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Shanley HT, Taki AC, Byrne JJ, Nguyen N, Wells TNC, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. A phenotypic screen of the Global Health Priority Box identifies an insecticide with anthelmintic activity. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:131. [PMID: 38486232 PMCID: PMC10938758 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06183-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection with parasitic nematodes (helminths), particularly those of the order Strongylida (such as Haemonchus contortus), can cause significant and burdensome diseases in humans and animals. Widespread drug (anthelmintic) resistance in livestock parasites, the absence of vaccines against most of these nematodes, and a lack of new and effective chemical entities on the commercial market demands the discovery of new anthelmintics. In the present study, we searched the Global Health Priority Box (Medicines for Malaria Venture) for new candidates for anthelmintic development. METHODS We employed a whole-organism, motility-based phenotypic screening assay to identify compounds from the Global Health Priority Box with activity against larvae of the model parasite H. contortus, and the free-living comparator nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Hit compounds were further validated via dose-response assays, with lead candidates then assessed for nematocidal activity against H. contortus adult worms, and additionally, for cytotoxic and mitotoxic effects on human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. RESULTS The primary screen against H. contortus and C. elegans revealed or reidentified 16 hit compounds; further validation established MMV1794206, otherwise known as 'flufenerim', as a significant inhibitor of H. contortus larval motility (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 18 μM) and development (IC50 = 1.2 μM), H. contortus adult female motility (100% after 12 h of incubation) and C. elegans larval motility (IC50 = 0.22 μM). Further testing on a mammalian cell line (human hepatoma HepG2 cells), however, identified flufenerim to be both cytotoxic (half-maximal cytotoxic concentration [CC50] < 0.7 μM) and mitotoxic (half-maximal mitotoxic concentration [MC50] < 0.7 μM). CONCLUSIONS The in vitro efficacy of MMV1794206 against the most pathogenic stages of H. contortus, as well as the free-living C. elegans, suggests the potential for development as a broad-spectrum anthelmintic compound; however, the high toxicity towards mammalian cells presents a significant hindrance. Further work should seek to establish the protein-drug interactions of MMV1794206 in a nematode model, to unravel the mechanism of action, in addition to an advanced structure-activity relationship investigation to optimise anthelmintic activity and eliminate mammalian cell toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Shanley
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph J Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Tim N C Wells
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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2
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Nemchenko UM, Voropaeva NM, Sitnikova KO, Belkova NL, Savilov ED. Testing a Method for Evaluation of the Viability of Biofilm-Forming Bacteria after Exposure to Disinfectants. Bull Exp Biol Med 2023; 176:60-63. [PMID: 38091139 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-023-05967-z] [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: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
A method for determining the viability of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria at the stage of biofilm formation after exposure to disinfectants with different active components was tested. The method is based on oxidation of tetrazolium salts by metabolically active cells with the formation of colored formazan derivatives and their quantitative spectrophotometry. The cell viability in the biofilm decreased after exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds and chlorine-containing disinfectants, but their effect was reversible. Dissemination of cells that had retained viability from the biofilm occurred after 24 h. The algorithm of testing, necessary controls, counting, and data interpretation are specified. The method can be recommended for use in laboratory diagnostics and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- U M Nemchenko
- Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Irkutsk, Russia.
| | - N M Voropaeva
- Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Irkutsk, Russia
| | - K O Sitnikova
- Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Irkutsk, Russia
| | - N L Belkova
- Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Irkutsk, Russia
| | - E D Savilov
- Scientific Center for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Irkutsk, Russia
- Irkutsk State Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Branch of Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
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3
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Girod V, Houssier R, Sahmer K, Ghoris MJ, Caby S, Melnyk O, Dissous C, Senez V, Vicogne J. A self-purifying microfluidic system for identifying drugs acting against adult schistosomes. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220648. [PMID: 36465675 PMCID: PMC9709518 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of novel antihelmintic molecules to combat the development and spread of schistosomiasis, a disease caused by several Schistosoma flatworm species, mobilizes significant research efforts worldwide. With a limited number of biochemical assays for measuring the viability of adult worms, the antischistosomicidal activity of molecules is usually evaluated by a microscopic observation of worm mobility and/or integrity upon drug exposure. Even if these phenotypical assays enable multiple parameters analysis, they are often conducted during several days and need to be associated with image-based analysis to minimized subjectivity. We describe here a self-purifying microfluidic system enabling the selection of healthy adult worms and the identification of molecules acting instantly on the parasite. The worms are assayed in a dynamic environment that eliminates unhealthy worms that cannot attach firmly to the chip walls prior to being exposed to the drug. The detachment of the worms is also used as second step readout for identifying active compounds. We have validated this new fluidic screening approach using the two major antihelmintic drugs, praziquantel and artemisinin. The reported dynamic system is simple to produce and to parallelize. Importantly, it enables a quick and sensitive detection of antischistosomal compounds in no more than one hour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Girod
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 – CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille F-59000, France
- CNRS, University of Tokyo, IRL2820 – LIMMS, Lille F-59000, France
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
- University of Lille, CNRS, UPHF, JUNIA, CLI, UMR 8520 – IEMN – Institut d'Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie, Villeneuve d'Ascq F-59650, France
| | - Robin Houssier
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 – CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille F-59000, France
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Karin Sahmer
- University of Lille, IMT Lille Douai, University of Artois, JUNIA, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Marie-José Ghoris
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Stéphanie Caby
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Oleg Melnyk
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Colette Dissous
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Vincent Senez
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 – CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille F-59000, France
- CNRS, University of Tokyo, IRL2820 – LIMMS, Lille F-59000, France
| | - Jérôme Vicogne
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
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4
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Moreira BP, Batista ICA, Tavares NC, Armstrong T, Gava SG, Torres GP, Mourão MM, Falcone FH. Docking-Based Virtual Screening Enables Prioritizing Protein Kinase Inhibitors With In Vitro Phenotypic Activity Against Schistosoma mansoni. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:913301. [PMID: 35865824 PMCID: PMC9294739 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.913301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic neglected disease with praziquantel (PZQ) utilized as the main drug for treatment, despite its low effectiveness against early stages of the worm. To aid in the search for new drugs to tackle schistosomiasis, computer-aided drug design has been proved a helpful tool to enhance the search and initial identification of schistosomicidal compounds, allowing fast and cost-efficient progress in drug discovery. The combination of high-throughput in silico data followed by in vitro phenotypic screening assays allows the assessment of a vast library of compounds with the potential to inhibit a single or even several biological targets in a more time- and cost-saving manner. Here, we describe the molecular docking for in silico screening of predicted homology models of five protein kinases (JNK, p38, ERK1, ERK2, and FES) of Schistosoma mansoni against approximately 85,000 molecules from the Managed Chemical Compounds Collection (MCCC) of the University of Nottingham (UK). We selected 169 molecules predicted to bind to SmERK1, SmERK2, SmFES, SmJNK, and/or Smp38 for in vitro screening assays using schistosomula and adult worms. In total, 89 (52.6%) molecules were considered active in at least one of the assays. This approach shows a much higher efficiency when compared to using only traditional high-throughput in vitro screening assays, where initial positive hits are retrieved from testing thousands of molecules. Additionally, when we focused on compound promiscuity over selectivity, we were able to efficiently detect active compounds that are predicted to target all kinases at the same time. This approach reinforces the concept of polypharmacology aiming for “one drug-multiple targets”. Moreover, at least 17 active compounds presented satisfactory drug-like properties score when compared to PZQ, which allows for optimization before further in vivo screening assays. In conclusion, our data support the use of computer-aided drug design methodologies in conjunction with high-throughput screening approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo Pereira Moreira
- Institut für Parasitologie, Biomedizinisches Forschungszentrum Seltersberg (BFS), Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Naiara Clemente Tavares
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Tom Armstrong
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Grossi Gava
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Gabriella Parreiras Torres
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marina Moraes Mourão
- Grupo de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Franco H. Falcone, ; Marina Moraes Mourão,
| | - Franco H. Falcone
- Institut für Parasitologie, Biomedizinisches Forschungszentrum Seltersberg (BFS), Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Franco H. Falcone, ; Marina Moraes Mourão,
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5
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Ravaynia PS, Biendl S, Grassi F, Keiser J, Hierlemann A, Modena MM. Real-time and automated monitoring of antischistosomal drug activity profiles for screening of compound libraries. iScience 2022; 25:104087. [PMID: 35378863 PMCID: PMC8976133 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects over 200 million people annually. As the antischistosomal drug pipeline is currently empty, repurposing of compound libraries has become a source for accelerating drug development, which demands the implementation of high-throughput and efficient screening strategies. Here, we present a parallelized impedance-based platform for continuous and automated viability evaluation of Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula in 128 microwells during 72 h to identify antischistosomal hits in vitro. By initially screening 57 repurposed compounds against larvae, five drugs are identified, which reduce parasite viability by more than 70%. The activity profiles of the selected drugs are then investigated via real-time dose-response monitoring, and four compounds reveal high potency and rapid action, which renders them suitable candidates for follow-up tests against adult parasites. The study shows that our device is a reliable tool for real-time drug screening analysis of libraries to identify new promising therapeutics against schistosomiasis. Scalable, plastic microwell chip with integrated platinum electrodes Automated impedance-based recording of 128 microwell units in parallel Continuous monitoring of in vitro drug library efficacy on schistosomula for 72 h Identification of four fast-acting antischistosomal drugs for in vivo testing
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo S Ravaynia
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Biendl
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, University of Basel, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Grassi
- Centre for Microsystems Technology, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 126, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, University of Basel, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hierlemann
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mario M Modena
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
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Papakonstantinou E, Io Diakou K, Mitsis T, Dragoumani K, Bacopoulou F, Megalooikonomou V, Kossida S, Chrousos GP, Vlachakis D. Molecular fusion events in carcinogenic organisms: a bioinformatics study for the detection of fused proteins between viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes. EMBNET.JOURNAL 2022; 27:e1004. [PMID: 35464257 PMCID: PMC9029568 DOI: 10.14806/ej.27.0.1004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Molecular fusion events have a prominent role in the initial steps of carcinogenesis. In this study, a bioinformatics analysis was performed between four organisms that are known to induce cancer development in humans: two viruses, Human Herpesvirus 4, and Human T-cell leukaemia virus, one bacterium, Helicobacter Pylori, and one trematode, Schistosoma mansoni. The annotated proteomes from these organisms were analysed using the SAFE software to identify protein fusion events, which may provide insight into protein function similarities and possible merging events during the course of evolution. Based on the results, five fused proteins with very similar functions were detected, whereas proteins with different functions that might act in the same molecular complex or biochemical pathway were not found. Thus, this study analysed the above four well-known cancer-related organisms with de novo bioinformatics programs and provided useful information on protein fusion events, hopefully leading to deeper understanding of carcinogenenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Papakonstantinou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Io Diakou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Thanasis Mitsis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Dragoumani
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Flora Bacopoulou
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasilis Megalooikonomou
- Computer Engineering and Informatics Department, School of Engineering, University of Patras, Patras. Greece
| | - Sophia Kossida
- IMGT, The International ImMunoGeneTics Information System, Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire d'ImmunoGénétique Moléculaire and Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Vlachakis
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health & Precision Medicine, and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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7
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Herath HMPD, Taki AC, Rostami A, Jabbar A, Keiser J, Geary TG, Gasser RB. Whole-organism phenotypic screening methods used in early-phase anthelmintic drug discovery. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 57:107937. [PMID: 35271946 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Diseases caused by parasitic helminths (worms) represent a major global health burden in both humans and animals. As vaccines against helminths have yet to achieve a prominent role in worm control, anthelmintics are the primary tool to limit production losses and disease due to helminth infections in both human and veterinary medicine. However, the excessive and often uncontrolled use of these drugs has led to widespread anthelmintic resistance in these worms - particularly of animals - to almost all commercially available anthelmintics, severely compromising control. Thus, there is a major demand for the discovery and development of new classes of anthelmintics. A key component of the discovery process is screening libraries of compounds for anthelmintic activity. Given the need for, and major interest by the pharmaceutical industry in, novel anthelmintics, we considered it both timely and appropriate to re-examine screening methods used for anthelmintic discovery. Thus, we reviewed current literature (1977-2021) on whole-worm phenotypic screening assays developed and used in academic laboratories, with a particular focus on those employed to discover nematocides. This review reveals that at least 50 distinct phenotypic assays with low-, medium- or high-throughput capacity were developed over this period, with more recently developed methods being quantitative, semi-automated and higher throughput. The main features assessed or measured in these assays include worm motility, growth/development, morphological changes, viability/lethality, pharyngeal pumping, egg hatching, larval migration, CO2- or ATP-production and/or enzyme activity. Recent progress in assay development has led to the routine application of practical, cost-effective, medium- to high-throughput whole-worm screening assays in academic or public-private partnership (PPP) contexts, and major potential for novel high-content, high-throughput platforms in the near future. Complementing this progress are major advances in the molecular data sciences, computational biology and informatics, which are likely to further enable and accelerate anthelmintic drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M P Dilrukshi Herath
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timothy G Geary
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X3V9, Canada; School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University-Belfast, Belfast, Ireland
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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8
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High-content approaches to anthelmintic drug screening. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:780-789. [PMID: 34092518 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Most anthelmintics were discovered through in vivo screens using animal models of infection. Developing in vitro assays for parasitic worms presents several challenges. The lack of in vitro life cycle culture protocols requires harvesting worms from vertebrate hosts or vectors, limiting assay throughput. Once worms are removed from the host environment, established anthelmintics often show no obvious phenotype - raising concerns about the predictive value of many in vitro assays. However, with recent progress in understanding how anthelmintics subvert host-parasite interactions, and breakthroughs in high-content imaging and machine learning, in vitro assays have the potential to discern subtle cryptic parasite phenotypes. These may prove better endpoints than conventional in vitro viability assays.
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9
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Moreira-Filho JT, Silva AC, Dantas RF, Gomes BF, Souza Neto LR, Brandao-Neto J, Owens RJ, Furnham N, Neves BJ, Silva-Junior FP, Andrade CH. Schistosomiasis Drug Discovery in the Era of Automation and Artificial Intelligence. Front Immunol 2021; 12:642383. [PMID: 34135888 PMCID: PMC8203334 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.642383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma and affects over 200 million people worldwide. The control and treatment of this neglected tropical disease is based on a single drug, praziquantel, which raises concerns about the development of drug resistance. This, and the lack of efficacy of praziquantel against juvenile worms, highlights the urgency for new antischistosomal therapies. In this review we focus on innovative approaches to the identification of antischistosomal drug candidates, including the use of automated assays, fragment-based screening, computer-aided and artificial intelligence-based computational methods. We highlight the current developments that may contribute to optimizing research outputs and lead to more effective drugs for this highly prevalent disease, in a more cost-effective drug discovery endeavor.
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Affiliation(s)
- José T. Moreira-Filho
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Arthur C. Silva
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Rafael F. Dantas
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Barbara F. Gomes
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lauro R. Souza Neto
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose Brandao-Neto
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Raymond J. Owens
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell, United Kingdom
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetic, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Furnham
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno J. Neves
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Floriano P. Silva-Junior
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina H. Andrade
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
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10
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Datar R, Perrin G, Chalansonnet V, Perry A, Perry JD, van Belkum A, Orenga S. Automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing of slow-growing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in the presence of tetrazolium salt WST-1. J Microbiol Methods 2021; 186:106252. [PMID: 34051278 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Slow growing, mucoid isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa require adaptation of the protocol used for automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). In the present study we used a water soluble tetrazolium salt WST-1 (4-[3-(4-iodophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate) in combination with menadione for possibly improving AST of slow growing and biofilm-forming P. aeruginosa isolates from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. WST-1 and menadione addition ensures sensitive detection of microbial growth increase in the presence of antibiotics that may remain undetected with the automated VITEK® 2 method. We observed that 32.8% of P. aeruginosa isolates from CF and bronchiectasis patients produced an elevated absorbance signal intensity thereby increasing the sensitivity while maintaining the accuracy of VITEK 2. Our study merits future investigation with other slow growing pathogenic bacterial species.
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Vejzagić N, Prodjinotho UF, El-Khafif N, Huang R, Simeonov A, Spangenberg T, Prazeres da Costa C. Identification of hit compounds with anti-schistosomal activity on in vitro generated juvenile worms in cell-free medium. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009432. [PMID: 34033658 PMCID: PMC8191877 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anthelminthic treatment options against schistosomiasis are limited. The current treatment relies almost exclusively on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ). As a consequence, the development of resistance to PZQ and limited activity of PZQ against earlier development stages are respectively a risk and a limitation to achieving the goals of the new WHO roadmap towards elimination. For the discovery of new chemical starting points, the in vitro drug screening on Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) against newly transformed schistosomula (NTS) is still the most predominant approach. The use of only NTS in the initial screening limits sensitivity to potential new compounds which are predominantly active in later developmental stages. Using our recently described highly standardized, straightforward and reliable culture method that generates high rates of juvenile worms, we aimed to repurpose a subset of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Pharmaceutical Collection (340 compounds) to identify new hits with an in vitro worm culture assay. Methodology/Principal findings Cercariae were mechanically transformed into skin-stage (SkS) schistosomula and continuously cultured for 3–6 weeks to the liver stage (LiS). A commercial source of serum was identified, and decrease of NTS/well along with optimal drug testing conditions was established to test compounds on early and late LiS worms. The library was screened in 96-well format assays using praziquantel (PZQ) as a positive control. Primary screening allowed a 5.9% hit rate and generated two confirmed hits on adult worms; a prophylactic antianginal agent and an antihistaminic drug. Conclusion With this standardized and reliable in vitro assay, important S. mansoni developmental stages up to LiS worms can be generated and cultured over an extended period. When exposed to a subset of the NCATS Pharmaceutical Collection, 3 compounds yielded a defined anti-schistosomal phenotype on juvenile worms. Translation of activity on perfused adult S. mansoni worms was achieved only for perhexiline (a prophylactic antianginal agent) and astemizole (an antihistaminic drug). Schistosomiasis continues to be a major public health problem, mainly in developing countries. Although there have been some advances in finding new drugs, praziquantel is still the drug of choice. Certainly, one of the most important advances in the search for new treatments was the ability to in vitro transform cercariae and to grow schistosomula in culture. To reduce animal use in future drug discovery efforts (3Rs), we optimized a previously established reliable and robust in vitro cell-free culture system for the generation of liver-stage worms that we applied to the screening of a compound library stemming from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Pharmaceutical Collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nermina Vejzagić
- Institute for Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Center for Global Health, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Fabien Prodjinotho
- Institute for Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Center for Global Health, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Nagwa El-Khafif
- Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Mahad Al Abhas Al Bahari, Warraq Al Arab, El Warraq, Giza Governorate, Egypt
| | - Ruili Huang
- Division of Pre-clinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Anton Simeonov
- Division of Pre-clinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas Spangenberg
- Global Health Institute of Merck, Ares Trading S.A. (a subsidiary of Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany), Eysins, Switzerland
| | - Clarissa Prazeres da Costa
- Institute for Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Center for Global Health, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Braun L, Hazell L, Webb AJ, Allan F, Emery AM, Templeton MR. Determining the viability of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae using fluorescence assays: An application for water treatment. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008176. [PMID: 32214320 PMCID: PMC7138324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosome cercariae are the human-infectious stage of the Schistosoma parasite. They are shed by snail intermediate hosts living in freshwater, and penetrate the skin of the human host to develop into schistosomes, resulting in schistosomiasis infection. Water treatment (e.g. filtration or chlorination) is one way of cutting disease transmission; it kills or removes cercariae to provide safe water for people to use for activities such as bathing or laundry as an alternative to infested lakes or rivers. At present, there is no standard method for assessing the effectiveness of water treatment processes on cercariae. Examining cercarial movement under a microscope is the most common method, yet it is subjective and time-consuming. Hence, there is a need to develop and verify accurate, high-throughput assays for quantifying cercarial viability. METHOD We tested two fluorescence assays for their ability to accurately determine cercarial viability in water samples, using S. mansoni cercariae released from infected snails in the Schistosomiasis Collection at the Natural History Museum, London. These assays consist of dual stains, namely a vital and non-vital dye; fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and Hoechst, and FDA and Propidium Iodide. We also compared the results of the fluorescence assays to the viability determined by microscopy. CONCLUSION Both fluorescence assays can detect the viability of cercariae to an accuracy of at least 92.2% ± 6.3%. Comparing the assays to microscopy, no statistically significant difference was found between the method's viability results. However, the fluorescence assays are less subjective and less time-consuming than microscopy, and therefore present a promising method for quantifying the viability of schistosome cercariae in water samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Braun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucinda Hazell
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander J Webb
- Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Allan
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aidan M Emery
- Wolfson Wellcome Biomedical Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael R Templeton
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Maccesi M, Aguiar PHN, Pasche V, Padilla M, Suzuki BM, Montefusco S, Abagyan R, Keiser J, Mourão MM, Caffrey CR. Multi-center screening of the Pathogen Box collection for schistosomiasis drug discovery. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:493. [PMID: 31640761 PMCID: PMC6805474 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3747-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past five years, as a public service to encourage and accelerate drug discovery for diseases of poverty, the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has released box sets of 400 compounds named the Malaria, Pathogen and Stasis Boxes. Here, we screened the Pathogen Box against the post-infective larvae (schistosomula) of Schistosoma mansoni using assays particular to the three contributing institutions, namely, the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in the USA, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) in Switzerland, and the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) in Brazil. With the same set of compounds, the goal was to determine the degree of inter-assay variability and identify a core set of active compounds common to all three assays. New drugs for schistosomiasis would be welcome given that current treatment and control strategies rely on chemotherapy with just one drug, praziquantel. METHODS Both the UCSD and Swiss TPH assays utilize daily observational scoring methodologies over 72 h, whereas the FIOCRUZ assay employs XTT (2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide) at 72 h to measure viability as a function of NAD+/NADH redox state. Raw and transformed data arising from each assay were assembled for comparative analysis. RESULTS For the UCSD and Swiss TPH assays, there was strong concordance of at least 87% in identifying active and inactive compounds on one or more of the three days. When all three assays were compared at 72 h, concordance remained a robust 74%. Further, robust Pearson's correlations (0.48-0.68) were measured between the assays. Of those actives at 72 h, the UCSD, Swiss TPH and FIOCRUZ assays identified 86, 103 and 66 compounds, respectively, of which 35 were common. Assay idiosyncrasies included the identification of unique compounds, the differential ability to identify known antischistosomal compounds and the concept that compounds of interest might include those that increase metabolic activity above baseline. CONCLUSIONS The inter-assay data generated were in good agreement, including with previously reported data. A common set of antischistosomal molecules for further exploration has been identified .
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Maccesi
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pedro H N Aguiar
- Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, René Rachou Institute, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Valérian Pasche
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, P.O. Box, 4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Melody Padilla
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Brian M Suzuki
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sandro Montefusco
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Ruben Abagyan
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, P.O. Box, 4003, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marina M Mourão
- Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, René Rachou Institute, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Padalino G, Ferla S, Brancale A, Chalmers IW, Hoffmann KF. Combining bioinformatics, cheminformatics, functional genomics and whole organism approaches for identifying epigenetic drug targets in Schistosoma mansoni. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2018; 8:559-570. [PMID: 30455056 PMCID: PMC6288008 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis endangers the lives of greater than 200 million people every year and is predominantly controlled by a single class chemotherapy, praziquantel (PZQ). Development of PZQ replacement (to combat the threat of PZQ insensitivity/resistance arising) or combinatorial (to facilitate the killing of PZQ-insensitive juvenile schistosomes) chemotherapies would help sustain this control strategy into the future. Here, we re-categorise two families of druggable epigenetic targets in Schistosoma mansoni, the histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and the histone demethylases (HDMs). Amongst these, a S. mansoni Lysine Specific Demethylase 1 (SmLSD1, Smp_150560) homolog was selected for further analyses. Homology modelling of SmLSD1 and in silico docking of greater than four thousand putative inhibitors identified seven (L1 – L7) showing more favourable binding to the target pocket of SmLSD1 vs Homo sapiens HsLSD1; six of these seven (L1 – L6) plus three structural analogues of L7 (L8 – L10) were subsequently screened against schistosomula using the Roboworm anthelmintic discovery platform. The most active compounds (L10 - pirarubicin > L8 – danunorubicin hydrochloride) were subsequently tested against juvenile (3 wk old) and mature (7 wk old) schistosome stages and found to impede motility, suppress egg production and affect tegumental surfaces. When compared to a surrogate human cell line (HepG2), a moderate window of selectivity was observed for the most active compound L10 (selectivity indices - 11 for schistosomula, 9 for juveniles, 1.5 for adults). Finally, RNA interference of SmLSD1 recapitulated the egg-laying defect of schistosomes co-cultivated in the presence of L10 and L8. These preliminary results suggest that SmLSD1 represents an attractive new target for schistosomiasis; identification of more potent and selective SmLSD1 compounds, however, is essential. Nevertheless, the approaches described herein highlight an interdisciplinary strategy for selecting and screening novel/repositioned anti-schistosomals, which can be applied to any druggable (epigenetic) target encoded by the parasite's genome. Schistosoma mansoni contains 27 histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and 14 histone demethylases (HDMs). S. mansoni lysine specific demethylase 1 (SmLSD1) is a druggable target. Schistosomes treated with the putative SmLSD1 inhibitor pirarubicin or siRNAs targeting SmLSD1 are less fecund.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Padalino
- The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, SY23 3DA, Wales, UK.
| | - Salvatore Ferla
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrea Brancale
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, United Kingdom.
| | - Iain W Chalmers
- The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, SY23 3DA, Wales, UK.
| | - Karl F Hoffmann
- The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, SY23 3DA, Wales, UK.
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