONS LMVA has some advantages for viability measurement of T.b. gambiense: it requires less incubation time for viability detection than the fluorimetric resazurin assay and in LMVA, two sensitive and independent viability assays are performed in the same experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Van Reet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Abstract
The nitroheterocycle nifurtimox, as part of a nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy, represents one of a limited number of treatments targeting Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis. The mode of action of this prodrug involves an initial activation reaction catalyzed by a type I nitroreductase (NTR), an enzyme found predominantly in prokaryotes, leading to the formation of a cytotoxic unsaturated open-chain nitrile metabolite. Here, we evaluate the trypanocidal activities of a library of other 5-nitrofurans against the bloodstream form of T. brucei as a preliminary step in the identification of additional nitroaromatic compounds that can potentially partner with eflornithine. Biochemical screening against the purified enzyme revealed that all 5-nitrofurans were effective substrates for T. brucei NTR (TbNTR), with the preferred compounds having apparent kcat/Km values approximately 50-fold greater than those of nifurtimox. For several compounds, in vitro reduction by this nitroreductase yielded products characterized by mass spectrometry as either unsaturated or saturated open-chain nitriles. When tested against the bloodstream form of T. brucei, many of the derivatives displayed significant growth-inhibitory properties, with the most potent compounds generating 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) around 200 nM. The antiparasitic activities of the most potent agents were demonstrated to be NTR dependent, as parasites having reduced levels of the enzyme displayed resistance to the compounds, while parasites overexpressing TbNTR showed hypersensitivity. We conclude that other members of the 5-nitrofuran class of nitroheterocycles have the potential to treat human African trypanosomiasis, perhaps as an alternative partner prodrug to nifurtimox, in the next generation of eflornithine-based combinational therapies.
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Zhou L, Stewart G, Rideau E, Westwood NJ, Smith TK. A class of 5-nitro-2-furancarboxylamides with potent trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma brucei in vitro. J Med Chem 2013; 56:796-806. [PMID: 23281892 PMCID: PMC3579312 DOI: 10.1021/jm301215e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the World Health Organization approved the nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis, renewing interest in nitroheterocycle therapies for this and associated diseases. In this study, we have synthesized a series of novel 5-nitro-2-furancarboxylamides that show potent trypanocidal activity, ∼1000-fold more potent than nifurtimox against in vitro Trypanosoma brucei with very low cytotoxicity against human HeLa cells. More importantly, the most potent analogue showed very limited cross-resistance to nifurtimox-resistant cells and vice versa. This implies that our novel, relatively easy to synthesize and therefore cheap, 5-nitro-2-furancarboxylamides are targeting a different, but still essential, biochemical process to those targeted by nifurtimox or its metabolites in the parasites. The significant increase in potency (smaller dose probably required) has the potential for greatly reducing unwanted side effects and also reducing the likelihood of drug resistance. Collectively, these findings have important implications for the future therapeutic treatment of African sleeping sickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linna Zhou
- School of Chemistry and EaStCHEM, The North Haugh, The University of St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, Scotland, UK
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D'Archivio S, Cosson A, Medina M, Lang T, Minoprio P, Goyard S. Non-invasive in vivo study of the Trypanosoma vivax infectious process consolidates the brain commitment in late infections. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e1976. [PMID: 23301112 PMCID: PMC3536815 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 11/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma vivax, one of the leading parasites responsible for Animal African Trypanosomosis (Nagana), is generally cyclically transmitted by Glossina spp. but in areas devoid of the tsetse flies in Africa or in Latin American countries is mechanically transmitted across vertebrate hosts by other haematophagous insects, including tabanids. We followed on from our recent studies on the maintenance of this parasite in vivo and in vitro, and its genetic manipulation, by constructing a West African IL1392 T. vivax strain that stably expresses firefly luciferase and is fully virulent for immunocompetent mice. We report here on a study where murine infection with this strain was monitored in vivo using a non-invasive method. Study findings fully support the use of this strain in the assessment of parasite dynamics in vivo since a strong correlation was found between whole body light emission measured over the course of the infection and parasitemia determined microscopically. In addition, parasitemia and survival rates were very similar for mice infected by the intraperitoneal and sub-cutaneous routes, except for a longer prepatent period following sub-cutaneous inoculation with the parasite. Our results clearly show that when administered by the subcutaneous route, the parasite is retained few days in the skin close to the inoculation site where it multiplies before passing into the bloodstream. Ex vivo bioluminescence analyses of organs isolated from infected mice corroborated our previous histopathological observations with parasite infiltration into spleen, liver and lungs. Finally, our study reinforces previous observations on the presence of the parasite in the central nervous system and consequently the brain commitment in the very late phases of the experimental infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D'Archivio
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosoma, Department of Infection and Epidemiology, Paris, France
| | - Alain Cosson
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosoma, Department of Infection and Epidemiology, Paris, France
| | - Mathieu Medina
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosoma, Department of Infection and Epidemiology, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Lang
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire d'Immunophysiologie et Parasitisme, Department of Parasitology, Paris, France
| | - Paola Minoprio
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosoma, Department of Infection and Epidemiology, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Goyard
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosoma, Department of Infection and Epidemiology, Paris, France
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Yang Y, Voak A, Wilkinson SR, Hu L. Design, synthesis, and evaluation of potential prodrugs of DFMO for reductive activation. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2012; 22:6583-6. [PMID: 23031595 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2012.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Revised: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A series of potential DFMO prodrugs was designed through the incorporation of 4-nitrobenzyl ester or carbamate groups for potential activation by trypanosomal nitroreductase. It was found that only modification of N(ε)-amino group of DFMO by 4-nitro-2-fluorobenzyloxycarbonyl resulted in significant trypanocidal activity and could serve as a lead for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Targeting the substrate preference of a type I nitroreductase to develop antitrypanosomal quinone-based prodrugs. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:5821-30. [PMID: 22948871 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01227-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitroheterocyclic prodrugs are used to treat infections caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei. A key component in selectivity involves a specific activation step mediated by a protein homologous with type I nitroreductases, enzymes found predominantly in prokaryotes. Using data from determinations based on flavin cofactor, oxygen-insensitive activity, substrate range, and inhibition profiles, we demonstrate that NTRs from T. cruzi and T. brucei display many characteristics of their bacterial counterparts. Intriguingly, both enzymes preferentially use NADH and quinones as the electron donor and acceptor, respectively, suggesting that they may function as NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductases in the parasite mitochondrion. We exploited this preference to determine the trypanocidal activity of a library of aziridinyl benzoquinones against bloodstream-form T. brucei. Biochemical screens using recombinant NTR demonstrated that several quinones were effective substrates for the parasite enzyme, having K(cat)/K(m) values 2 orders of magnitude greater than those of nifurtimox and benznidazole. In tests against T. brucei, antiparasitic activity mirrored the biochemical data, with the most potent compounds generally being preferred enzyme substrates. Trypanocidal activity was shown to be NTR dependent, as parasites with elevated levels of this enzyme were hypersensitive to the aziridinyl agent. By unraveling the biochemical characteristics exhibited by the trypanosomal NTRs, we have shown that quinone-based compounds represent a class of trypanocidal compound.
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Papadopoulou MV, Bloomer WD, Rosenzweig HS, Chatelain E, Kaiser M, Wilkinson SR, McKenzie C, Ioset JR. Novel 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based amides and sulfonamides as potential antitrypanosomal agents. J Med Chem 2012; 55:5554-65. [PMID: 22550999 DOI: 10.1021/jm300508n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A series of novel 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based (and in some cases 2-nitro-1H-imidazole-based) amides and sulfonamides were characterized for their in vitro antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial activities as well as mammalian toxicity. Out of 36 compounds tested, 29 (mostly 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazoles) displayed significant activity against Trypanosoma cruzi intracellular amastigotes (IC(50) ranging from 28 nM to 3.72 μM) without concomitant toxicity to L6 host cells (selectivity 66-2782). Twenty-three of these active compounds were more potent (up to 58-fold) than the reference drug benznidazole, tested in parallel. In addition, nine nitrotriazoles which were moderately active (0.5 μM ≤ IC(50) < 6.0 μM) against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense trypomastigotes were 5-31-fold more active against bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei brucei trypomastigotes engineered to overexpress reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dependent nitroreductase. Finally, three nitrotriazoles displayed a moderate activity against the axenic form of Leishmania donovani . Therefore, 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based amides and sulfonamides are potent antitrypanosomal agents.
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Experimental chemotherapy and approaches to drug discovery for Trypanosoma cruzi infection. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2011; 75:89-119. [PMID: 21820553 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385863-4.00005-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
In the 100 years since the discovery of Chagas disease, only two drugs have been developed and introduced into clinical practice, and these drugs were introduced over 40 years ago. The tools of drug discovery have improved dramatically in the interim; however, this has not translated into new drugs for Chagas disease. This has been largely because the main practitioners of drug discovery are pharmaceutical companies who are not financially motivated to invest in Chagas disease and other "orphan" diseases. As a result, it has largely been up to academic groups to bring drug candidates through the discovery pipeline and to clinical trials. The difficulty with drug discovery in academia has been the challenge of bringing together the diverse expertise in biology, chemistry, and pharmacology in concerted efforts towards a common goal of developing therapeutics. Funding is often inadequate, but lack of coordination amongst academic investigators with different expertise has also contributed to the slow progress. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of approaches that can be accomplished in academic settings for preclinical drug discovery for Chagas disease. The chapter addresses methods of drug screening against Trypanosoma cruzi cultures and in animal models and includes general topics on compound selection, testing for drug-like properties (including oral bioavailability), investigating the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of compounds, and finally providing parameters to help with triaging compounds.
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35
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Papadopoulou MV, Trunz BB, Bloomer WD, McKenzie C, Wilkinson SR, Prasittichai C, Brun R, Kaiser M, Torreele E. Novel 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based aliphatic and aromatic amines as anti-chagasic agents. J Med Chem 2011; 54:8214-23. [PMID: 22023653 DOI: 10.1021/jm201215n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A series of novel 2-nitro-1H-imidazole- and 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole-based aromatic and aliphatic amines were screened for antitrypanosomal activity and mammalian cytotoxicity by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). Out of 42 compounds tested, 18 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazoles and one 2-nitroimidazole displayed significant growth inhibitory properties against T. cruzi amastigotes (IC(50) ranging from 40 nM to 1.97 μM), without concomitant toxicity toward the host cells (L6 cells), having selectivity indices (SI) 44-1320. Most (16) of these active compounds were up to 33.8-fold more potent than the reference drug benznidazole, tested in parallel. Five novel 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazoles were active against bloodstream-form (BSF) T. b. rhodesiense trypomastigotes (IC(50) at nM levels and SI 220-993). An NADH-dependent nitroreductase (TbNTR) plays a role in the antiparasitic activity because BSF T. b. brucei trypomastigotes with elevated TbNTR levels were hypersensitive to tested compounds. Therefore, a novel class of affordable 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole-based compounds with antitrypanosomal activity has been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Papadopoulou
- NorthShore University HealthSystem, Department of Radiation Medicine, Evanston, Illinois 60201, United States.
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Opperdoes FR, De Jonckheere JF, Tielens AG. Naegleria gruberi metabolism. Int J Parasitol 2011; 41:915-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2011.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2010] [Revised: 03/30/2011] [Accepted: 04/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Hall BS, Bot C, Wilkinson SR. Nifurtimox activation by trypanosomal type I nitroreductases generates cytotoxic nitrile metabolites. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:13088-95. [PMID: 21345801 PMCID: PMC3075655 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.230847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2011] [Revised: 02/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The prodrug nifurtimox has been used for more than 40 years to treat Chagas disease and forms part of a recently approved combinational therapy that targets West African trypanosomiasis. Despite this, its mode of action is poorly understood. Detection of reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates in nifurtimox-treated extracts led to the proposal that this drug induces oxidative stress in the target cell. Here, we outline an alternative mechanism involving reductive activation by a eukaryotic type I nitroreductase. Several enzymes proposed to metabolize nifurtimox, including prostaglandin F2α synthase and cytochrome P450 reductase, were overexpressed in bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei. Only cells with elevated levels of the nitroreductase displayed altered susceptibility to this nitrofuran, implying a key role in drug action. Reduction of nifurtimox by this enzyme was shown to be insensitive to oxygen and yields a product characterized by LC/MS as an unsaturated open-chain nitrile. This metabolite was shown to inhibit both parasite and mammalian cell growth at equivalent concentrations, in marked contrast to the parental prodrug. These experiments indicate that the basis for the selectivity of nifurtimox against T. brucei lies in the expression of a parasite-encoded type I nitroreductase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda S. Hall
- From the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Bot
- From the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Shane R. Wilkinson
- From the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
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Bustamante JM, Tarleton RL. Methodological advances in drug discovery for Chagas disease. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2011; 6:653-661. [PMID: 21712965 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2011.573782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease is the highest impact human infectious disease in Latin America, and the leading worldwide cause of myocarditis. Despite the availability of several compounds that have demonstrated efficacy in limiting the effects of T. cruzi, these compounds are rarely used due to their variable efficacy, substantial side effects and the lack of methodologies for confirming their effectiveness. Furthermore, the development of more efficacious compounds is challenged by limitations of systems for assessing drug efficacy in vitro and in vivo. AREAS COVERED: Herein, the authors review the development of Chagas disease drug discovery methodology, focusing on recent developments in high throughput screening, in vivo testing methods and assessments of efficacy in humans. Particularly, this review documents the significant progress that has taken place over the last 5 years that have paved the way for both target-focused and high-throughput screens of compound libraries. EXPERT OPINION: The tools for in vitro and in vivo screening of anti-T. cruzi compounds have improved dramatically in the last few years and there are now a number of excellent in vivo testing models available; this somewhat alleviates the bottleneck issue of quickly and definitively demonstrating in vivo efficacy in a relevant host animal system. These advances emphasize the potential for additional progress resulting in new treatments for Chagas disease in the coming years. That being said, national and international agencies must improve the coordination of research and development efforts in addition to cultivating the funding sources for the development of these new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Bustamante
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, 500 D.W Brooks Dr. S310 Coverdell Center. GA, 30602, USA
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Defaux J, Sala M, Formosa X, Galdeano C, Taylor MC, Alobaid WAA, Kelly JM, Wright CW, Camps P, Muñoz-Torrero D. Huprines as a new family of dual acting trypanocidal-antiplasmodial agents. Bioorg Med Chem 2011; 19:1702-7. [PMID: 21315611 PMCID: PMC3157558 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2011.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2010] [Revised: 01/13/2011] [Accepted: 01/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A series of 19 huprines has been evaluated for their activity against cultured bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei and Plasmodium falciparum. Moreover, cytotoxicity against rat myoblast L6 cells was assessed for selected huprines. All the tested huprines are moderately potent and selective trypanocidal agents, exhibiting IC(50) values against T. brucei in the submicromolar to low micromolar range and selectivity indices for T. brucei over L6 cells of approximately 15, thus constituting interesting trypanocidal lead compounds. Two of these huprines were also found to be active against a chloroquine-resistant strain of P. falciparum, thus emerging as interesting trypanocidal-antiplasmodial dual acting compounds, but they exhibited little selectivity for P. falciparum over L6 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Defaux
- Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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