1
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Silva RC, De Freitas A, Vicente B, Midlej V, Dos Santos MS. Exploring novel pyrazole-nitroimidazole hybrids: Synthesis and antiprotozoal activity against the human pathogen trichomonas vaginalis. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 102:117679. [PMID: 38461555 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117679] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Trichomoniasis, a prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, has gained increased significance globally. Its relevance has grown in recent years due to its association with a heightened risk of acquiring and transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other STIs. In addition, many publications have revealed a potential link between trichomoniasis and certain cancers. Metronidazole (MTZ), a nitroimidazole compound developed over 50 years ago, remains the first-choice drug for treatment. However, reports of genotoxicity and side effects underscore the necessity for new compounds to address this pressing global health concern. In this study, we synthesized ten pyrazole-nitroimidazoles 1(a-j) and 4-nitro-1-(hydroxyethyl)-1H-imidazole 2, an analog of metronidazole (MTZ), and assessed their trichomonacidal and cytotoxic effects. All compounds 1(a-j) and 2 exhibited IC50 values ≤ 20 μM and ≤ 41 μM, after 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Compounds 1d (IC50 5.3 μM), 1e (IC50 4.8 μM), and 1i (IC50 5.2 μM) exhibited potencies equivalent to MTZ (IC50 4.9 μM), the reference drug, after 24 h. Notably, compound 1i showed high anti-trichomonas activity after 24 h (IC50 5.2 μM) and 48 h (IC50 2.1 μM). Additionally, all compounds demonstrated either non-cytotoxic to HeLa cells (CC50 > 100 μM) or low cytotoxicity (CC50 between 69 and 100 μM). These findings suggest that pyrazole-nitroimidazole derivatives represent a promising heterocyclic system, serving as a potential lead for further optimization in trichomoniasis chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Corrêa Silva
- Laboratório de Síntese de Sistemas Heterocíclicos (LaSSH), Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Federal University of Itajubá, 1303 BPS Avenue, Pinheirinho, Itajubá-MG, 37500-903, Brazil
| | - Anna De Freitas
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural (LBE), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, 4365 Brasil Avenue, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, 21040-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Oswaldo Cruz Institute- Fiocruz, Brazil
| | - Bruno Vicente
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural (LBE), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, 4365 Brasil Avenue, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, 21040-900, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-Fiocruz, Brazil
| | - Victor Midlej
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural (LBE), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, 4365 Brasil Avenue, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Maurício Silva Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Síntese de Sistemas Heterocíclicos (LaSSH), Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Federal University of Itajubá, 1303 BPS Avenue, Pinheirinho, Itajubá-MG, 37500-903, Brazil.
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2
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Mahmood B, Paunkov A, Kupc M, Burián K, Nagy E, Leitsch D, Sóki J. Proteomics-Based RT-qPCR and Functional Analysis of 18 Genes in Metronidazole Resistance of Bacteroides fragilis. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:207. [PMID: 38534642 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13030207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Previously, we reported that metronidazole MICs are not dependent on the expression levels of nim genes in B. fragilis strains and we compared the proteomes of metronidazole-resistant laboratory B. fragilis strains to those of their susceptible parent strains. Here, we used RT-qPCR to correlate the expression levels of 18 candidate genes in a panel of selected, clinical nim gene-positive and -negative B. fragilis strains to their metronidazole MICs. Metronidazole MICs were correlated with the expression of certain tested genes. Specifically, lactate dehydrogenase expression correlated positively, whereas cytochrome fumarate reductase/succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate kinase redox and gat (GCN5-like acetyltransferase), and relA (stringent response) regulatory gene expressions correlated negatively with metronidazole MICs. This result provides evidence for the involvement of carbohydrate catabolic enzymes in metronidazole resistance in B. fragilis. This result was supported by direct substrate utilization tests. However, the exact roles of these genes/proteins should be determined in deletion-complementation tests. Moreover, the exact redox cofactor(s) participating in metronidazole activation need to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bakhtiyar Mahmood
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
- Department of Biology, University of Garmian, Kalar 2562, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Ana Paunkov
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Malgorzata Kupc
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katalin Burián
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Elisabeth Nagy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - David Leitsch
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - József Sóki
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
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3
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Jafeer KAMM, Ali Malaa SF, Al-Aboobi ZAM, Alkhafaji NAK. Evaluation of intestinal parasites as a causative agent of diarrhea in children and some treatments used in Babylon Governorate. Pan Afr Med J 2023; 46:29. [PMID: 38107340 PMCID: PMC10724028 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2023.46.29.40536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Saba Fadhil Ali Malaa
- Community Health Department, Technical Institute of Babylon, Al Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Babylon, Iraq
| | - Zainab Abed Mohsen Al-Aboobi
- Community Health Department, Technical Institute of Karbala, Al Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Karbala, Iraq
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4
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Shiver AL, Sun J, Culver R, Violette A, Wynter C, Nieckarz M, Mattiello SP, Sekhon PK, Friess L, Carlson HK, Wong D, Higginbottom S, Weglarz M, Wang W, Knapp BD, Guiberson E, Sanchez J, Huang PH, Garcia PA, Buie CR, Good B, DeFelice B, Cava F, Scaria J, Sonnenburg J, Sinderen DV, Deutschbauer AM, Huang KC. A mutant fitness compendium in Bifidobacteria reveals molecular determinants of colonization and host-microbe interactions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.29.555234. [PMID: 37693407 PMCID: PMC10491234 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.29.555234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Bifidobacteria commonly represent a dominant constituent of human gut microbiomes during infancy, influencing nutrition, immune development, and resistance to infection. Despite interest as a probiotic therapy, predicting the nutritional requirements and health-promoting effects of Bifidobacteria is challenging due to major knowledge gaps. To overcome these deficiencies, we used large-scale genetics to create a compendium of mutant fitness in Bifidobacterium breve (Bb). We generated a high density, randomly barcoded transposon insertion pool in Bb, and used this pool to determine Bb fitness requirements during colonization of germ-free mice and chickens with multiple diets and in response to hundreds of in vitro perturbations. To enable mechanistic investigation, we constructed an ordered collection of insertion strains covering 1462 genes. We leveraged these tools to improve models of metabolic pathways, reveal unexpected host- and diet-specific requirements for colonization, and connect the production of immunomodulatory molecules to growth benefits. These resources will greatly reduce the barrier to future investigations of this important beneficial microbe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony L. Shiver
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Jiawei Sun
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Rebecca Culver
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Arvie Violette
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Charles Wynter
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Marta Nieckarz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, SE-90187, Sweden
| | - Samara Paula Mattiello
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
- College of Mathematics and Science, The University of Tennessee Southern, Pulaski TN 38478, USA
| | - Prabhjot Kaur Sekhon
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74074, USA
| | - Lisa Friess
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Hans K. Carlson
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Daniel Wong
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Steven Higginbottom
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Meredith Weglarz
- Stanford Shared FACS Facility, Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Weigao Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Emma Guiberson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Po-Hsun Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory for Energy and Microsystems Innovation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA
| | - Paulo A. Garcia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory for Energy and Microsystems Innovation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA
| | - Cullen R. Buie
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory for Energy and Microsystems Innovation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 02139, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin Good
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Felipe Cava
- Department of Molecular Biology and Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, SE-90187, Sweden
| | - Joy Scaria
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74074, USA
| | - Justin Sonnenburg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Douwe Van Sinderen
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Adam M. Deutschbauer
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kerwyn Casey Huang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158
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5
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Levaro-Loquio D, Serrano-Luna J, Velásquez-Torres M, Higuera-Martínez G, Arciniega-Martínez IM, Reséndiz-Albor AA, Pérez-Vielma NM, Pacheco-Yépez J. In Vitro Evaluation of the Antiamoebic Activity of Kaempferol against Trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica and in the Interactions of Amoebae with Hamster Neutrophils. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11216. [PMID: 37446394 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) is a parasite in humans that provokes amoebiasis. The most employed drug is metronidazole (MTZ); however, some studies have reported that this drug induces genotoxic effects. Therefore, it is necessary to explore new compounds without toxicity that can eliminate E. histolytica. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that have demonstrated inhibition of growth and dysregulation of amoebic proteins. Despite the knowledge acquired to date, action mechanisms are not completely understood. The present work evaluates the effect of kaempferol against E. histolytica trophozoites and in the interactions with neutrophils from hamster, which is a susceptibility model. Our study demonstrated a significant reduction in the amoebic viability of trophozoites incubated with kaempferol at 150 μM for 90 min. The gene expression analysis showed a significant downregulation of Pr (peroxiredoxin), Rr (rubrerythrin), and TrxR (thioredoxin reductase). In interactions with amoebae and neutrophils for short times, we observed a reduction in ROS (reactive oxygen species), NO (nitric oxide), and MPO (myeloperoxidase) neutrophil activities. In conclusion, we confirmed that kaempferol is an effective drug against E. histolytica through the decrease in E. histolytica antioxidant enzyme expression and a regulator of several neutrophil mechanisms, such as MPO activity and the regulation of ROS and NO.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Levaro-Loquio
- Sección de Estudios de Postgrado, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
| | - Jesús Serrano-Luna
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN (CINVESTAV), Av. IPN No. 2508 Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico
| | - Maritza Velásquez-Torres
- Sección de Estudios de Postgrado, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
| | - Germán Higuera-Martínez
- Sección de Estudios de Postgrado, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
| | | | - Aldo Arturo Reséndiz-Albor
- Sección de Estudios de Postgrado, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
| | - Nadia Mabel Pérez-Vielma
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias de la Salud, CICS, San Tomás, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
| | - Judith Pacheco-Yépez
- Sección de Estudios de Postgrado, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
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6
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Velásquez-Torres M, Trujillo-Ferrara JG, Godínez-Victoria M, Jarillo-Luna RA, Tsutsumi V, Sánchez-Monroy V, Posadas-Mondragón A, Cuevas-Hernández RI, Santiago-Cruz JA, Pacheco-Yépez J. Riluzole, a Derivative of Benzothiazole as a Potential Anti-Amoebic Agent against Entamoeba histolytica. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:896. [PMID: 37375843 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amoebiasis is produced by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica; this disease affects millions of people throughout the world who may suffer from amoebic colitis or amoebic liver abscess. Metronidazole is used to treat this protozoan, but it causes important adverse effects that limit its use. Studies have shown that riluzole has demonstrated activity against some parasites. Thus, the present study aimed, for the first time, to demonstrate the in vitro and in silico anti-amoebic activity of riluzole. In vitro, the results of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites treated with IC50 (319.5 μM) of riluzole for 5 h showed (i) a decrease of 48.1% in amoeba viability, (ii) ultrastructural changes such as a loss of plasma membrane continuity and alterations in the nuclei followed by lysis, (iii) apoptosis-like cell death, (iv) the triggering of the production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, and (v) the downregulation of amoebic antioxidant enzyme gene expression. Interestingly, docking studies have indicated that riluzole presented a higher affinity than metronidazole for the antioxidant enzymes thioredoxin, thioredoxin reductase, rubrerythrin, and peroxiredoxin of Entamoeba histolytica, which are considered as possible candidates of molecular targets. Our results suggest that riluzole could be an alternative treatment against Entamoeba histolytica. Future studies should be conducted to analyze the in vivo riluzole anti-amoebic effect on the resolution of amebic liver abscess in a susceptible model, as this will contribute to developing new therapeutic agents with anti-amoebic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maritza Velásquez-Torres
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, Mexico
| | - José Guadalupe Trujillo-Ferrara
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Bioquímica, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, Mexico
| | - Marycarmen Godínez-Victoria
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, Mexico
| | - Rosa Adriana Jarillo-Luna
- Coordinación de Ciencias Morfológicas, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, Mexico
| | - Víctor Tsutsumi
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico 07360, Mexico
| | - Virginia Sánchez-Monroy
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, Mexico
| | - Araceli Posadas-Mondragón
- Laboratorio de Medicina de Conservación, Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, Mexico
| | - Roberto Issac Cuevas-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Bioquímica, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, Mexico
| | - José Angel Santiago-Cruz
- Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico 11350, Mexico
| | - Judith Pacheco-Yépez
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico 11340, Mexico
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7
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González-Jiménez P, Duarte S, Martínez AE, Navarro-Carrasco E, Lalioti V, Pajares MA, Pérez-Sala D. Vimentin single cysteine residue acts as a tunable sensor for network organization and as a key for actin remodeling in response to oxidants and electrophiles. Redox Biol 2023; 64:102756. [PMID: 37285743 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cysteine residues can undergo multiple posttranslational modifications with diverse functional consequences, potentially behaving as tunable sensors. The intermediate filament protein vimentin has important implications in pathophysiology, including cancer progression, infection, and fibrosis, and maintains a close interplay with other cytoskeletal structures, such as actin filaments and microtubules. We previously showed that the single vimentin cysteine, C328, is a key target for oxidants and electrophiles. Here, we demonstrate that structurally diverse cysteine-reactive agents, including electrophilic mediators, oxidants and drug-related compounds, disrupt the vimentin network eliciting morphologically distinct reorganizations. As most of these agents display broad reactivity, we pinpointed the importance of C328 by confirming that local perturbations introduced through mutagenesis provoke structure-dependent vimentin rearrangements. Thus, GFP-vimentin wild type (wt) forms squiggles and short filaments in vimentin-deficient cells, the C328F, C328W, and C328H mutants generate diverse filamentous assemblies, and the C328A and C328D constructs fail to elongate yielding dots. Remarkably, vimentin C328H structures resemble the wt, but are strongly resistant to electrophile-elicited disruption. Therefore, the C328H mutant allows elucidating whether cysteine-dependent vimentin reorganization influences other cellular responses to reactive agents. Electrophiles such as 1,4-dinitro-1H-imidazole and 4-hydroxynonenal induce robust actin stress fibers in cells expressing vimentin wt. Strikingly, under these conditions, vimentin C328H expression blunts electrophile-elicited stress fiber formation, apparently acting upstream of RhoA. Analysis of additional vimentin C328 mutants shows that electrophile-sensitive and assembly-defective vimentin variants permit induction of stress fibers by reactive species, whereas electrophile-resistant filamentous vimentin structures prevent it. Together, our results suggest that vimentin acts as a break for actin stress fibers formation, which would be released by C328-aided disruption, thus allowing full actin remodeling in response to oxidants and electrophiles. These observations postulate C328 as a "sensor" transducing structurally diverse modifications into fine-tuned vimentin network rearrangements, and a gatekeeper for certain electrophiles in the interplay with actin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia González-Jiménez
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, C.S.I.C., 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sofia Duarte
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, C.S.I.C., 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alma E Martínez
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, C.S.I.C., 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Navarro-Carrasco
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, C.S.I.C., 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vasiliki Lalioti
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, C.S.I.C., 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - María A Pajares
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, C.S.I.C., 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dolores Pérez-Sala
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, C.S.I.C., 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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8
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Heslop R, Gao M, Brito Lira A, Sternlieb T, Loock M, Sanghi SR, Cestari I. Genome-Wide Libraries for Protozoan Pathogen Drug Target Screening Using Yeast Surface Display. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1078-1091. [PMID: 37083339 PMCID: PMC10187560 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00568] [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: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
The lack of genetic tools to manipulate protozoan pathogens has limited the use of genome-wide approaches to identify drug or vaccine targets and understand these organisms' biology. We have developed an efficient method to construct genome-wide libraries for yeast surface display (YSD) and developed a YSD fitness screen (YSD-FS) to identify drug targets. We show the efficacy of our method by generating genome-wide libraries for Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Giardia lamblia parasites. Each library has a diversity of ∼105 to 106 clones, representing ∼6- to 30-fold of the parasite's genome. Nanopore sequencing confirmed the libraries' genome coverage with multiple clones for each parasite gene. Western blot and imaging analysis confirmed surface expression of the G. lamblia library proteins in yeast. Using the YSD-FS assay, we identified bonafide interactors of metronidazole, a drug used to treat protozoan and bacterial infections. We also found enrichment in nucleotide-binding domain sequences associated with yeast increased fitness to metronidazole, indicating that this drug might target multiple enzymes containing nucleotide-binding domains. The libraries are valuable biological resources for discovering drug or vaccine targets, ligand receptors, protein-protein interactions, and pathogen-host interactions. The library assembly approach can be applied to other organisms or expression systems, and the YSD-FS assay might help identify new drug targets in protozoan pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon Heslop
- Institute
of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
- Faculté
de Pharmacie de Tours, 31, Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France
| | - Mengjin Gao
- Institute
of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Andressa Brito Lira
- Institute
of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Tamara Sternlieb
- Institute
of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Mira Loock
- Institute
of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Sahil Rao Sanghi
- Institute
of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Igor Cestari
- Institute
of Parasitology, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
- Division
of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
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9
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Chatterjee D, Al Rimon R, Chowdhury UF, Islam MR. A multi-epitope based vaccine against the surface proteins expressed in cyst and trophozoite stages of parasite Entamoeba histolytica. J Immunol Methods 2023; 517:113475. [PMID: 37088358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2023.113475] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica, an anaerobic parasite, infects humans and other primates and causes fatal diseases, such as amebiasis, amebic liver abscesses, and many others. Thousands of people are infected and dying due to the need for a proper protective cure, especially in poor sanitizing regions, such as Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Around 10% of the world population is infected by E. histolytica every year. Consequently, novel preventive approaches are required to eliminate the threats of the parasite. A designed vaccine targeting the exposed proteins that are common between cyst and trophozoite stages of the parasite's life cycle would be an effective way to repress the impact of the parasite. Therefore, an in silico bioinformatics approach was performed to design an effective vaccine targeting surface proteins common between both stages of the parasite's life cycle using B-cell and T-cell epitopes. The epitopes derived from the conserved portions of the proteins and their corresponding isomers specific to the parasite suggested that the vaccine could benefit cross-protection. Furthermore, the three-dimensional structure of the designed vaccine was modelled, refined, and validated using multiple bioinformatics tools. The physiological properties and solubility were also predicted using different algorithmic tools and found to be highly soluble in nature. The vaccine was found interactcted with TLR immune receptors, and the stability was observed via dynamics simulation. Codon optimization and cloning were performed for expression analysis. Immune simulation prediction anticipated significant immune responses with a high IgG and IgM antibodies expression, Th and Tc cells population, B-cell population, memory cells, INF-γ, and IL-2 cytokines. Therefore, the constructed multi-epitope putative vaccine can effectively neutralize the parasite's harmful effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipankor Chatterjee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Razoan Al Rimon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Umar Faruq Chowdhury
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
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10
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Bandyopadhyay A, Ghosh SK. Apoptosis-inducing factor-like protein-mediated stress and metronidazole-responsive programmed cell death pathway in Entamoeba histolytica. Mol Microbiol 2023; 119:640-658. [PMID: 37037799 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is the major component of the caspase-independent cell death pathway that is considered to be evolutionarily ancient. Apoptosis is generally evolved with multicellularity as a prerequisite for the elimination of aged, stressed, or infected cells promoting the survival of the organism. Our study reports the presence of a putative AIF-like protein in Entamoeba histolytica, a caspase-deficient primitive protozoan, strengthening the concept of occurrence of apoptosis in unicellular organisms as well. The putative cytoplasmic EhAIF migrates to the nucleus on receiving stresses that precede its binding with DNA, following chromatin degradation and chromatin condensation as evident from both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Down-regulating the EhAIF expression attenuates the apoptotic features of insulted cells and increases the survival potency in terms of cell viability and vitality of the trophozoites, whereas over-expression of the EhAIF effectively enhances the phenomena. Interestingly, metronidazole, the most widely used drug for amoebiasis treatment, is also potent to elicit similar AIF-mediated cell death responses like other stresses indicating the AIF-mediated cell death could be the probable mechanism of trophozoite-death by metronidazole treatment. The occurrence of apoptosis in a unicellular organism is an interesting phenomenon that might signify the altruistic death that overall improves the population health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sudip Kumar Ghosh
- Department of Biotechnology, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
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11
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Vallières C, Golinelli-Cohen MP, Guittet O, Lepoivre M, Huang ME, Vernis L. Redox-Based Strategies against Infections by Eukaryotic Pathogens. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040778. [PMID: 37107536 PMCID: PMC10138290 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040778] [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: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Redox homeostasis is an equilibrium between reducing and oxidizing reactions within cells. It is an essential, dynamic process, which allows proper cellular reactions and regulates biological responses. Unbalanced redox homeostasis is the hallmark of many diseases, including cancer or inflammatory responses, and can eventually lead to cell death. Specifically, disrupting redox balance, essentially by increasing pro-oxidative molecules and favouring hyperoxidation, is a smart strategy to eliminate cells and has been used for cancer treatment, for example. Selectivity between cancer and normal cells thus appears crucial to avoid toxicity as much as possible. Redox-based approaches are also employed in the case of infectious diseases to tackle the pathogens specifically, with limited impacts on host cells. In this review, we focus on recent advances in redox-based strategies to fight eukaryotic pathogens, especially fungi and eukaryotic parasites. We report molecules recently described for causing or being associated with compromising redox homeostasis in pathogens and discuss therapeutic possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Vallières
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR 2301, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Golinelli-Cohen
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR 2301, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Olivier Guittet
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR 2301, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Michel Lepoivre
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR 2301, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Meng-Er Huang
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR 2301, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Laurence Vernis
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR 2301, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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12
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Lozano-Mendoza J, Ramírez-Montiel F, Rangel-Serrano Á, Páramo-Pérez I, Mendoza-Macías CL, Saavedra-Salazar F, Franco B, Vargas-Maya N, Jeelani G, Saito-Nakano Y, Anaya-Velázquez F, Nozaki T, Padilla-Vaca F. Attenuation of In Vitro and In Vivo Virulence Is Associated with Repression of Gene Expression of AIG1 Gene in Entamoeba histolytica. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030489. [PMID: 36986411 PMCID: PMC10051847 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica virulence results from complex host-parasite interactions implicating multiple amoebic components (e.g., Gal/GalNAc lectin, cysteine proteinases, and amoebapores) and host factors (microbiota and immune response). UG10 is a strain derived from E. histolytica virulent HM-1:IMSS strain that has lost its virulence in vitro and in vivo as determined by a decrease of hemolytic, cytopathic, and cytotoxic activities, increased susceptibility to human complement, and its inability to form liver abscesses in hamsters. We compared the transcriptome of nonvirulent UG10 and its parental HM-1:IMSS strain. No differences in gene expression of the classical virulence factors were observed. Genes downregulated in the UG10 trophozoites encode for proteins that belong to small GTPases, such as Rab and AIG1. Several protein-coding genes, including iron-sulfur flavoproteins and heat shock protein 70, were also upregulated in UG10. Overexpression of the EhAIG1 gene (EHI_180390) in nonvirulent UG10 trophozoites resulted in augmented virulence in vitro and in vivo. Cocultivation of HM-1:IMSS with E. coli O55 bacteria cells reduced virulence in vitro, and the EhAIG1 gene expression was downregulated. In contrast, virulence was increased in the monoxenic strain UG10, and the EhAIG1 gene expression was upregulated. Therefore, the EhAIG1 gene (EHI_180390) represents a novel virulence determinant in E. histolytica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janeth Lozano-Mendoza
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Fátima Ramírez-Montiel
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Ángeles Rangel-Serrano
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Itzel Páramo-Pérez
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | | | - Faridi Saavedra-Salazar
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Bernardo Franco
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Naurú Vargas-Maya
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Ghulam Jeelani
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | - Yumiko Saito-Nakano
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0052, Japan
| | - Fernando Anaya-Velázquez
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0052, Japan
| | - Felipe Padilla-Vaca
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
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Popruk S, Abu A, Ampawong S, Thiangtrongjit T, Tipthara P, Tarning J, Sreesai S, Reamtong O. Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics Revealed Effects of Metronidazole on Giardia duodenalis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16030408. [PMID: 36986506 PMCID: PMC10052756 DOI: 10.3390/ph16030408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Giardia duodenalis is a significant protozoan that affects humans and animals. An estimated 280 million G. duodenalis diarrheal cases are recorded annually. Pharmacological therapy is crucial for controlling giardiasis. Metronidazole is the first-line therapy for treating giardiasis. Several metronidazole targets have been proposed. However, the downstream signaling pathways of these targets with respect to their antigiardial action are unclear. In addition, several giardiasis cases have demonstrated treatment failures and drug resistance. Therefore, the development of novel drugs is an urgent need. In this study, we performed a mass spectrometry-based metabolomics study to understand the systemic effects of metronidazole in G. duodenalis. A thorough analysis of metronidazole processes helps identify potential molecular pathways essential for parasite survival. The results demonstrated 350 altered metabolites after exposure to metronidazole. Squamosinin A and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)hexacosanamide were the most up-regulated and down-regulated metabolites, respectively. Proteasome and glycerophospholipid metabolisms demonstrated significant differential pathways. Comparing glycerophospholipid metabolisms of G. duodenalis and humans, the parasite glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase was distinct from humans. This protein is considered a potential drug target for treating giardiasis. This study improved our understanding of the effects of metronidazole and identified new potential therapeutic targets for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supaluk Popruk
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Amanee Abu
- Department of Protozoology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Sumate Ampawong
- Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Tipparat Thiangtrongjit
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Phornpimon Tipthara
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Joel Tarning
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 4BH, UK
| | - Suthasinee Sreesai
- Central Equipment Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Onrapak Reamtong
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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14
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Antigiardial Activity of Foeniculum vulgare Hexane Extract and Some of Its Constituents. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11172212. [PMID: 36079594 PMCID: PMC9460038 DOI: 10.3390/plants11172212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Foeniculum vulgare is used for the treatment of diarrhea in Mexican traditional medicine. Hexane extract showed 94 % inhibition of Giardia duodenalis trophozoites at 300 μg/mL. Therefore, 20 constituents of hexane extract were evaluated to determine their antigiardial activity. Interestingly, six compounds showed good activity toward the parasite. These compounds were (1R,4S) (+)-Camphene (61%), (R)(−)-Carvone (66%), estragole (49%), p-anisaldehyde (67%), 1,3-benzenediol (56%), and trans, trans-2,4-undecadienal (97%). The aldehyde trans, trans-2,4-undecadienal was the most active compound with an IC50 value of 72.11 µg/mL against G. duodenalis trophozoites. This aldehyde was less toxic (IC50 588.8 µg/mL) than positive control metronidazole (IC50 83.5 µg/mL) against Vero cells. The above results could support the use of F. vulgare in Mexican traditional medicine.
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15
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Cellular mechanism of action of 2-nitroimidzoles as hypoxia-selective therapeutic agents. Redox Biol 2022; 52:102300. [PMID: 35430547 PMCID: PMC9038562 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Solid tumours are often poorly oxygenated, which confers resistance to standard treatment modalities. Targeting hypoxic tumours requires compounds, such as nitroimidazoles (NIs), equipped with the ability to reach and become activated within diffusion limited tumour niches. NIs become selectively entrapped in hypoxic cells through bioreductive activation, and have shown promise as hypoxia directed therapeutics. However, little is known about their mechanism of action, hindering the broader clinical usage of NIs. Iodoazomycin arabinofuranoside (IAZA) and fluoroazomycin arabinofuranoside (FAZA) are clinically validated 2-NI hypoxic radiotracers with excellent tumour uptake properties. Hypoxic cancer cells have also shown preferential susceptibility to IAZA and FAZA treatment, making them ideal candidates for an in-depth study in a therapeutic setting. Using a head and neck cancer model, we show that hypoxic cells display higher sensitivity to IAZA and FAZA, where the drugs alter cell morphology, compromise DNA replication, slow down cell cycle progression and induce replication stress, ultimately leading to cytostasis. Effects of IAZA and FAZA on target cellular macromolecules (DNA, proteins and glutathione) were characterized to uncover potential mechanism(s) of action. Covalent binding of these NIs was only observed to cellular proteins, but not to DNA, under hypoxia. While protein levels remained unaffected, catalytic activities of NI target proteins, such as the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and the detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) were significantly curtailed in response to drug treatment under hypoxia. Intraperitoneal administration of IAZA was well-tolerated in mice and produced early (but transient) growth inhibition of subcutaneous mouse tumours. Hypoxic cells display preferential sensitivity to IAZA and FAZA. They alter cell morphology and induce cytostasis. IAZA and FAZA generate covalent adducts of proteins but not DNA. GAPDH and GST activities, but not protein levels, are significantly reduced.
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16
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Ponatinib, Lestaurtinib and mTOR/PI3K inhibitors are promising repurposing candidates against Entamoeba histolytica. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 66:e0120721. [PMID: 34871094 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01207-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysentery caused by Entamoeba histolytica affects millions of people annually. Current treatment regimens are based on metronidazole to treat invasive parasites combined with paromomycin for luminal parasites. Issues with treatment include significant side effects, inability to easily treat breastfeeding and pregnant women, the use of two sequential agents, and concern that all therapy is based on nitroimidazole agents with no alternatives if clinical resistance emerges. Thus, the need for new drugs against amebiasis is urgent. To identify new therapeutic candidates, we screened the ReFRAME library (11,948 compounds assembled for Repurposing, Focused Rescue, and Accelerated Medchem) against E. histolytica trophozoites. We identified 159 hits in the primary screen at 10 μM and 46 compounds were confirmed in secondary assays. Overall, 26 were selected as priority molecules for further investigation including 6 FDA approved, 5 orphan designation, and 15 which are currently in clinical trials (3 phase III, 7 phase II and 5 phase I). We found that all 26 compounds are active against metronidazole resistant E. histolytica and 24 are able to block parasite recrudescence after drug removal. Additionally, 14 are able to inhibit encystation and 2 (lestaurtinib and LY-2874455) are active against mature cysts. Two classes of compounds are most interesting for further investigations: the Bcr-Abl TK inhibitors, with the ponatinib (EC50 0.39) as most potent and mTOR or PI3K inhibitors with 8 compounds in clinical development, of which 4 have nanomolar potency. Overall, these are promising candidates and represent a significant advance for drug development against E. histolytica.
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Wittlin S, Mäser P. From Magic Bullet to Magic Bomb: Reductive Bioactivation of Antiparasitic Agents. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:2777-2786. [PMID: 34472830 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00118] [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] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Paul Ehrlich coined the term "magic bullet" to describe how a drug kills the parasite inside its human host without harming the host itself. Ehrlich concluded that the drug must have a greater affinity to the parasite than to human cells. Today, the specificity of drug action is understood in terms of the drug target. An ideal target is a protein that is essential for the proliferation of the pathogen but absent in human cells. Examples are the enzymes of folate synthesis or of the nonmevalonate pathway in the malaria parasites. However, there are other ways how a drug can kill selectively. Of particular relevance is the specific activation of a prodrug inside the pathogen but not in the host, as this is how the current frontrunners of parasite chemotherapy work. Artemisinins for malaria, fexinidazole for human African trypanosomiasis, benznidazole for Chagas' disease, metronidazole for intestinal protozoa: these molecules are "magic bombs" that are triggered selectively. They are prodrugs that need to be activated by chemical reduction, i.e., the acquisition of an electron, which occurs in the parasite. Such a mode of action is shared by the novel antimalarial peroxides arterolane and artefenomel, which are activated by reduction of the endoperoxide bond with ferrous heme as the likely electron donor, a metabolic end-product of Plasmodium falciparum. Here we provide an overview on the molecular basis of selectivity of antiparasitic drug action with particular reference to the ozonides, the new generation of antimalarial peroxides designed by Jonathan Vennerstrom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Wittlin
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
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18
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Shaulov Y, Sarid L, Trebicz-Geffen M, Ankri S. Entamoeba histolytica Adaption to Auranofin: A Phenotypic and Multi-Omics Characterization. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10081240. [PMID: 34439488 PMCID: PMC8389260 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10081240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Auranofin (AF), an antirheumatic agent, targets mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an important enzyme controlling redox homeostasis. AF is also highly effective against a diversity of pathogenic bacteria and protozoan parasites. Here, we report on the resistance of the parasite Entamoeba histolytica to 2 µM of AF that was acquired by gradual exposure of the parasite to an increasing amount of the drug. AF-adapted E. histolytica trophozoites (AFAT) have impaired growth and cytopathic activity, and are more sensitive to oxidative stress (OS), nitrosative stress (NS), and metronidazole (MNZ) than wild type (WT) trophozoites. Integrated transcriptomics and redoxomics analyses showed that many upregulated genes in AFAT, including genes encoding for dehydrogenase and cytoskeletal proteins, have their product oxidized in wild type trophozoites exposed to AF (acute AF trophozoites) but not in AFAT. We also showed that the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidized proteins (OXs) in AFAT is lower than that in acute AF trophozoites. Overexpression of E. histolytica TrxR (EhTrxR) did not protect the parasite against AF, which suggests that EhTrxR is not central to the mechanism of adaptation to AF.
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19
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Gehl V, Paunkov A, Leitsch D. A reassessment of the role of oxygen scavenging enzymes in the emergence of metronidazole resistance in trichomonads. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2021; 16:38-44. [PMID: 33962363 PMCID: PMC8113990 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Trichomonads are an order of parasitic protists which infect a wide range of hosts. The human parasite Trichomonas vaginalis and the bovine parasite Tritrichomonas foetus which also infects cats and swine are of considerable medical and veterinary importance, respectively. Since trichomonads are microaerophiles/anaerobes they are susceptible to 5-nitroimidazoles such as metronidazole. 5-nitroimidazoles are exclusively toxic to microaerophilic/anaerobic organisms because reduction, i.e. activation, of the drug can only occur in a highly reductive environment. 5-nitroimidazoles have remained a reliable treatment option throughout the last decades but drug resistance can be a problem. Clinical resistance to 5-nitroimidazoles has been studied in more detail in T. vaginalis and has been ascribed to defective oxygen scavenging mechanisms which lead to higher intracellular oxygen concentrations and, consequently, to less drug being reduced. Two enzymes, flavin reductase (FR) and NADH oxidase have been suggested to be the major oxygen scavenging enzymes in T. vaginalis. The loss, or at least an impairment of FR which reduces oxygen to hydrogen peroxide, has been proposed as the central mechanism that enables the emergence of 5-nitroimidazole resistance. In this study we explored if T. foetus also encodes a homolog of FR and if it is, likewise, involved in resistance. T. foetus was indeed found to express a FR but it was only weakly active as compared to the T. vaginalis homolog. Further, activity of FR in T. foetus was unchanged in metronidazole-resistant cell lines, ruling out that it has a role in metronidazole resistance. Finally, we measured oxygen scavenging rates in metronidazole-sensitive and -resistant cell lines and found that NADH oxidase and FR are not the major oxygen scavenging enzymes in trichomonads and that oxygen scavenging is possibly a consequence, rather than a cause of metronidazole resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virág Gehl
- Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ana Paunkov
- Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - David Leitsch
- Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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20
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Rashed FB, Stoica AC, MacDonald D, El-Saidi H, Ricardo C, Bhatt B, Moore J, Diaz-Dussan D, Ramamonjisoa N, Mowery Y, Damaraju S, Fahlman R, Kumar P, Weinfeld M. Identification of proteins and cellular pathways targeted by 2-nitroimidazole hypoxic cytotoxins. Redox Biol 2021; 41:101905. [PMID: 33640700 PMCID: PMC7933538 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.101905] [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: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumour hypoxia negatively impacts therapy outcomes and continues to be a major unsolved clinical problem. Nitroimidazoles are hypoxia selective compounds that become entrapped in hypoxic cells by forming drug-protein adducts. They are widely used as hypoxia diagnostics and have also shown promise as hypoxia-directed therapeutics. However, little is known about the protein targets of nitroimidazoles and the resulting effects of their modification on cancer cells. Here, we report the synthesis and applications of azidoazomycin arabinofuranoside (N3-AZA), a novel click-chemistry compatible 2-nitroimidazole, designed to facilitate (a) the LC-MS/MS-based proteomic analysis of 2-nitroimidazole targeted proteins in FaDu head and neck cancer cells, and (b) rapid and efficient labelling of hypoxic cells and tissues. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that many of the 62 target proteins we identified participate in key canonical pathways including glycolysis and HIF1A signaling that play critical roles in the cellular response to hypoxia. Critical cellular proteins such as the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and the detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP1) appeared as top hits, and N3-AZA adduct formation significantly reduced their enzymatic activities only under hypoxia. Therefore, GAPDH, GSTP1 and other proteins reported here may represent candidate targets to further enhance the potential for nitroimidazole-based cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal Bin Rashed
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada
| | | | - Dawn MacDonald
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Hassan El-Saidi
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alexandria, El Sultan Hussein St. Azarita, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Carolynne Ricardo
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Bhumi Bhatt
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Jack Moore
- Alberta Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Diana Diaz-Dussan
- Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada
| | | | - Yvonne Mowery
- Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, United States
| | - Sambasivarao Damaraju
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Richard Fahlman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada
| | - Piyush Kumar
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada.
| | - Michael Weinfeld
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2R3, Canada.
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21
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Nezaratizade S, Hashemi N, Ommi D, Orhan IE, Khamesipour F. A systematic review of anti- Entamoeba histolytica activity of medicinal plants published in the last 20 years. Parasitology 2021; 148:672-684. [PMID: 33536098 PMCID: PMC11010214 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021000172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Amoebiasis has emerged as a major health problem worldwide. It is endemic in the present scenario is different and sub-tropical regions especially in Asia, Latin America and also in Africa. Causative of amoebiasis is a protozoan known as Entamoeba histolytica. We screened all the databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Medline and Google Scholar by using the keywords ‘anti-Entamoeba histolytica activity of medicinal plants, anti-Entamoeba histolytica activity of herbal drugs, the anti-amoebic activity of natural drugs’. In the present study, we found 7861 articles, where all articles were screened for bias analysis and included 32 full-matching articles in total reporting the use of medicinal plants as a remedy for amoebiasis. Through these articles, we found 42 herbs having anti-amoebic activity. In bias analysis, we also found four articles under high bias risk. In our study, seven medicinal plants were concluded to possess the most potent anti-amoebic activity based on their IC50 value, which was less than 1 μg mL−1. On bias analysis, we found four articles with high bias risk, hence these studies can be repeated for better results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Nezaratizade
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Nooshin Hashemi
- School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran
| | - Davood Ommi
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ilkay Erdogan Orhan
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
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22
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Leitsch D, Mbouaka AL, Köhsler M, Müller N, Walochnik J. An unusual thioredoxin system in the facultative parasite Acanthamoeba castellanii. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:3673-3689. [PMID: 33599799 PMCID: PMC8038987 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03786-x] [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: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii occurs worldwide in soil and water and feeds on bacteria and other microorganisms. It is, however, also a facultative parasite and can cause serious infections in humans. The annotated genome of A. castellanii (strain Neff) suggests the presence of two different thioredoxin reductases (TrxR), of which one is of the small bacterial type and the other of the large vertebrate type. This combination is highly unusual. Similar to vertebrate TrxRases, the gene coding for the large TrxR in A. castellanii contains a UGA stop codon at the C-terminal active site, suggesting the presence of selenocysteine. We characterized the thioredoxin system in A. castellanii in conjunction with glutathione reductase (GR), to obtain a more complete understanding of the redox system in A. castellanii and the roles of its components in the response to oxidative stress. Both TrxRases localize to the cytoplasm, whereas GR localizes to the cytoplasm and the large organelle fraction. We could only identify one thioredoxin (Trx-1) to be indeed reduced by one of the TrxRases, i.e., by the small TrxR. This thioredoxin, in turn, could reduce one of the two peroxiredoxins tested and also methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MsrA). Upon exposure to hydrogen peroxide and diamide, only the small TrxR was upregulated in expression at the mRNA and protein levels, but not the large TrxR. Our results show that the small TrxR is involved in the A. castellanii's response to oxidative stress. The role of the large TrxR, however, remains elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Leitsch
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Alvie Loufouma Mbouaka
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martina Köhsler
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Müller
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
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23
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Dušeková A, Garajová M, Lukáč M, Mrva M. Derivatisation of metronidazole enhances cytotoxic effect against Acanthamoeba genotype T4 isolates and leads to cytomorphological changes in trophozoites. Acta Trop 2021; 216:105830. [PMID: 33465352 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105830] [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: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba are worldwide distributed causative agents of serious human infections such as granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) and Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). To date, treatment of these infections is non-uniform and frequently unsuccessful. Recently, the phosphonium salts were studied for their high levels of antimicrobial activity. This work was aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effect of metronidazole and two phosphonium salts (PS1, PS2) on two clinical Acanthamoeba isolates. The isolates showed distinctly higher susceptibility to both phosphonium salts than to metronidazole. The highest susceptibility was noted to PS1 after 48 h of incubation. Metronidazole derivate PS2 showed higher susceptibility than metronidazole. The values of EC50 of PS2 were approximately twenty times lower than EC50 of metronidazole for Acanthamoeba lugdunensis strain and sixteen times lower for Acanthamoeba quina strain after 48 h. Although the therapeutic effect of metronidazole in Acanthamoeba infections is usually insufficient, its derivatisation can result in a significantly higher amoebicidal effect. Cytomorphological changes of trophozoites after exposure to tested compounds included rounding up of the cells, damage of membrane integrity, presence of pathological protrusions, elongation of the cells or pseudocyst-like stages. Obtained results indicate possible therapeutic potential of studied phosphonium salts.
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24
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Li J, Cui Z, Li X, Zhang L. Review of zoonotic amebiasis: Epidemiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control. Res Vet Sci 2021; 136:174-181. [PMID: 33676155 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Amebiasis is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, which mainly shows symptoms of acute diarrhea, dysentery, amebic colitis, and amebic liver abscesses. As the fourth leading parasitic cause of human mortality, E. histolytica mainly infect children in developing countries, transmitted by food and water contamination. In the majority of infected individuals, Entamoeba sp. asymptomatically colonizes the large intestine and self-limiting, while in others, the parasite breaches the mucosal epithelial barrier to cause amebic colitis and can disseminate to soft organs to cause abscesses. Metronidazole (MTZ) is the recommended and most widely used drug for treating the invasive amebiasis. No amebiasis vaccine has been approved for human clinical trials to date, but many recent vaccine development studies hold promise. For the prevention and control of amebiasis, improvement of water purification systems and hygiene practices could decrease disease incidence. In this review, we focus on the epidemiology, transmission, clinical signs, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of the zoonotic amebiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqiang Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Zhaohui Cui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xiaoying Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Longxian Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
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25
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Shrivastav MT, Malik Z, Somlata. Revisiting Drug Development Against the Neglected Tropical Disease, Amebiasis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:628257. [PMID: 33718258 PMCID: PMC7943716 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.628257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amebiasis is a neglected tropical disease which is caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. This disease is one of the leading causes of diarrhea globally, affecting largely impoverished residents in developing countries. Amebiasis also remains one of the top causes of gastrointestinal diseases in returning international travellers. Despite having many side effects, metronidazole remains the drug of choice as an amebicidal tissue-active agent. However, emergence of metronidazole resistance in pathogens having similar anaerobic metabolism and also in laboratory strains of E. histolytica has necessitated the identification and development of new drug targets and therapeutic strategies against the parasite. Recent research in the field of amebiasis has led to a better understanding of the parasite’s metabolic and cellular pathways and hence has been useful in identifying new drug targets. On the other hand, new molecules effective against amebiasis have been mined by modifying available compounds, thereby increasing their potency and efficacy and also by repurposing existing approved drugs. This review aims at compiling and examining up to date information on promising drug targets and drug molecules for the treatment of amebiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish T Shrivastav
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Zainab Malik
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Somlata
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
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26
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Metronidazole-conjugates: A comprehensive review of recent developments towards synthesis and medicinal perspective. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 210:112994. [PMID: 33234343 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nitroimidazoles based compounds remain a hot topic of research in medicinal chemistry due to their numerous biological activities. Moreover, many clinical candidates based on this chemical core have been reported to be valuable in the treatment of human diseases. Metronidazole (MTZ) derived conjugates demonstrated a potential application in medicinal chemistry research over the last decade. In this review, we summarize the synthesis, key structure-activity-relationship (SAR) and associated biological activities such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV and anti-parasitic (Anti-trichomonas, antileishmanial, antiamoebic and anti-giardial) of explored MTZ-conjugates. The molecular docking analysis is also presented simultaneously, which will assist in developing an understanding towards designing of new MTZ-conjugates for target-based drug discovery against multiple disease areas.
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2-Nitroimidazoles induce mitochondrial stress and ferroptosis in glioma stem cells residing in a hypoxic niche. Commun Biol 2020; 3:450. [PMID: 32807853 PMCID: PMC7431527 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01165-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Under hypoxic conditions, nitroimidazoles can replace oxygen as electron acceptors, thereby enhancing the effects of radiation on malignant cells. These compounds also accumulate in hypoxic cells, where they can act as cytotoxins or imaging agents. However, whether these effects apply to cancer stem cells has not been sufficiently explored. Here we show that the 2-nitroimidazole doranidazole potentiates radiation-induced DNA damage in hypoxic glioma stem cells (GSCs) and confers a significant survival benefit in mice harboring GSC-derived tumors in radiotherapy settings. Furthermore, doranidazole and misonidazole, but not metronidazole, manifested radiation-independent cytotoxicity for hypoxic GSCs that was mediated by ferroptosis induced partially through blockade of mitochondrial complexes I and II and resultant metabolic alterations in oxidative stress responses. Doranidazole also limited the growth of GSC-derived subcutaneous tumors and that of tumors in orthotopic brain slices. Our results thus reveal the theranostic potential of 2-nitroimidazoles as ferroptosis inducers that enable targeting GSCs in their hypoxic niche. Koike et al. show that the 2-nitroimidazole doranidazole increases radiation-induced DNA damage in hypoxic glioma stem cells (GSCs). They further demonstrate that additional radiation-independent cytotoxicity of 2-nitroimidazoles is due to ferroptosis that occurs through blockade of mitochondrial complexes I and II leading to metabolic changes in the oxidative stress response.
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28
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Chromosomal Resistance to Metronidazole in Clostridioides difficile Can Be Mediated by Epistasis between Iron Homeostasis and Oxidoreductases. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00415-20. [PMID: 32457109 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00415-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal resistance to metronidazole has emerged in clinical Clostridioides difficile isolates, but the genetic mechanisms remain unclear. This is further hindered by the inability to generate spontaneous metronidazole-resistant mutants in the lab to interpret genetic variations in clinical isolates. We therefore constructed a mismatch repair mutator in nontoxigenic ATCC 700057 to survey the mutational landscape for de novo resistance mechanisms. In separate experimental evolutions, the mutator adopted a deterministic path to resistance, with truncation of the ferrous iron transporter FeoB1 as a first-step mechanism of low-level resistance. Deletion of feoB1 in ATCC 700057 reduced the intracellular iron content, appearing to shift cells toward flavodoxin-mediated oxidoreductase reactions, which are less favorable for metronidazole's cellular action. Higher-level resistance evolved from sequential acquisition of mutations to catalytic domains of pyruvate-ferredoxin/flavodoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR; encoded by nifJ), a synonymous codon change to putative xdh (xanthine dehydrogenase; encoded by CD630_31770), likely affecting mRNA stability, and last, frameshift and point mutations that inactivated the iron-sulfur cluster regulator (IscR). Gene silencing of nifJ, xdh, or iscR with catalytically dead Cas9 revealed that resistance involving these genes occurred only when feoB1 was inactivated; i.e., resistance was seen only in the feoB1 deletion mutant and not in the isogenic wild-type (WT) parent. Interestingly, metronidazole resistance in C. difficile infection (CDI)-associated strains carrying mutations in nifJ was reduced upon gene complementation. This observation supports the idea that mutation in PFOR is one mechanism of metronidazole resistance in clinical strains. Our findings indicate that metronidazole resistance in C. difficile is complex, involving multigenetic mechanisms that could intersect with iron-dependent and oxidoreductive metabolic pathways.
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29
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Binder J, Shadkchan Y, Osherov N, Krappmann S. The Essential Thioredoxin Reductase of the Human Pathogenic Mold Aspergillus fumigatus Is a Promising Antifungal Target. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1383. [PMID: 32670238 PMCID: PMC7330004 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of cellular targets for antifungal compounds is a cornerstone for the development of novel antimycotics, for which a significant need exists due to increasing numbers of susceptible patients, emerging pathogens, and evolving resistance. For the human pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus, the causative agent of the opportunistic disease aspergillosis, only a limited number of established targets and corresponding drugs are available. Among several targets that were postulated from a variety of experimental approaches, the conserved thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity encoded by the trxR gene was assessed in this study. Its essentiality could be confirmed following a conditional TetOFF promoter replacement strategy. Relevance of the trxR gene product for oxidative stress resistance was revealed and, most importantly, its requirement for full virulence of A. fumigatus in two different models of infection resembling invasive aspergillosis. Our findings complement the idea of targeting the reductase component of the fungal thioredoxin system for antifungal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Binder
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yana Shadkchan
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Nir Osherov
- Aspergillus and Antifungal Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Sven Krappmann
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Erlangen Center of Infection Research, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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30
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Lauwaet T, Miyamoto Y, Ihara S, Le C, Kalisiak J, Korthals KA, Ghassemian M, Smith DK, Sharpless KB, Fokin VV, Eckmann L. Click chemistry-facilitated comprehensive identification of proteins adducted by antimicrobial 5-nitroimidazoles for discovery of alternative drug targets against giardiasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008224. [PMID: 32302296 PMCID: PMC7190177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardiasis and other protozoan infections are major worldwide causes of morbidity and mortality, yet development of new antimicrobial agents with improved efficacy and ability to override increasingly common drug resistance remains a major challenge. Antimicrobial drug development typically proceeds by broad functional screens of large chemical libraries or hypothesis-driven exploration of single microbial targets, but both strategies have challenges that have limited the introduction of new antimicrobials. Here, we describe an alternative drug development strategy that identifies a sufficient but manageable number of promising targets, while reducing the risk of pursuing targets of unproven value. The strategy is based on defining and exploiting the incompletely understood adduction targets of 5-nitroimidazoles, which are proven antimicrobials against a wide range of anaerobic protozoan and bacterial pathogens. Comprehensive adductome analysis by modified click chemistry and multi-dimensional proteomics were applied to the model pathogen Giardia lamblia to identify dozens of adducted protein targets common to both 5'-nitroimidazole-sensitive and -resistant cells. The list was highly enriched for known targets in G. lamblia, including arginine deiminase, α-tubulin, carbamate kinase, and heat shock protein 90, demonstrating the utility of the approach. Importantly, over twenty potential novel drug targets were identified. Inhibitors of two representative new targets, NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase and peroxiredoxin, were found to have significant antigiardial activity. Furthermore, all the identified targets remained available in resistant cells, since giardicidal activity of the respective inhibitors was not impacted by resistance to 5'-nitroimidazoles. These results demonstrate that the combined use of click chemistry and proteomics has the potential to reveal alternative drug targets for overcoming antimicrobial drug resistance in protozoan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tineke Lauwaet
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Yukiko Miyamoto
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Sozaburo Ihara
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.,Division of Gastroenterology, The Institute for Adult Diseases, Asahi Life Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Christine Le
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Jarosław Kalisiak
- Department of Chemistry and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Keith A Korthals
- Department of Chemistry and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Majid Ghassemian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Diane K Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - K Barry Sharpless
- Department of Chemistry and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Valery V Fokin
- Department of Chemistry, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Lars Eckmann
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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31
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Shaulov Y, Nagaraja S, Sarid L, Trebicz-Geffen M, Ankri S. Formation of oxidised (OX) proteins in Entamoeba histolytica exposed to auranofin and consequences on the parasite virulence. Cell Microbiol 2020; 22:e13174. [PMID: 32017328 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Metronidazole (MNZ), the first line drug for amoebiasis and auranofin (AF), an emerging antiprotozoan drug, are both inhibiting Entamoeba histolytica thioredoxin reductase. The nature of oxidised proteins (OXs) formed in AF- or MNZ-treated E. histolytica trophozoites is unknown. In order to fill this knowledge gap, we performed a large-scale identification and quantification of the OXs formed in AF- or MNZ-treated E. histolytica trophozoites using resin-assisted capture coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). We detected 661 OXs in MNZ-treated trophozoites and 583 OXs in AF-treated trophozoites. More than 50% of these OXs were shared, and their functions include hydrolases, enzyme modulators, transferases, nucleic acid binding proteins, oxidoreductases, cytoskeletal proteins, chaperones, and ligases. Here, we report that the formation of actin filaments (F-actin) is impaired in AF-treated trophozoites. Consequently, their erythrophagocytosis, cytopathic activity, and their motility are impaired. We also observed that less than 15% of OXs present in H2 O2 -treated trophozoites are also present in AF- or MNZ-treated trophozoites. These results strongly suggest that the formation of OXs in AF- or MNZ-treated trophozoites and in H2 O2 -treated trophozoites occurred by two different mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Shaulov
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shruti Nagaraja
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Lotem Sarid
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Meirav Trebicz-Geffen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Serge Ankri
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
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32
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Drug resistance in Giardia: Mechanisms and alternative treatments for Giardiasis. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2020; 107:201-282. [PMID: 32122530 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2019.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The use of chemotherapeutic drugs is the main resource against clinical giardiasis due to the lack of approved vaccines. Resistance of G. duodenalis to the most used drugs to treat giardiasis, metronidazole and albendazole, is a clinical issue of growing concern and yet unknown impact, respectively. In the search of new drugs, the completion of the Giardia genome project and the use of biochemical, molecular and bioinformatics tools allowed the identification of ligands/inhibitors for about one tenth of ≈150 potential drug targets in this parasite. Further, the synthesis of second generation nitroimidazoles and benzimidazoles along with high-throughput technologies have allowed not only to define overall mechanisms of resistance to metronidazole but to screen libraries of repurposed drugs and new pharmacophores, thereby increasing the known arsenal of anti-giardial compounds to some hundreds, with most demonstrating activity against metronidazole or albendazole-resistant Giardia. In particular, cysteine-modifying agents which include omeprazole, disulfiram, allicin and auranofin outstand due to their pleiotropic activity based on the extensive repertoire of thiol-containing proteins and the microaerophilic metabolism of this parasite. Other promising agents derived from higher organisms including phytochemicals, lactoferrin and propolis as well as probiotic bacteria/fungi have also demonstrated significant potential for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes in giardiasis. In this context the present chapter offers a comprehensive review of the current knowledge, including commonly prescribed drugs, causes of therapeutic failures, drug resistance mechanisms, strategies for the discovery of new agents and alternative drug therapies.
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33
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Biological activity of esters of quinoxaline-7-carboxylate 1,4-di-N-oxide against E. histolytica and their analysis as potential thioredoxin reductase inhibitors. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:695-711. [PMID: 31907668 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06580-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Amoebiasis is caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica that affects millions of people throughout the world. The standard treatment is metronidazole, however, this drug causes several side effects, and is also mutagenic and carcinogenic. Therefore, the search for therapeutic alternatives is necessary. Quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxides (QdNOs) derivatives have been shown to exhibit activity against different protozoan. In the present study, the effects of esters of quinoxaline-7-carboxylate 1,4-di-N-oxide (7-carboxylate QdNOs) derivatives on E. histolytica proliferation, morphology, ultrastructure, and oxidative stress were evaluated, also their potential as E. histolytica thioredoxin reductase (EhTrxR) inhibitors was analyzed. In vitro tests showed that 12 compounds from n-propyl and isopropyl series, were more active (IC50 = 0.331 to 3.56 μM) than metronidazole (IC50 = 4.5 μM). The compounds with better biological activity have a bulky, trifluoromethyl and isopropyl group at R1-, R2-, and R3-position, respectively. The main alterations found in trophozoites treated with some of these compounds included changes in chromatin, cell granularity, redistribution of vacuoles with cellular debris, and an increase in reactive oxygen species. Interestingly, docking studies suggested that 7-carboxylate QdNOs derivatives could interact with amino acid residues of the NADPH-binding domain and/or the redox-active site of EhTrxR. Enzymatic assays demonstrated that selected 7-carboxylate QdNOs inhibits EhTrxR disulfide reductase activity, and diaphorase activity shows that these compounds could act as electron acceptor substrates for the enzyme. Taken together, these data indicate that among the mechanisms involved in the antiamoebic effect of the 7-carboxylate QdNOs derivatives studied, is the induction of oxidative stress and the inhibition of EhTrxR activity.
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Drinić M, Raninger A, Zraunig A, Astelbauer F, Leitsch D, Obwaller A, Walochnik J, Greger H, Duchene M. Activity of methylgerambullin from Glycosmis species (Rutaceae) against Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia duodenalis in vitro. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2019; 10:109-117. [PMID: 31472356 PMCID: PMC6722286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia duodenalis are widespread intestinal protozoan parasites which both spread via cysts that have to be ingested to infect a new host. Their environment, the small intestine for G. duodenalis and the colon for E. histolytica, contains only very limited amounts of oxygen, so both parasites generate energy by fermentation and substrate level phosphorylation rather than by oxidative phosphorylation. They both contain reducing agents able to reduce and activate nitroimidazole drugs such as metronidazole which is the gold standard drug to treat Entamoeba or Giardia infections. Although metronidazole works well in the majority of cases, it has a number of drawbacks. In animal models, the drug has carcinogenic activity, and concerns about a possible teratogenic activity remain. In addition, the treatment of G. duodenalis infections is hampered by emerging metronidazole resistance. Plant-derived drugs play a dominant role in human medicine, therefore we tested the activity of 14 isolated plant compounds belonging to seven different classes in vitro against both parasites. The tests were performed in a new setting in microtiter plates under anaerobic conditions. The compound with the highest activity was methylgerambullin, a sulphur-containing amide found in Glycosmis species of the family Rutaceae with an EC50 of 14.5 μM (6.08 μg/ml) after 24 h treatment for E. histolytica and 14.6 μM (6.14 μg/ml) for G. duodenalis. The compound was successfully synthesised in the laboratory which opens the door for the generation of new derivatives with higher activity. Fourteen plant compounds of seven classes were isolated. The activity against Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia duodenalis was tested. Methylgerambullin had the highest activity against both parasites. Methylgerambullin is a sulphur-containing amide from Glycosmis spp. (Citrus plants). High cysteine concentrations interfered with methylgerambullin activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjana Drinić
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Adriane Raninger
- Chemodiversity Research Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, A-1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Zraunig
- Chemodiversity Research Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, A-1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Astelbauer
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Leitsch
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Obwaller
- Orphanidis Pharma Research GmbH, A-1160, Vienna, Austria; CDMS Clinical Data Management and Statistics GmbH, A-1020, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Greger
- Chemodiversity Research Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, A-1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Duchene
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
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Müller J, Müller N. Nitroreductases of bacterial origin in Giardia lamblia: Potential role in detoxification of xenobiotics. Microbiologyopen 2019; 8:e904. [PMID: 31343119 PMCID: PMC7938412 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The anaerobic parasite Giardia lamblia, causative agent of persistent diarrhea, contains a family of nitroreductase genes most likely acquired by lateral transfer from anaerobic bacteria or archaebacteria. Two of these nitroreductases, containing a ferredoxin domain at their N-terminus, NR1, and NR2, have been characterized previously. Here, we present the characterization of a third member of this family, NR3. In functional assays, recombinant NR1 and NR3 reduced quinones like menadione and the antibiotic tetracycline, and-to much lesser extents-the nitro compound dinitrotoluene. Conversely, recombinant NR2 had no activity on tetracycline. Escherichia coli expressing NR3 were less susceptible to tetracycline, but more susceptible to the nitro compound metronidazole under semi-aerobic growth conditions. G. lamblia overexpressing NR1 and NR3, but not lines overexpressing NR2, are more susceptible to the nitro drug nitazoxanide. These findings suggest that NR3 is an active quinone reductase with a mode of action similar to NR1, but different from NR2. The biological function of this family of enzymes may reside in the use of xenobiotics as final electron acceptors. Thereby, these enzymes may provide at least two evolutionary advantages namely a higher potential to recycle NAD(P) as electron acceptors for the (fermentative) energy and intermediary metabolism, and the possibility to inactivate toxic xenobiotics produced by microorganisms living in concurrence inside the intestinal habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Müller
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Müller
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
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Probst A, Nguyen TN, El-Sakkary N, Skinner D, Suzuki BM, Buckner FS, Gelb MH, Caffrey CR, Debnath A. Bioactivity of Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors Against Entamoeba histolytica and Schistosoma mansoni. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:180. [PMID: 31192168 PMCID: PMC6548881 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica can induce amebic colitis and amebic liver abscess. First-line drugs for the treatment of amebiasis are nitroimidazoles, particularly metronidazole. Metronidazole has side effects and potential drug resistance is a concern. Schistosomiasis, a chronic and painful infection, is caused by various species of the Schistosoma flatworm. There is only one partially effective drug, praziquantel, a worrisome situation should drug resistance emerge. As many essential metabolic pathways and enzymes are shared between eukaryotic organisms, it is possible to conceive of small molecule interventions that target more than one organism or target, particularly when chemical matter is already available. Farnesyltransferase (FT), the last common enzyme for products derived from the mevalonate pathway, is vital for diverse functions, including cell differentiation and growth. Both E. histolytica and Schistosoma mansoni genomes encode FT genes. In this study, we phenotypically screened E. histolytica and S. mansoni in vitro with the established FT inhibitors, lonafarnib and tipifarnib, and with 125 tipifarnib analogs previously screened against both the whole organism and/or the FT of Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. For E. histolytica, we also explored whether synergy arises by combining lonafarnib and metronidazole or lonafarnib with statins that modulate protein prenylation. We demonstrate the anti-amebic and anti-schistosomal activities of lonafarnib and tipifarnib, and identify 17 tipifarnib analogs with more than 75% growth inhibition at 50 μM against E. histolytica. Apart from five analogs of tipifarnib exhibiting activity against both E. histolytica and S. mansoni, 10 additional analogs demonstrated anti-schistosomal activity (severe degenerative changes at 10 μM after 24 h). Analysis of the structure-activity relationship available for the T. brucei FT suggests that FT may not be the relevant target in E. histolytica and S. mansoni. For E. histolytica, combination of metronidazole and lonafarnib resulted in synergism for growth inhibition. Also, of a number of statins tested, simvastatin exhibited moderate anti-amebic activity which, when combined with lonafarnib, resulted in slight synergism. Even in the absence of a definitive molecular target, identification of potent anti-parasitic tipifarnib analogs encourages further exploration while the synergistic combination of metronidazole and lonafarnib offers a promising treatment strategy for amebiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Probst
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Thi N Nguyen
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Nelly El-Sakkary
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Danielle Skinner
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - 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, United States
| | - Frederick S Buckner
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Michael H Gelb
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - 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, United States
| | - Anjan Debnath
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Nagaraja S, Ankri S. Target identification and intervention strategies against amebiasis. Drug Resist Updat 2019; 44:1-14. [PMID: 31112766 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica is the etiological agent of amebiasis, which is an endemic parasitic disease in developing countries and is the cause of approximately 70,000 deaths annually. E. histolytica trophozoites usually reside in the colon as a non-pathogenic commensal in most infected individuals (90% of infected individuals are asymptomatic). For unknown reasons, these trophozoites can become virulent and invasive, cause amebic dysentery, and migrate to the liver where they cause hepatocellular damage. Amebiasis is usually treated either by amebicides which are classified as (a) luminal and are active against the luminal forms of the parasite, (b) tissue and are effective against those parasites that have invaded tissues, and (c) mixed and are effective against the luminal forms of the parasite and those forms which invaded the host's tissues. Of the amebicides, the luminal amebicide, metronidazole (MTZ), is the most widely used drug to treat amebiasis. Although well tolerated, concerns about its adverse effects and the possible emergence of MTZ-resistant strains of E. histolytica have led to the development of new therapeutic strategies against amebiasis. These strategies include improving the potency of existing amebicides, discovering new uses for approved drugs (repurposing of existing drugs), drug rediscovery, vaccination, drug targeting of essential E. histolytica components, and the use of probiotics and bioactive natural products. This review examines each of these strategies in the light of the current knowledge on the gut microbiota of patients with amebiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Nagaraja
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Serge Ankri
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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Structural and functional characterisation of phosphoserine phosphatase, that plays critical role in the oxidative stress response in the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. J Struct Biol 2019; 206:254-266. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2019.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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Espinosa A, Paz-Y-Miño-C G. Discrimination Experiments in Entamoeba and Evidence from Other Protists Suggest Pathogenic Amebas Cooperate with Kin to Colonize Hosts and Deter Rivals. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2019; 66:354-368. [PMID: 30055104 PMCID: PMC6349510 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica is one of the least understood protists in terms of taxa, clone, and kin discrimination/recognition ability. However, the capacity to tell apart same or self (clone/kin) from different or nonself (nonclone/nonkin) has long been demonstrated in pathogenic eukaryotes like Trypanosoma and Plasmodium, free-living social amebas (Dictyostelium, Polysphondylium), budding yeast (Saccharomyces), and in numerous bacteria and archaea (prokaryotes). Kin discrimination/recognition is explained under inclusive fitness theory; that is, the reproductive advantage that genetically closely related organisms (kin) can gain by cooperating preferably with one another (rather than with distantly related or unrelated individuals), minimizing antagonism and competition with kin, and excluding genetic strangers (or cheaters = noncooperators that benefit from others' investments in altruistic cooperation). In this review, we rely on the outcomes of in vitro pairwise discrimination/recognition encounters between seven Entamoeba lineages to discuss the biological significance of taxa, clone, and kin discrimination/recognition in a range of generalist and specialist species (close or distantly related phylogenetically). We then focus our discussion on the importance of these laboratory observations for E. histolytica's life cycle, host infestation, and implications of these features of the amebas' natural history for human health (including mitigation of amebiasis).
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Affiliation(s)
- Avelina Espinosa
- Department of Biology, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island
- New England Center for the Public Understanding of Science, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island
| | - Guillermo Paz-Y-Miño-C
- New England Center for the Public Understanding of Science, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island
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Ordoñez-Quiroz A, Ortega-Pierres MG, Bazán-Tejeda ML, Bermúdez-Cruz RM. DNA damage induced by metronidazole in Giardia duodenalis triggers a DNA homologous recombination response. Exp Parasitol 2018; 194:24-31. [PMID: 30237050 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 07/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying metronidazole (MTZ) resistance in Giardia duodenalis have been associated with decreased activity of the enzymes implicated in its activation including nitroductase-1, thioredoxin reductase and pyruvate-ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR). MTZ activation generates radicals that can form adducts with proteins such as thioredoxin reductase and α- and -β giardins as well as DNA damage resulting in trophozoite's death. The damage induced in DNA requires a straight forward response that may allow parasite survival. Here, we studied changes in histone H2A phosphorylation to evaluate the DNA repair response pathway after induction of double strand break (DSB) by MTZ in Giardia DNA. Our results showed that the DNA repair mechanisms after exposure of Giardia trophozoites to MTZ, involved a homologous recombination pathway. We observed a significant increase in the expression level of proteins GdDMC1B, which carries out Rad51 role in G. duodenalis, and GdMre11, after 12 h of exposure to 3.2 μM MTZ. This increase was concomitant with the generation of DSB in the DNA of trophozoites treated MTZ. Altogether, these results suggest that MTZ-induced DNA damage in Giardia triggers the DNA homologous recombination repair (DHRR) pathway, which may contribute to the parasite survival in the presence of MTZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Ordoñez-Quiroz
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 2508, C.P.07360, México D.F, Mexico
| | - M Guadalupe Ortega-Pierres
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 2508, C.P.07360, México D.F, Mexico
| | - María Luisa Bazán-Tejeda
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 2508, C.P.07360, México D.F, Mexico
| | - Rosa M Bermúdez-Cruz
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 2508, C.P.07360, México D.F, Mexico.
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Martínez-Castillo M, Pacheco-Yepez J, Flores-Huerta N, Guzmán-Téllez P, Jarillo-Luna RA, Cárdenas-Jaramillo LM, Campos-Rodríguez R, Shibayama M. Flavonoids as a Natural Treatment Against Entamoeba histolytica. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:209. [PMID: 29988403 PMCID: PMC6024094 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, gastrointestinal infections in developing countries have been a serious health problem and are the second leading cause of morbidity among all age groups. Among pathogenic protozoans that cause diarrheal disease, the parasite Entamoeba histolytica produces amebic colitis as well as the most frequent extra-intestinal lesion, an amebic liver abscess (ALA). Usually, intestinal amebiasis and ALA are treated with synthetic chemical compounds (iodoquinol, paromomycin, diloxanide furoate, and nitroimidazoles). Metronidazole is the most common treatment for amebiasis. Although the efficacy of nitroimidazoles in killing amebas is known, the potential resistance of E. histolytica to this treatment is a concern. In addition, controversial studies have reported that metronidazole could induce mutagenic effects and cerebral toxicity. Therefore, natural and safe alternative drugs against this parasite are needed. Flavonoids are natural polyphenolic compounds. Flavonoids depend on malonyl-CoA and phenylalanine to be synthesized. Several flavonoids have anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties. Since the 1990s, several works have focused on the identification and purification of different flavonoids with amebicidal effects, such as, -(-)epicatechin, kaempferol, and quercetin. In this review, we investigated the effects of flavonoids that have potential amebicidal activity and that can be used as complementary and/or specific therapeutic strategies against E. histolytica trophozoites. Interestingly, it was found that these natural compounds can induce morphological changes in the amebas, such as chromatin condensation and cytoskeletal protein re-organization, as well as the upregulation and downregulation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase, and pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (enzymes of the glycolytic pathway). Although the specific molecular targets, bioavailability, route of administration, and doses of some of these natural compounds need to be determined, flavonoids represent a very promising and innocuous strategy that should be considered for use against E. histolytica in the era of microbial drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés Martínez-Castillo
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Judith Pacheco-Yepez
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Nadia Flores-Huerta
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Paula Guzmán-Téllez
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rosa A Jarillo-Luna
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Luz M Cárdenas-Jaramillo
- Coordinación de Morfología, Departamento de Formación Básica Disciplinaria, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rafael Campos-Rodríguez
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Mineko Shibayama
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Leitsch D, Williams CF, Hrdý I. Redox Pathways as Drug Targets in Microaerophilic Parasites. Trends Parasitol 2018; 34:576-589. [PMID: 29807758 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The microaerophilic parasites Entamoeba histolytica, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Giardia lamblia jointly cause hundreds of millions of infections in humans every year. Other microaerophilic parasites such as Tritrichomonas foetus and Spironucleus spp. pose a relevant health problem in veterinary medicine. Unfortunately, vaccines against these pathogens are unavailable, but their microaerophilic lifestyle opens opportunities for specifically developed chemotherapeutics. In particular, their high sensitivity towards oxygen can be exploited by targeting redox enzymes. This review focusses on the redox pathways of microaerophilic parasites and on drugs, either already in use or currently in the state of development, which target these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Leitsch
- Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology, and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
| | - Catrin F Williams
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Ivan Hrdý
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
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Oliveira AA, Oliveira APA, Franco LL, Ferencs MO, Ferreira JFG, Bachi SMPS, Speziali NL, Farias LM, Magalhães PP, Beraldo H. 5-Nitroimidazole-derived Schiff bases and their copper(II) complexes exhibit potent antimicrobial activity against pathogenic anaerobic bacteria. Biometals 2018; 31:571-584. [DOI: 10.1007/s10534-018-0106-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Synthesis, antiamoebic activity and docking studies of metronidazole-triazole-styryl hybrids. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 150:633-641. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Revised: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Nagaraja S, Ankri S. Utilization of Different Omic Approaches to Unravel Stress Response Mechanisms in the Parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:19. [PMID: 29473019 PMCID: PMC5809450 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During its life cycle, the unicellular parasite Entamoeba histolytica is challenged by a wide variety of environmental stresses, such as fluctuation in glucose concentration, changes in gut microbiota composition, and the release of oxidative and nitrosative species from neutrophils and macrophages. The best mode of survival for this parasite is to continuously adapt itself to the dynamic environment of the host. Our ability to study the stress-induced responses and adaptive mechanisms of this parasite has been transformed through the development of genomics, proteomics or metabolomics (omics sciences). These studies provide insights into different facets of the parasite's behavior in the host. However, there is a dire need for multi-omics data integration to better understand its pathogenic nature, ultimately paving the way to identify new chemotherapeutic targets against amebiasis. This review provides an integration of the most relevant omics information on the mechanisms that are used by E. histolytica to resist environmental stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Nagaraja
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Serge Ankri
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
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Abstract
The 5-nitroimidazole drug metronidazole has remained the drug of choice in the treatment of anaerobic infections, parasitic as well as bacterial, ever since its development in 1959. In contrast to most other antimicrobials, it has a pleiotropic mode of action and reacts with a large number of molecules. Importantly, metronidazole, which is strictly speaking a prodrug, needs to be reduced at its nitro group in order to become toxic. Reduction of metronidazole, however, only takes place under very low concentrations of oxygen, explaining why metronidazole is exclusively toxic to microaerophilic and anaerobic microorganisms. In general, resistance rates amongst the pathogens treated with metronidazole have remained low until the present day. Nevertheless, metronidazole resistance does occur, and for the treatment of some pathogens, especially Helicobacter pylori, metronidazole has become almost useless in some parts of the world. This review will give an account on the current status of research on metronidazole's mode of action, metronidazole resistance in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, and on other 5-nitroimidazoles in use.
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Pineda E, Perdomo D. Entamoeba histolytica under Oxidative Stress: What Countermeasure Mechanisms Are in Place? Cells 2017; 6:cells6040044. [PMID: 29160807 PMCID: PMC5755502 DOI: 10.3390/cells6040044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of human amoebiasis; it affects 50 million people worldwide and causes approximately 100,000 deaths per year. Entamoeba histolytica is an anaerobic parasite that is primarily found in the colon; however, for unknown reasons, it can become invasive, breaching the gut barrier and migrating toward the liver causing amoebic liver abscesses. During the invasive process, it must maintain intracellular hypoxia within the oxygenated human tissues and cellular homeostasis during the host immune defense attack when it is confronted with nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species. But how? This review will address the described and potential mechanisms available to counter the oxidative stress generated during invasion and the possible role that E. histolytica’s continuous endoplasmic reticulum (Eh-ER) plays during these events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Pineda
- Laboratory of Fundamental Microbiology and Pathogenicity (MFP), University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR-5234, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
| | - Doranda Perdomo
- Laboratory of Fundamental Microbiology and Pathogenicity (MFP), University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR-5234, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
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Imperiale BR, Cataldi ÁA, Morcillo NS. In vitro anti-tuberculosis activity of azole drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates. Rev Argent Microbiol 2017; 49:332-338. [PMID: 28919150 DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Latent tuberculosis has been associated with the persistence of dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the organism of infected individuals, who are reservoirs of the bacilli and the source for spreading the disease in the community. New active anti-TB drugs exerting their metabolic action at different stages and on latent/dormant bacilli are urgently required to avoid endogenous reactivations and to be part of treatments of multi- and extensively-drug resistant tuberculosis (M/XDR-TB). It was previously reported that azole drugs are active against M. tuberculosis. For that reason, the aims of this study were to determine the in vitro activity of azole drugs, imidazole (clotrimazole, CLO and econazole, ECO) and nitroimidazole (metronidazole, MZ and ipronidazole, IPZ), against a collection of MDR M. tuberculosis clinical isolates; and to analyze their potential use in both the LTB and the active forms of M/XDR-TB treatments. METHODS A total of 55 MDR M. tuberculosis isolates and H37Rv were included. MZ and IPZ activity against M. tuberculosis isolates were tested using anaerobic culture conditions. The activity of ECO and CLO was measured by the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) using a microdilution colorimetric method. RESULTS MZ and IPZ showed bacteriostatic activity against M. tuberculosis strains. MIC50 and MIC90 to ECO was 4.0μg/ml, while MIC50 to CLO was 4.0μg/ml and MIC90 was 8.0μg/ml respectively. CONCLUSION All azole compounds tested in the study showed inhibitory activity against MDR M. tuberculosis clinical isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén R Imperiale
- Reference Laboratory of Tuberculosis Control Program of Buenos Aires Province, Dr. Cetrangolo Hospital, Italia 1750, Florida 1602, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
| | - Ángel A Cataldi
- Biotechnology Institute, National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), Los Reseros y Nicolás Repetto s/n, 1686 Hurlingham, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
| | - Nora S Morcillo
- Reference Laboratory of Tuberculosis Control Program of Buenos Aires Province, Dr. Cetrangolo Hospital, Italia 1750, Florida 1602, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
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50
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Leitsch D. Drug susceptibility testing in microaerophilic parasites: Cysteine strongly affects the effectivities of metronidazole and auranofin, a novel and promising antimicrobial. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2017; 7:321-327. [PMID: 28910741 PMCID: PMC5595233 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The microaerophilic parasites Entamoeba histolytica, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Giardia lamblia annually cause hundreds of millions of human infections which are treated with antiparasitic drugs. Metronidazole is the most often prescribed drug but also other drugs are in use, and novel drugs with improved characteristics are constantly being developed. One of these novel drugs is auranofin, originally an antirheumatic which has been relabelled for the treatment of parasitic infections. Drug effectivity is arguably the most important criterion for its applicability and is commonly assessed in susceptibility assays using in vitro cultures of a given pathogen. However, drug susceptibility assays can be strongly affected by certain compounds in the growth media. In the case of microaerophilic parasites, cysteine which is added in large amounts as an antioxidant is an obvious candidate because it is highly reactive and known to modulate the toxicity of metronidazole in several microaerophilic parasites. In this study, it was attempted to reduce cysteine concentrations as far as possible without affecting parasite viability by performing drug susceptibility assays under strictly anaerobic conditions in an anaerobic cabinet. Indeed, T. vaginalis and E. histolytica could be grown without any cysteine added and the cysteine concentration necessary to maintain G. lamblia could be reduced to 20%. Susceptibilities to metronidazole were found to be clearly reduced in the presence of cysteine. With auranofin the protective effect of cysteine was extreme, providing protection to concentrations up to 100-fold higher as observed in the absence of cysteine. With three other drugs tested, albendazole, furazolidone and nitazoxanide, all in use against G. lamblia, the effect of cysteine was less pronounced. Oxygen was found to have a less marked impact on metronidazole and auranofin than cysteine but bovine bile which is standardly used in growth media for G. lamblia, displayed a marked synergistic effect with metronidazole. T. vaginalis and E. histolytica can grow anaerobically without cysteine. T. vaginalis and G. lamblia are more susceptible to metronidazole without cysteine. T. vaginalis is 100-fold more susceptible to auranofin without cysteine. G. lamblia is 12-fold more susceptible to auranofin with low cysteine. Bovine bile renders G. lamblia more susceptible to metronidazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Leitsch
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1095 Vienna, Austria.
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