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Korie NPU, Tandoh KZ, Kwofie SK, Quaye O. Therapeutic potential of HIV-1 entry inhibitor peptidomimetics. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:1060-1068. [PMID: 33596698 PMCID: PMC8113741 DOI: 10.1177/1535370221990870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection remains a public health concern globally. Although great strides in the management of HIV-1 have been achieved, current highly active antiretroviral therapy is limited by multidrug resistance, prolonged use-related effects, and inability to purge the HIV-1 latent pool. Even though novel therapeutic options with HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are being explored, the scalability of bNAbs is limited by economic cost of production and obligatory requirement for parenteral administration. However, these limitations can be addressed by antibody mimetics/peptidomimetics of HIV-1 bNAbs. In this review we discuss the limitations of HIV-1 bNAbs as HIV-1 entry inhibitors and explore the potential therapeutic use of antibody mimetics/peptidomimetics of HIV-1 entry inhibitors as an alternative for HIV-1 bNAbs. We highlight the reduced cost of production, high specificity, and oral bioavailability of peptidomimetics compared to bNAbs to demonstrate their suitability as candidates for novel HIV-1 therapy and conclude with some perspectives on future research toward HIV-1 novel drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nneka PU Korie
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra 00233, Ghana
| | - Kwesi Z Tandoh
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra 00233, Ghana
| | - Samuel K Kwofie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra 00233, Ghana
| | - Osbourne Quaye
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra 00233, Ghana
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2
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Lima MIS, Capparelli FE, Dias Oliveira JDD, Fujimura PT, Moraes ECDS, Araujo ECB, Silva NM, Alves-Balvedi RP, Brito-Madurro AG, Goulart IMB, Goulart LR. Biotechnological and Immunological Platforms Based on PGL-I Carbohydrate-Like Peptide of Mycobacterium leprae for Antibodies Detection Among Leprosy Clinical Forms. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:429. [PMID: 32256479 PMCID: PMC7092704 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenolic glycolipid I (PGL-I) is an abundant antigen on the Mycobacterium leprae cell wall, commonly used for operational classification of leprosy patients. Our aim was to develop PGL-I mimotopes with similar characteristics and functions of the native antigen. We have used a random peptide phage display (PD) library for selections against the monoclonal antibody anti-PGL-I. After three selection cycles, six peptides were identified. All sequences were interspersed by a spacer generating a chimeric peptide (PGLI-M3) that was artificially synthesized. The highly reactive peptide was submitted to a reverse PD selection with a single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody fragment combinatorial library. The most reactive scFv was then validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against both native PGL-I and two derived synthetic (NDO and ND-O-HSA). We have further proved the scFv specificity by detecting M. leprae bacilli in leprosy lesions through immunohistochemistry. We then described its applicability in ELISA for all clinical forms and household contacts (HC). Afterward, we showed differential binding affinities of PGLI-M3 to sera (anti-PGL-I IgM) from all leprosy clinical forms through surface plasmon resonance (SPR). ELISA IgM detection showed 89.1% sensitivity and 100% specificity, considering all clinical forms. Positivity for anti-PGL-I IgM was twofold higher in both HC and patients with paucibacillary forms in hyperendemic regions than in endemic ones. The SPR immunosensor was able to differentiate clinical forms with 100% accuracy. This is the first time that a PGL-I mimotope has efficiently mimicked the carbohydrate group of the M. leprae antigen with successful immunoassay applications and may become a substitute for the native antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayara Ingrid Sousa Lima
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Fausto Emilio Capparelli
- Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | | | - Patrícia Tiemi Fujimura
- Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | | | | | - Neide Maria Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Graci Brito-Madurro
- Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Isabela Maria Bernardes Goulart
- National Reference Center in Sanitary Dermatology and Leprosy, Clinics' Hospital, School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Luiz Ricardo Goulart
- Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Devine SM, MacRaild CA, Norton RS, Scammells PJ. Antimalarial drug discovery targeting apical membrane antigen 1. MEDCHEMCOMM 2017; 8:13-20. [PMID: 30108688 PMCID: PMC6072474 DOI: 10.1039/c6md00495d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria continues to frustrate humanity's attempts to eradicate this deadly disease. Although gains have been made over the last 15 years, drug resistance to malaria continues to be a major concern. The lack of new antimalarials with novel mechanisms of action continues to challenge the scientific community to find innovative targets to combat this persistent disease. One such target, apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), is an essential protein that helps the parasite invade host erythrocytes. Recently, a number of efforts have focused on the druggability of this target, aiming to block the interactions of AMA1 that mediate invasion of host cells. This review covers recent progress in drug discovery targeting this crucial protein-protein interaction in malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane M Devine
- Medicinal Chemistry , Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Monash University , Parkville , VIC 3052 , Australia . ;
| | - Christopher A MacRaild
- Medicinal Chemistry , Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Monash University , Parkville , VIC 3052 , Australia . ;
| | - Raymond S Norton
- Medicinal Chemistry , Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Monash University , Parkville , VIC 3052 , Australia . ;
| | - Peter J Scammells
- Medicinal Chemistry , Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Monash University , Parkville , VIC 3052 , Australia . ;
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Vetrivel U, Muralikumar S, Mahalakshmi B, Lily Therese K, Madhavan HN, Alameen M, Thirumudi I. Multilevel Precision-Based Rational Design of Chemical Inhibitors Targeting the Hydrophobic Cleft of Toxoplasma gondii Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA1). Genomics Inform 2016; 14:53-61. [PMID: 27445648 PMCID: PMC4951401 DOI: 10.5808/gi.2016.14.2.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular Apicomplexan parasite and a causative agent of toxoplasmosis in human. It causes encephalitis, uveitis, chorioretinitis, and congenital infection. T. gondii invades the host cell by forming a moving junction (MJ) complex. This complex formation is initiated by intermolecular interactions between the two secretory parasitic proteins-namely, apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) and rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) and is critically essential for the host invasion process. By this study, we propose two potential leads, NSC95522 and NSC179676 that can efficiently target the AMA1 hydrophobic cleft, which is a hotspot for targeting MJ complex formation. The proposed leads are the result of an exhaustive conformational search-based virtual screen with multilevel precision scoring of the docking affinities. These two compounds surpassed all the precision levels of docking and also the stringent post docking and cumulative molecular dynamics evaluations. Moreover, the backbone flexibility of hotspot residues in the hydrophobic cleft, which has been previously reported to be essential for accommodative binding of RON2 to AMA1, was also highly perturbed by these compounds. Furthermore, binding free energy calculations of these two compounds also revealed a significant affinity to AMA1. Machine learning approaches also predicted these two compounds to possess more relevant activities. Hence, these two leads, NSC95522 and NSC179676, may prove to be potential inhibitors targeting AMA1-RON2 complex formation towards combating toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umashankar Vetrivel
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600-006, India
| | - Shalini Muralikumar
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600-006, India
| | - B Mahalakshmi
- L&T Microbiology Research Centre, Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600-006, India
| | - K Lily Therese
- L&T Microbiology Research Centre, Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600-006, India
| | - H N Madhavan
- L&T Microbiology Research Centre, Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600-006, India
| | - Mohamed Alameen
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600-006, India
| | - Indhuja Thirumudi
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai 600-006, India
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Parker ML, Boulanger MJ. An Extended Surface Loop on Toxoplasma gondii Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA1) Governs Ligand Binding Selectivity. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126206. [PMID: 25955165 PMCID: PMC4425356 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites are the causative agents of globally prevalent diseases including malaria and toxoplasmosis. These obligate intracellular pathogens have evolved a sophisticated host cell invasion strategy that relies on a parasite-host cell junction anchored by interactions between apical membrane antigens (AMAs) on the parasite surface and rhoptry neck 2 (RON2) proteins discharged from the parasite and embedded in the host cell membrane. Key to formation of the AMA1-RON2 complex is displacement of an extended surface loop on AMA1 called the DII loop. While conformational flexibility of the DII loop is required to expose the mature RON2 binding groove, a definitive role of this substructure has not been elucidated. To establish a role of the DII loop in Toxoplasma gondii AMA1, we engineered a form of the protein where the mobile portion of the loop was replaced with a short Gly-Ser linker (TgAMA1ΔDIIloop). Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements with a panel of RON2 peptides revealed an influential role for the DII loop in governing selectivity. Most notably, an Eimeria tenella RON2 (EtRON2) peptide that showed only weak binding to TgAMA1 bound with high affinity to TgAMA1ΔDIIloop. To define the molecular basis for the differential binding, we determined the crystal structure of TgAMA1ΔDIIloop in complex with the EtRON2 peptide. When analyzed in the context of existing AMA1-RON2 structures, spatially distinct anchor points in the AMA1 groove were identified that, when engaged, appear to provide the necessary traction to outcompete the DII loop. Collectively, these data support a model where the AMA1 DII loop serves as a structural gatekeeper to selectively filter out ligands otherwise capable of binding with high affinity in the AMA1 apical groove. These data also highlight the importance of considering the functional implications of the DII loop in the ongoing development of therapeutic intervention strategies targeting the AMA1-RON2 invasion complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L. Parker
- Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P6, Canada
| | - Martin J. Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, University of Victoria, PO Box 3055 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P6, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Pihan E, Delgadillo RF, Tonkin ML, Pugnière M, Lebrun M, Boulanger MJ, Douguet D. Computational and biophysical approaches to protein-protein interaction inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum AMA1/RON2 complex. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2015; 29:525-39. [PMID: 25822046 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-015-9842-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Invasion of the red blood cell by Plasmodium falciparum parasites requires formation of an electron dense circumferential ring called the Moving Junction (MJ). The MJ is anchored by a high affinity complex of two parasite proteins: Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (PfAMA1) displayed on the surface of the parasite and Rhoptry Neck Protein 2 that is discharged from the parasite and imbedded in the membrane of the host cell. Structural studies of PfAMA1 revealed a conserved hydrophobic groove localized to the apical surface that coordinates RON2 and invasion inhibitory peptides. In the present work, we employed computational and biophysical methods to identify competitive P. falciparum AMA1-RON2 inhibitors with the goal of exploring the 'druggability' of this attractive antimalarial target. A virtual screen followed by molecular docking with the PfAMA1 crystal structure was performed using an eight million compound collection that included commercial molecules, the ChEMBL malaria library and approved drugs. The consensus approach resulted in the selection of inhibitor candidates. We also developed a fluorescence anisotropy assay using a modified inhibitory peptide to experimentally validate the ability of the selected compounds to inhibit the AMA1-RON2 interaction. Among those, we identified one compound that displayed significant inhibition. This study offers interesting clues to improve the throughput and reliability of screening for new drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Pihan
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, UMR 7275, 660, Route des Lucioles, Sophia Antipolis, 06560, Valbonne, France
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