1
|
Hortua Triana MA, Márquez-Nogueras KM, Fazli MS, Quinn S, Moreno SNJ. Regulation of calcium entry by cyclic GMP signaling in Toxoplasma gondii. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105771. [PMID: 38382669 PMCID: PMC10959671 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ca2+ signaling impacts almost every aspect of cellular life. Ca2+ signals are generated through the opening of ion channels that permit the flow of Ca2+ down an electrochemical gradient. Cytosolic Ca2+ fluctuations can be generated through Ca2+ entry from the extracellular milieu or release from intracellular stores. In Toxoplasma gondii, Ca2+ ions play critical roles in several essential functions for the parasite, like invasion of host cells, motility, and egress. Plasma membrane Ca2+ entry in T. gondii was previously shown to be activated by cytosolic calcium and inhibited by the voltage-operated Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine. However, Ca2+ entry in T. gondii did not show the classical characteristics of store regulation. In this work, we characterized the mechanism by which cytosolic Ca2+ regulates plasma membrane Ca2+ entry in extracellular T. gondii tachyzoites loaded with the Ca2+ indicator Fura-2. We compared the inhibition by nifedipine with the effect of the broad spectrum TRP channel inhibitor, anthranilic acid or ACA, and we find that both inhibitors act on different Ca2+ entry activities. We demonstrate, using pharmacological and genetic tools, that an intracellular signaling pathway engaging cyclic GMP, protein kinase G, Ca2+, and the phosphatidyl inositol phospholipase C affects Ca2+ entry and we present a model for crosstalk between cyclic GMP and cytosolic Ca2+ for the activation of T. gondii's lytic cycle traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miryam A Hortua Triana
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | | | | | - Shannon Quinn
- Department of Computer Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Silvia N J Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rodriguez JB, Szajnman SH. An updated review of chemical compounds with anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 262:115885. [PMID: 37871407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115885] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The opportunistic apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is the etiologic agent for toxoplasmosis, which can infect a widespread range of hosts, particularly humans and warm-blooded animals. The present chemotherapy to treat or prevent toxoplasmosis is deficient and is based on diverse drugs such as atovaquone, trimethoprim, spiramycine, which are effective in acute toxoplasmosis. Therefore, a safe chemotherapy is required for toxoplasmosis considering that its responsible agent, T. gondii, provokes severe illness and death in pregnant women and immunodeficient patients. A certain disadvantage of the available treatments is the lack of effectiveness against the tissue cyst of the parasite. A safe chemotherapy to combat toxoplasmosis should be based on the metabolic differences between the parasite and the mammalian host. This article covers different relevant molecular targets to combat this disease including the isoprenoid pathway (farnesyl diphosphate synthase, squalene synthase), dihydrofolate reductase, calcium-dependent protein kinases, histone deacetylase, mitochondrial electron transport chain, etc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan B Rodriguez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica (UMYMFOR), C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Sergio H Szajnman
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica (UMYMFOR), C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sleda MA, Li ZH, Behera R, Baierna B, Li C, Jumpathong J, Malwal SR, Kawamukai M, Oldfield E, Moreno SNJ. The Heptaprenyl Diphosphate Synthase (Coq1) Is the Target of a Lipophilic Bisphosphonate That Protects Mice against Toxoplasma gondii Infection. mBio 2022; 13:e0196622. [PMID: 36129297 PMCID: PMC9600589 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01966-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenyldiphosphate synthases catalyze the reaction of allylic diphosphates with one or more isopentenyl diphosphate molecules to form compounds such as farnesyl diphosphate, used in, e.g., sterol biosynthesis and protein prenylation, as well as longer "polyprenyl" diphosphates, used in ubiquinone and menaquinone biosynthesis. Quinones play an essential role in electron transport and are associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane due to the presence of the polyprenyl group. In this work, we investigated the synthesis of the polyprenyl diphosphate that alkylates the ubiquinone ring precursor in Toxoplasma gondii, an opportunistic pathogen that causes serious disease in immunocompromised patients and the unborn fetus. The enzyme that catalyzes this early step of the ubiquinone synthesis is Coq1 (TgCoq1), and we show that it produces the C35 species heptaprenyl diphosphate. TgCoq1 localizes to the mitochondrion and is essential for in vitro T. gondii growth. We demonstrate that the growth defect of a T. gondii TgCoq1 mutant is rescued by complementation with a homologous TgCoq1 gene or with a (C45) solanesyl diphosphate synthase from Trypanosoma cruzi (TcSPPS). We find that a lipophilic bisphosphonate (BPH-1218) inhibits T. gondii growth at low-nanomolar concentrations, while overexpression of the TgCoq1 enzyme dramatically reduced growth inhibition by the bisphosphonate. Both the severe growth defect of the mutant and the inhibition by BPH-1218 were rescued by supplementation with a long-chain (C30) ubiquinone (UQ6). Importantly, BPH-1218 also protected mice against a lethal T. gondii infection. TgCoq1 thus represents a potential drug target that could be exploited for improved chemotherapy of toxoplasmosis. IMPORTANCE Millions of people are infected with Toxoplasma gondii, and the available treatment for toxoplasmosis is not ideal. Most of the drugs currently used are only effective for the acute infection, and treatment can trigger serious side effects requiring changes in the therapeutic approach. There is, therefore, a compelling need for safe and effective treatments for toxoplasmosis. In this work, we characterize an enzyme of the mitochondrion of T. gondii that can be inhibited by an isoprenoid pathway inhibitor. We present evidence that demonstrates that inhibition of the enzyme is linked to parasite death. In addition, the inhibitor can protect mice against a lethal dose of T. gondii. Our results thus reveal a promising chemotherapeutic target for the development of new medicines for toxoplasmosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A. Sleda
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Zhu-Hong Li
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Ranjan Behera
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Baihetiya Baierna
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Catherine Li
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Jomkwan Jumpathong
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan
| | - Satish R. Malwal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Makoto Kawamukai
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shimane University, Matsue, Japan
| | - Eric Oldfield
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Silvia N. J. Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tesfaye S, Asres K, Guenther S, Singh PP. Anti-malarial effect of a combination of risedronate and azithromycin against Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infection in Swiss mice. Parasitol Int 2022; 91:102655. [PMID: 36029959 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102655] [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: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Combination therapy is used to retard the selection of malaria parasite strains resistant to individual components of a combination of drugs. This approach has proved to be a success in the combination of sulphadoxine and pyrimethamine, which targets two different steps in the folate pathway of malaria parasites. However, after the success of this therapeutic combination, the efficacy of other combinations of drugs that target different enzymes in a particular metabolic pathway has, apparently, not been reported. In the current study, the antimalarial effect of a combination of risedronate (RIS), which is known for its anti-osteoporosis activity, and azithromycin (AZT) was investigated. Peter's suppression test was carried out on mice infected with 1 × 107P. yoelii infected erythrocytes. Drug efficacy was analyzed by comparing the percent reduction in parasitaemia on day 4 post-infection. RIS was observed to be a blood schizonticidal agent against P. yoelii infection which showed ED50 7.0 (4.04-12.13) mg/kg/day x 4. Normalized isobologram showed additive action between RIS 1 mg/kg/day x 4 and AZT 10 mg/kg/day x 4, and antagonistic action for the rest of the combinations (RIS 1 + AZT 20, RIS 1 + AZT 40, RIS 5 + AZT 10, RIS 5 + AZT 20, RIS 5 + AZT 40, RIS 10 + AZT 10, RIS 10 + AZT 20 and RIS 10 + AZT 40 mg/kg/day x 4). Furthermore, a combination of RIS with AZT showed inferior efficacy as compared to AZT treatment alone. This antagonistic interaction may be due to the high accumulation of AZT in WBCs, which will reduce its serum bio-availability, whereas RIS has anti-parasitic activity by increasing WBCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Solomon Tesfaye
- Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Greifswald, 17491 Greifswald, Germany; School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Churchill Street, 1176 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Kaleab Asres
- School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Churchill Street, 1176 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sebastian Guenther
- Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Greifswald, 17491 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Prati Pal Singh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, 160062 Mohali, India
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Huffman AM, Ayariga JA, Napier A, Robertson BK, Abugri DA. Inhibition of Toxoplasma gondii Growth by Dihydroquinine and Its Mechanisms of Action. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:852889. [PMID: 35646733 PMCID: PMC9131874 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.852889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that infects the brain of humans and causes cerebral toxoplasmosis. The recommended drugs for the treatment or prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis are pyrimethamine (PY) and sulfadiazine (SZ), which have serious side effects. Other drugs available for toxoplasmosis are poorly tolerated. Dihydroquinine (DHQ) is a compound closely related to quinine-based drugs that have been shown to inhibit Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei in addition to its anti-arrhythmia properties. However, little is known about the effect of DHQ in T. gondii growth and its mechanism of action in vitro. In this study, we report the anti-Toxoplasma and anti-invasion properties of DHQ. DHQ significantly inhibited T. gondii tachyzoite growth with IC50s values of 0.63, 0.67, and 0.00137 µM at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Under similar conditions, SZ and PY, considered as the gold standard drugs for the treatment of toxoplasmosis, had IC50s values of 1.29, 1.55, and 0.95 and 3.19, 3.52, and 2.42 µM, respectively. The rapid dose-dependent inhibition of T. gondii tachyzoites by DHQ compared to the standard drugs (SZ and PY) indicates that DHQ has high selective parasiticidal effects against tachyzoite proliferation. Remarkably, DHQ had an excellent selectivity index (SI) of 149- and 357-fold compared to 24- and 143-fold for PY and SZ, respectively, using fibroblast cells. In addition, DHQ disrupted T. gondii tachyzoite mitochondrial membrane potential and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and elicited high reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Taking all these findings together, DHQ promises to be an effective and safe lead for the treatment of toxoplasmosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aarin M. Huffman
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
| | - Joseph A. Ayariga
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
- Biomedical Engineering Program, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Audrey Napier
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Boakai K. Robertson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
- Microbiology PhD Program, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Daniel A. Abugri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
- Microbiology PhD Program, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Montgomery, AL, United States
- Laboratory of Ethnomedicine, Parasitology, and Drug Discovery, College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Montgomery, AL, United States
- *Correspondence: Daniel A. Abugri,
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Baek KH, Phan TN, Malwal SR, Lee H, Li ZH, Moreno SNJ, Oldfield E, No JH. In Vivo Efficacy of SQ109 against Leishmania donovani, Trypanosoma spp. and Toxoplasma gondii and In Vitro Activity of SQ109 Metabolites. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030670. [PMID: 35327472 PMCID: PMC8944987 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
SQ109 is an anti-tubercular drug candidate that has completed Phase IIb/III clinical trials for tuberculosis and has also been shown to exhibit potent in vitro efficacy against protozoan parasites including Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi spp. However, its in vivo efficacy against protozoa has not been reported. Here, we evaluated the activity of SQ109 in mouse models of Leishmania, Trypanosoma spp. as well as Toxoplasma infection. In the T. cruzi mouse model, 80% of SQ109-treated mice survived at 40 days post-infection. Even though SQ109 did not cure all mice, these results are of interest since they provide a basis for future testing of combination therapies with the azole posaconazole, which acts synergistically with SQ109 in vitro. We also found that SQ109 inhibited the growth of Toxoplasma gondii in vitro with an IC50 of 1.82 µM and there was an 80% survival in mice treated with SQ109, whereas all untreated animals died 10 days post-infection. Results with Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania donovani infected mice were not promising with only moderate efficacy. Since SQ109 is known to be extensively metabolized in animals, we investigated the activity in vitro of SQ109 metabolites. Among 16 metabolites, six mono-oxygenated forms were found active across the tested protozoan parasites, and there was a ~6× average decrease in activity of the metabolites as compared to SQ109 which is smaller than the ~25× found with mycobacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Hwa Baek
- Host-Parasite Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si 13488, Korea; (K.-H.B.); (T.-N.P.); (H.L.)
| | - Trong-Nhat Phan
- Host-Parasite Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si 13488, Korea; (K.-H.B.); (T.-N.P.); (H.L.)
| | - Satish R. Malwal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (S.R.M.); (E.O.)
| | - Hyeryon Lee
- Host-Parasite Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si 13488, Korea; (K.-H.B.); (T.-N.P.); (H.L.)
| | - Zhu-Hong Li
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (Z.-H.L.); (S.N.J.M.)
| | - Silvia N. J. Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (Z.-H.L.); (S.N.J.M.)
| | - Eric Oldfield
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (S.R.M.); (E.O.)
| | - Joo Hwan No
- Host-Parasite Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si 13488, Korea; (K.-H.B.); (T.-N.P.); (H.L.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wu RZ, Zhou HY, Song JF, Xia QH, Hu W, Mou XD, Li X. Chemotherapeutics for Toxoplasma gondii: Molecular Biotargets, Binding Modes, and Structure-Activity Relationship Investigations. J Med Chem 2021; 64:17627-17655. [PMID: 34894691 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, an infectious zoonotic disease caused by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is a major worldwide health problem. However, there are currently no effective options (chemotherapeutic drugs or prophylactic vaccines) for treating chronic latent toxoplasmosis infection. Accordingly, seeking more effective and safer chemotherapeutics for combating this disease remains a long-term and challenging objective. In this paper, we summarize possible molecular biotargets, with an emphasis on those that are druggable and promising, including, without limitation, calcium-dependent protein kinase 1, bifunctional thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase, and farnesyl diphosphate synthase. Meanwhile, as important components of medicinal chemistry, the binding modes and structure-activity relationship profiles of the corresponding inhibitors were also illuminated. We anticipate that this information will be helpful for further identification of more effective chemotherapeutic interventions to prevent and treat zoonotic infections caused by T. gondii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rong-Zhen Wu
- Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, no. 6699 Qingdao Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250117, PR China
| | - Huai-Yu Zhou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, no. 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Jing-Feng Song
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, no. 1168 Chunrong Xi Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, PR China
| | - Qiao-Hong Xia
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, no. 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, PR China
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, no. 72 Binhai Road of JiMo, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, PR China
| | - Xiao-Dong Mou
- Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, no. 6699 Qingdao Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250117, PR China
| | - Xun Li
- Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, no. 6699 Qingdao Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250117, PR China.,Key Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing 100192, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abugri DA, Witola WH. Interaction of apigenin-7-O-glucoside with pyrimethamine against Toxoplasma gondii growth. J Parasit Dis 2020; 44:221-229. [PMID: 32174728 PMCID: PMC7046874 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-019-01185-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Apigenin-7-O-glucoside, a flavonoid glucoside known to inhibit cancer cell growth, fungi growth, both intra and extracellular reactive oxygen species generation, causing cell arrest and damage to the plasma membrane, was tested alone or in combination with a dihydrofolate inhibitor (pyrimethamine) against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) growth. The anti-T. gondii activity was carried out using a high throughput antiparasitic drug screening cell-based assay known as 2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H tetrazolium, monosodium salt (WST-8) and fluorescence plate reader. The 50% effective concentration inhibition and 95% confidence interval values for individual and combination treatments against T. gondii were 0.80 (0.38-1.29) µg/mL, 1.05 (0.275-2.029) µg/mL, and 0.40 (0-1.06) µg/mL for apigenin-7-O-glucoside, pyrimethamine, and apigenin-7-O-glucoside plus pyrimethamine, respectively. Interestingly, the apigenin-7-O-glucoside plus pyrimethamine combination showed an additive inhibition effect against T. gondii growth in vitro using the fractional inhibitory concentration index method. It was discovered that the apigenin-7-O-glucoside combination with pyrimethamine had a high selectivity index 62.5, which implies 62-fold inhibition activity against the parasite versus human foreskin fibroblast cell cytotoxicity. This new combination hit is novel and will have the potential for future effective, safe, and less costly anti-Toxoplasma drug development, if its in vivo activity shows similar findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Abugri
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Ethnomedicine, Parasitology and Drug Discovery, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088 USA
- Department of Biology, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088 USA
| | - William H. Witola
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 2432 VMBSB, MC-002, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, Champaign, IL USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Deng Y, Wu T, Zhai SQ, Li CH. Recent progress on anti-Toxoplasma drugs discovery: Design, synthesis and screening. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 183:111711. [PMID: 31585276 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii severely threaten the health of immunocompromised patients and pregnant women as this parasite can cause several disease, including brain and eye disease. Current treatment for toxoplasmosis commonly have high cytotoxic side effects on host and require long durations ranging from one week to more than one year. The regiments lack efficacy to eradicate T. gondii tissue cysts to cure chromic infection results in the needs for long treatment and relapsing disease. In addition, there has not been approved drugs for treating the pregnant women infected by T. gondii. Moreover, Toxoplasma vaccine researches face a wide variety of challenges. Developing high efficient and low toxic agents against T. gondii is urgent and important. Over the last decade, tremendous progress have been made in identifying and developing novel compounds for the treatment of toxoplasmosis. This review summarized and discussed recent advances between 2009 and 2019 in exploring effective agents against T. gondii from five aspects of drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Deng
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences & Pharmaceuticals, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Rongchang, 402460, China
| | - Tao Wu
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences & Pharmaceuticals, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Rongchang, 402460, China
| | - Shao-Qin Zhai
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences & Pharmaceuticals, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Rongchang, 402460, China
| | - Cheng-Hong Li
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences & Pharmaceuticals, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, Rongchang, 402460, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Galaka T, Falcone BN, Li C, Szajnman SH, Moreno SNJ, Docampo R, Rodriguez JB. Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-alkylaminomethyl-1,1-bisphosphonic acids against Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:3663-3673. [PMID: 31296439 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
As an extension of our project aimed at the search for new chemotherapeutic agents against Chagas disease and toxoplasmosis, several 1,1-bisphosphonates were designed, synthesized and biologically evaluated against Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii, the etiologic agents of these diseases, respectively. In particular, and based on the antiparasitic activity exhibited by 2-alkylaminoethyl-1,1-bisphosphonates targeting farnesyl diphosphate synthase, a series of linear 2-alkylaminomethyl-1,1-bisphosphonic acids (compounds 21-33), that is, the position of the amino group was one carbon closer to the gem-phosphonate moiety, were evaluated as growth inhibitors against the clinically more relevant dividing form (amastigotes) of T. cruzi. Although all of these compounds resulted to be devoid of antiparasitic activity, these results were valuable for a rigorous SAR study. In addition, unexpectedly, the synthetic designed 2-cycloalkylaminoethyl-1,1-bisphosphonic acids 47-49 were free of antiparasitic activity. Moreover, long chain sulfur-containing 1,1-bisphosphonic acids, such as compounds 54-56, 59, turned out to be nanomolar growth inhibitors of tachyzoites of T. gondii. As many bisphosphonate-containing molecules are FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of bone resorption disorders, their potential nontoxicity makes them good candidates to control American trypanosomiasis and toxoplasmosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamila Galaka
- Departamento de Química Orgánica and UMYMFOR (CONICET-FCEyN), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Bruno N Falcone
- Departamento de Química Orgánica and UMYMFOR (CONICET-FCEyN), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Catherine Li
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Sergio H Szajnman
- Departamento de Química Orgánica and UMYMFOR (CONICET-FCEyN), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia N J Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Roberto Docampo
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Juan B Rodriguez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica and UMYMFOR (CONICET-FCEyN), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Identification of Functional MKK3/6 and MEK1/2 Homologs from Echinococcus granulosus and Investigation of Protoscolecidal Activity of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway Inhibitors In Vitro and In Vivo. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 63:AAC.01043-18. [PMID: 30348669 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01043-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato There is an urgent need to develop new drugs for the treatment of this disease. In this study, we identified two new members of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, MKK3/6 and MEK1/2 homologs (termed EgMKK1 and EgMKK2, respectively), from E. granulosus sensu stricto Both EgMKK1 and EgMKK2 were expressed at the larval stages. As shown by yeast two-hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation analyses, EgMKK1 interacted with the previously identified Egp38 protein but not with EgERK. EgMKK2, on the other hand, interacted with EgERK. In addition, EgMKK1 and EgMKK2 displayed kinase activity toward the substrate myelin basic protein. When sorafenib tosylate, PD184352, or U0126-ethanol (EtOH) was added to the medium for in vitro culture of E. granulosus protoscoleces (PSCs) or cysts, an inhibitory and cytolytic effect was observed via suppressed phosphorylation of EgMKKs and EgERK. Nonviability of PSCs treated with sorafenib tosylate or U0126-EtOH, and not with PD184352, was confirmed through bioassays, i.e., inoculation of treated and untreated protoscoleces into mice. In vivo treatment of E. granulosus sensu stricto-infected mice with sorafenib tosylate or U0126-EtOH for 4 weeks demonstrated a reduction in parasite weight, but the results did not show a significant difference. In conclusion, the MAPK cascades were identified as new targets for drug development, and E. granulosus was efficiently inhibited by their inhibitors in vitro The translation of these findings into in vivo efficacy requires further adjustment of treatment regimens using sorafenib tosylate or, possibly, other kinase inhibitors.
Collapse
|
12
|
Montazeri M, Sharif M, Sarvi S, Mehrzadi S, Ahmadpour E, Daryani A. A Systematic Review of In vitro and In vivo Activities of Anti -Toxoplasma Drugs and Compounds (2006-2016). Front Microbiol 2017; 8:25. [PMID: 28163699 PMCID: PMC5247447 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The currently available anti-Toxoplasma agents have serious limitations. This systematic review was performed to evaluate drugs and new compounds used for the treatment of toxoplasmosis. Data was systematically collected from published papers on the efficacy of drugs/compounds used against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) globally during 2006-2016. The searched databases were PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, ISI Web of Science, EBSCO, and Scopus. One hundred and eighteen papers were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review, which were both in vitro and in vivo studies. Within this review, 80 clinically available drugs and a large number of new compounds with more than 39 mechanisms of action were evaluated. Interestingly, many of the drugs/compounds evaluated against T. gondii act on the apicoplast. Therefore, the apicoplast represents as a potential drug target for new chemotherapy. Based on the current findings, 49 drugs/compounds demonstrated in vitro half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of below 1 μM, but most of them were not evaluated further for in vivo effectiveness. However, the derivatives of the ciprofloxacin, endochin-like quinolones and 1-[4-(4-nitrophenoxy) phenyl] propane-1-one (NPPP) were significantly active against T. gondii tachyzoites both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, these compounds are promising candidates for future studies. Also, compound 32 (T. gondii calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 inhibitor), endochin-like quinolones, miltefosine, rolipram abolish, and guanabenz can be repurposed into an effective anti-parasitic with a unique ability to reduce brain tissue cysts (88.7, 88, 78, 74, and 69%, respectively). Additionally, no promising drugs are available for congenital toxoplasmosis. In conclusion, as current chemotherapy against toxoplasmosis is still not satisfactory, development of well-tolerated and safe specific immunoprophylaxis in relaxing the need of dependence on chemotherapeutics is a highly valuable goal for global disease control. However, with the increasing number of high-risk individuals, and absence of a proper vaccine, continued efforts are necessary for the development of novel treatment options against T. gondii. Some of the novel compounds reviewed here may represent good starting points for the discovery of effective new drugs. In further, bioinformatic and in silico studies are needed in order to identify new potential toxoplasmicidal drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahbobeh Montazeri
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical SciencesSari, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical SciencesSari, Iran
| | - Mehdi Sharif
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical SciencesSari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical SciencesSari, Iran
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical SciencesSari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical SciencesSari, Iran
| | - Saeed Mehrzadi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences TehranIran
| | - Ehsan Ahmadpour
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesTabriz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical SciencesSari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical SciencesSari, Iran
| |
Collapse
|