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Ferraro F, Merlino A, Gil J, Pérez-Silanes S, Corvo I, Cabrera M. Flavonoid-Quinoxaline Hybrid Compounds as Cathepsin Inhibitors Against Fascioliasis. ChemMedChem 2024:e202400305. [PMID: 38871654 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202400305] [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: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Fasciola hepatica is a parasitic trematode that infects livestock animals and humans, causing significant health and economic burdens worldwide. The extensive use of anthelmintic drugs has led to the emergence of resistant parasite strains, posing a threat to treatment success. The complex life cycle of the liver fluke, coupled with limited funding and research interest, have hindered progress in drug discovery. Our group has been working in drug development against this parasite using cathepsin proteases as molecular targets, finding promising compound candidates with in vitro and in vivo efficacy. Here, we evaluated hybrid molecules that combine two chemotypes, chalcones and quinoxaline 1,4-di- N-oxides, previously found to inhibit F. hepatica cathepsin Ls and tested their in vitro activity with the isolated targets and the parasites in culture. These molecules proved to be good cathepsin inhibitors and to kill the juvenile parasites at micromolar concentrations. Also, we performed molecular docking studies to analyze the compounds-cathepsins interface, finding that the best inhibitors interact at the active site cleft and contact the catalytic dyad and residues belonging to the substrate binding pockets. We conclude that the hybrid compounds constitute promising scaffolds for the further development of new fasciolicidal compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Ferraro
- Laboratorio de I+D de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 km 363, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay
| | - Alicia Merlino
- Laboratorio de Química Teórica y Computacional, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo, 11400, Uruguay
| | - Jorge Gil
- Laboratorio de Reproducción Animal, Producción y Reproducción de Rumiantes, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte-Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 km 363, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay
| | - Silvia Pérez-Silanes
- ISTUN Institute of Tropical Health, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidad de Navarra, IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), Campus Universitario, 31009, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ileana Corvo
- Laboratorio de I+D de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 km 363, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay
| | - Mauricio Cabrera
- Laboratorio de I+D de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 km 363, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay
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Artía Z, Ferraro F, Sánchez C, Cerecetto H, Gil J, Pareja L, Alonzo MN, Freire T, Cabrera M, Corvo I. In vitro and in vivo studies on a group of chalcones find promising results as potential drugs against fascioliasis. Exp Parasitol 2023; 255:108628. [PMID: 37776969 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
About a third of the world population is infected by helminth parasites implicated in foodborne trematodiasis. Fascioliasis is a worldwide disease caused by trematodes of the genus Fasciola spp. It generates huge economic losses to the agri-food industry and is currently considered an emerging zoonosis by the World Health Organization (WHO). The only available treatment relies on anthelmintic drugs, being triclabendazole (TCBZ) the drug of choice to control human infections. The emergence of TCBZ resistance in several countries and the lack of an effective vaccine to prevent infection highlights the need to develop new drugs to control this parasitosis. We have previously identified a group of benzochalcones as inhibitors of cathepsins, which have fasciolicidal activity in vitro and are potential new drugs for the control of fascioliasis. We selected the four most active compounds of this group to perform further preclinical studies. The compound's stability was determined against a liver microsomal enzyme fraction, obtaining half-lives of 34-169 min and low intrinsic clearance values (<13 μL/min/mg), as desirable for potential new drugs. None of the compounds were mutagenic or genotoxic and no in vitro cytotoxic effects were seen. Compounds C31 and C34 showed the highest selectivity index against liver fluke cathepsins when compared to human cathepsin L. They were selected for in vivo efficacy studies observing a protective effect, similar to TCBZ, in a mouse model of infection. Our findings strongly encourage us to continue the drug development pipeline for these molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoraima Artía
- Laboratorio de I+D de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay
| | - Florencia Ferraro
- Laboratorio de I+D de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay
| | - Carina Sánchez
- Grupo de Química Orgánica Medicinal, Instituto de Química Biológica & Área de Radiofarmacia, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, 11400, Uruguay
| | - Hugo Cerecetto
- Grupo de Química Orgánica Medicinal, Instituto de Química Biológica & Área de Radiofarmacia, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, 11400, Uruguay
| | - Jorge Gil
- Laboratorio de Reproducción Animal, Producción y Reproducción de Rumiantes, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte-Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay
| | - Lucía Pareja
- Departamento de Química del Litoral, CENUR Litoral Norte, Sede Paysandú, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay
| | - María Noel Alonzo
- Departamento de Química del Litoral, CENUR Litoral Norte, Sede Paysandú, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay
| | - Teresa Freire
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Vacunas, Departamento de Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, 11800, Uruguay
| | - Mauricio Cabrera
- Laboratorio de I+D de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay.
| | - Ileana Corvo
- Laboratorio de I+D de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay.
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3
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Eugui M, Lucero V, do Carmo H, Cabrera M, Moyna G. Synthesis and antitumoral evaluation of natural product-like compounds based on tropolone and benzotropolone derivatives. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2200305. [PMID: 36481876 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202200305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We present the preparation of a series of novel natural product-like homobarrelenones, norcaranes, and dihydrofluorenones through a diversity-oriented synthetic (DOS) strategy that combines Diels-Alder reactions and phototransformations, as well as their biological evaluation against MCF-7, HT-29, and NCI-H460 human tumor cells. Six of these demonstrated activities in the micromolar range against the three cell lines, and none were predicted as cytotoxic against human nontumor cells according to in silico studies. In addition, within the set of active derivatives, three exhibited low unspecific cytotoxicity in a sperm motility assay. The rich functionality of the new compounds makes them ideal candidates for exhaustive structure-activity relationship studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macarena Eugui
- Departamento de Química del Litoral, Centro Universitario Regional Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, Uruguay
| | - Valeria Lucero
- Departamento de Química del Litoral, Centro Universitario Regional Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, Uruguay
| | - Hugo do Carmo
- Departamento de Química del Litoral, Centro Universitario Regional Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, Uruguay
| | - Mauricio Cabrera
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Universitario Regional Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, Uruguay
| | - Guillermo Moyna
- Departamento de Química del Litoral, Centro Universitario Regional Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú, Uruguay
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Structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics of potential inhibitors targeting sodium-bile acid co-transporter of carcinogenic liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010909. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Clonorchis sinensis requires bile acid transporters as this fluke inhabits bile juice-filled biliary ducts, which provide an extreme environment. Clonorchis sinensis sodium-bile acid co-transporter (CsSBAT) is indispensable for the fluke’s survival in the final host, as it circulates taurocholate and prevents bile toxicity in the fluke; hence, it is recognized as a useful drug target.
Methodology and principal findings
In the present study, using structure-based virtual screening approach, we presented inhibitor candidates targeting a bile acid-binding pocket of CsSBAT. CsSBAT models were built using tertiary structure modeling based on a bile acid transporter template (PDB ID: 3zuy and 4n7x) and were applied into AutoDock Vina for competitive docking simulation. First, potential compounds were identified from PubChem (holding more than 100,000 compounds) by applying three criteria: i) interacting more favorably with CsSBAT than with a human homolog, ii) intimate interaction to the inward- and outward-facing conformational states, iii) binding with CsSBAT preferably to natural bile acids. Second, two compounds were identified following the Lipinski’s rule of five. Third, other two compounds of molecular weight higher than 500 Da (Mr > 500 Da) were presumed to efficiently block the transporter via a feasible rational screening strategy. Of these candidates, compound 9806452 exhibited the least hepatotoxicity that may enhance drug-likeness properties.
Conclusions
It is proposed that compound 9806452 act as a potential inhibitor toward CsSBAT and further studies are warranted for drug development process against clonorchiasis.
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A global phosphoproteomics analysis of adult Fasciola gigantica by LC-MS/MS. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:623-631. [PMID: 34985596 PMCID: PMC8727970 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07422-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation plays key roles in a variety of essential cellular processes. Fasciola gigantica is a tropical liver fluke causing hepatobiliary disease fascioliasis, leading to human health threats and heavy economic losses. Although the genome and protein kinases of F. gigantica provided new insights to understand the molecular biology and etiology of this parasite, there is scant knowledge of protein phosphorylation events in F. gigantica. In this study, we characterized the global phosphoproteomics of adult F. gigantica by phosphopeptide enrichment-based LC–MS/MS, a high-throughput analysis to maximize the detection of a large repertoire of phosphoproteins and phosphosites. A total of 1030 phosphopeptides with 1244 phosphosites representing 635 F. gigantica phosphoproteins were identified. The phosphoproteins were involved in a wide variety of biological processes including cellular, metabolic, and single-organism processes. Meanwhile, these proteins were found predominantly in cellular components like membranes and organelles with molecular functions of binding (51.3%) and catalytic activity (40.6%). The KEGG annotation inferred that the most enriched pathways of the phosphoproteins included tight junction, spliceosome, and RNA transport (each one contains 15 identified proteins). Combining the reports in other protozoa and helminths, the phosphoproteins identified in this work play roles in metabolic regulation and signal transduction. To our knowledge, this work performed the first global phosphoproteomics analysis of adult F. gigantica, which provides valuable information for development of intervention strategies for fascioliasis.
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Pritsch IC, Tikhonova IG, Jewhurst HL, Drysdale O, Cwiklinski K, Molento MB, Dalton JP, Verissimo CDM. Regulation of the Fasciola hepatica newly excysted juvenile cathepsin L3 (FhCL3) by its propeptide: a proposed 'clamp-like' mechanism of binding and inhibition. BMC Mol Cell Biol 2020; 21:90. [PMID: 33287692 PMCID: PMC7720491 DOI: 10.1186/s12860-020-00335-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The zoonotic worm parasite Fasciola hepatica secretes an abundance of cathepsin L peptidases that are associated with virulence, invasiveness, feeding and migration. The peptidases are produced as inactive zymogens that activate at low pH by autocatalytic removal of their N-terminal pro-domain or propeptide. Propeptides bind to their cognate enzyme with high specificity. Little is known, however, about the mechanism by which the propeptide of FhCL3, a cathepsin L peptidase secreted by the infective newly excysted juveniles (NEJs), regulates the inhibition and activation of the mature enzyme before it is secreted into host tissues. RESULTS Immunolocalisation/immunoblotting studies show that the FhCL3 zymogen is produced and secreted by gastrodermal cells of the NEJs gut. A recombinant propeptide of FhCL3 (ppFhCL3) was shown to be a highly potent and selective inhibitor of native and recombinant F. hepatica FhCL3 peptidase, and other members of the cathepsin L family; inhibition constant (Ki) values obtained for FhCL1, FhCL2 and FhCL3 were 0.04 nM, 0.004 nM and < 0.002 nM, respectively. These values are at least 1000-fold lower than those Ki obtained for human cathepsin L (HsCL) and human cathepsin K (HsCK) demonstrating the selectivity of the ppFhCL3 for parasite cathepsins L. By exploiting 3-D structural data we identified key molecular interactions in the specific binding between the ppFhCL3 and FhCL3 mature domain. Using recombinant variants of ppFhCL3 we demonstrated the critical importance of a pair of propeptide residues (Tyr46Lys47) for the interaction with the propeptide binding loop (PBL) of the mature enzyme and other residues (Leu66 and Glu68) that allow the propeptide to block the active site. CONCLUSIONS The FhCL3 peptidase involved in host invasion by F. hepatica is produced as a zymogen in the NEJs gut. Regulation of its activation involves specific binding sites within the propeptide that are interdependent and act as a "clamp-like" mechanism of inhibition. These interactions are disrupted by the low pH of the NEJs gut to initiate autocatalytic activation. Our enzyme kinetics data demonstrates high potency and selectivity of the ppFhCL3 for its cognate FhCL3 enzyme, information that could be utilised to design inhibitors of parasite cathepsin L peptidases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izanara C Pritsch
- Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, 81531-970, Brazil.,School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Irina G Tikhonova
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Heather L Jewhurst
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.,Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Orla Drysdale
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Krystyna Cwiklinski
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.,Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Marcelo B Molento
- Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, 81531-970, Brazil.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - John P Dalton
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.,Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Carolina De M Verissimo
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. .,Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
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Omotuyi IO, Nash O, Ajiboye BO, Olumekun VO, Oyinloye BE, Osuntokun OT, Olonisakin A, Ajayi AO, Olusanya O, Akomolafe FS, Adelakun N. Aframomum melegueta secondary metabolites exhibit polypharmacology against SARS-CoV-2 drug targets: in vitro validation of furin inhibition. Phytother Res 2020; 35:908-919. [PMID: 32964551 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic is currently decimating the world's most advanced technologies and largest economies and making its way to the continent of Africa. Weak medical infrastructure and over-reliance on medical aids may eventually predict worse outcomes in Africa. To reverse this trend, Africa must re-evaluate the only area with strategic advantage; phytotherapy. One of the many plants with previous antiviral potency is against RNA viruses is Aframomum melegueta. In this study, one hundred (100) A. melegueta secondary metabolites have been mined and computational evaluated for inhibition of host furin, and SARS-COV-2 targets including 3C-like proteinase (Mpro /3CLpro ), 2'-O-ribose methyltransferase (nsp16) and surface glycoprotein/ACE2 receptor interface. Silica-gel column partitioning of A. melegueta fruit/seed resulted in 6 fractions tested against furin activity. Diarylheptanoid (Letestuianin A), phenylpropanoid (4-Cinnamoyl-3-hydroxy-spiro[furan-5,2'-(1'H)-indene]-1',2,3'(2'H,5H)-trione), flavonoids (Quercetin, Apigenin and Tectochrysin) have been identified as high-binding compounds to SARS-COV-2 targets in a polypharmacology manner. Di-ethyl-ether (IC50 = 0.03 mg/L), acetone (IC50 = 1.564 mg/L), ethyl-acetate (IC50 = 0.382 mg/L) and methanol (IC50 = 0.438 mg/L) fractions demonstrated the best inhibition in kinetic assay while DEF, ASF and MEF completely inhibited furin-recognition sequence containing Ebola virus-pre-glycoprotein. In conclusion, A. melegueta and its secondary metabolites have potential for addressing the therapeutic needs of African population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Olaposi Omotuyi
- Chemo-Genomics Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Nigeria.,Chemoinformatics Unit, Mols & Sims, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Oyekanmi Nash
- Center for Genomics Research and Innovation, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Basiru O Ajiboye
- Phytomedicine, Biochemical Toxicology and Biotechnology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Victor O Olumekun
- Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Nigeria
| | - Babatunji E Oyinloye
- Phytomedicine, Biochemical Toxicology and Biotechnology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.,Biotechnology and Structural Biology (BSB) Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa
| | - Oludare T Osuntokun
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Nigeria
| | - Adebisi Olonisakin
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Nigeria
| | - A Olajide Ajayi
- Department of Microbiology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Nigeria
| | - Olasehinde Olusanya
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
| | | | - Niyi Adelakun
- Chemoinformatics Unit, Mols & Sims, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
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Hartigan A, Kosakyan A, Pecková H, Eszterbauer E, Holzer AS. Transcriptome of Sphaerospora molnari (Cnidaria, Myxosporea) blood stages provides proteolytic arsenal as potential therapeutic targets against sphaerosporosis in common carp. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:404. [PMID: 32546190 PMCID: PMC7296530 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6705-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Parasites employ proteases to evade host immune systems, feed and replicate and are often the target of anti-parasite strategies to disrupt these interactions. Myxozoans are obligate cnidarian parasites, alternating between invertebrate and fish hosts. Their genes are highly divergent from other metazoans, and available genomic and transcriptomic datasets are limited. Some myxozoans are important aquaculture pathogens such as Sphaerospora molnari replicating in the blood of farmed carp before reaching the gills for sporogenesis and transmission. Proliferative stages cause a massive systemic lymphocyte response and the disruption of the gill epithelia by spore-forming stages leads to respiratory problems and mortalities. In the absence of a S. molnari genome, we utilized a de novo approach to assemble the first transcriptome of proliferative myxozoan stages to identify S. molnari proteases that are upregulated during the first stages of infection when the parasite multiplies massively, rather than in late spore-forming plasmodia. Furthermore, a subset of orthologs was used to characterize 3D structures and putative druggable targets. Results An assembled and host filtered transcriptome containing 9436 proteins, mapping to 29,560 contigs was mined for protease virulence factors and revealed that cysteine proteases were most common (38%), at a higher percentage than other myxozoans or cnidarians (25–30%). Two cathepsin Ls that were found upregulated in spore-forming stages with a presenilin like aspartic protease and a dipeptidyl peptidase. We also identified downregulated proteases in the spore-forming development when compared with proliferative stages including an astacin metallopeptidase and lipases (qPCR). In total, 235 transcripts were identified as putative proteases using a MEROPS database. In silico analysis of highly transcribed cathepsins revealed potential drug targets within this data set that should be prioritised for development. Conclusions In silico surveys for proteins are essential in drug discovery and understanding host-parasite interactions in non-model systems. The present study of S. molnari’s protease arsenal reveals previously unknown proteases potentially used for host exploitation and immune evasion. The pioneering dataset serves as a model for myxozoan virulence research, which is of particular importance as myxozoan diseases have recently been shown to emerge and expand geographically, due to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlie Hartigan
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science, České Budějovice, Czechia.
| | - Anush Kosakyan
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Hana Pecková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Edit Eszterbauer
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Astrid S Holzer
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science, České Budějovice, Czechia
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9
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Bai H, Cao Y, Chen Y, Zhang L, Wu C, Zhan X, Cheng M. Molecular cloning and characterization of a cathepsin L-like cysteine protease of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 153:1136-1146. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.10.243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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10
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Drug Targets: Screening for Small Molecules that Inhibit Fasciola hepatica Enzymes. Methods Mol Biol 2020. [PMID: 32399933 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0475-5_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
The in vitro screening of small molecules for enzymatic inhibition provides an efficient means of finding new compounds for developing drug candidates. This strategy has the advantage of being rapid and inexpensive to perform. Enzymes are suitable targets for screening when simple methods to obtain them and measure their activities are available and there is evidence of their essential role in the parasite's life cycle. Here, we describe the screening of small molecules as inhibitors of two Fasciola hepatica enzyme targets (cathepsin L and triose phosphate isomerase), an initial step to find new potential compounds for drug development strategies.
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11
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Fairweather I, Brennan GP, Hanna REB, Robinson MW, Skuce PJ. Drug resistance in liver flukes. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2020; 12:39-59. [PMID: 32179499 PMCID: PMC7078123 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Liver flukes include Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica, Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis spp., Fascioloides magna, Gigantocotyle explanatum and Dicrocoelium spp. The two main species, F. hepatica and F. gigantica, are major parasites of livestock and infections result in huge economic losses. As with C. sinensis, Opisthorchis spp. and Dicrocoelium spp., they affect millions of people worldwide, causing severe health problems. Collectively, the group is referred to as the Food-Borne Trematodes and their true significance is now being more widely recognised. However, reports of resistance to triclabendazole (TCBZ), the most widely used anti-Fasciola drug, and to other current drugs are increasing. This is a worrying scenario. In this review, progress in understanding the mechanism(s) of resistance to TCBZ is discussed, focusing on tubulin mutations, altered drug uptake and changes in drug metabolism. There is much interest in the development of new drugs and drug combinations, the re-purposing of non-flukicidal drugs, and the development of new drug formulations and delivery systems; all this work will be reviewed. Sound farm management practices also need to be put in place, with effective treatment programmes, so that drugs can be used wisely and their efficacy conserved as much as is possible. This depends on reliable advice being given by veterinarians and other advisors. Accurate diagnosis and identification of drug-resistant fluke populations is central to effective control: to determine the actual extent of the problem and to determine how well or otherwise a treatment has worked; for research on establishing the mechanism of resistance (and identifying molecular markers of resistance); for informing treatment options; and for testing the efficacy of new drug candidates. Several diagnostic methods are available, but there are no recommended guidelines or standardised protocols in place and this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Fairweather
- School of Biological Sciences, The Queen's University of Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK.
| | - G P Brennan
- School of Biological Sciences, The Queen's University of Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - R E B Hanna
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SD, UK
| | - M W Robinson
- School of Biological Sciences, The Queen's University of Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - P J Skuce
- Disease Control, Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Edinburgh, EH26 0PZ, UK
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12
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Novel and selective inactivators of Triosephosphate isomerase with anti-trematode activity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2587. [PMID: 32054976 PMCID: PMC7018972 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59460-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Trematode infections such as schistosomiasis and fascioliasis cause significant morbidity in an estimated 250 million people worldwide and the associated agricultural losses are estimated at more than US$ 6 billion per year. Current chemotherapy is limited. Triosephosphate isomerase (TIM), an enzyme of the glycolytic pathway, has emerged as a useful drug target in many parasites, including Fasciola hepatica TIM (FhTIM). We identified 21 novel compounds that selectively inhibit this enzyme. Using microscale thermophoresis we explored the interaction between target and compounds and identified a potent interaction between the sulfonyl-1,2,4-thiadiazole (compound 187) and FhTIM, which showed an IC50 of 5 µM and a Kd of 66 nM. In only 4 hours, this compound killed the juvenile form of F. hepatica with an IC50 of 3 µM, better than the reference drug triclabendazole (TCZ). Interestingly, we discovered in vitro inhibition of FhTIM by TCZ, with an IC50 of 7 µM suggesting a previously uncharacterized role of FhTIM in the mechanism of action of this drug. Compound 187 was also active against various developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni. The low toxicity in vitro in different cell types and lack of acute toxicity in mice was demonstrated for this compound, as was demonstrated the efficacy of 187in vivo in F. hepatica infected mice. Finally, we obtained the first crystal structure of FhTIM at 1.9 Å resolution which allows us using docking to suggest a mechanism of interaction between compound 187 and TIM. In conclusion, we describe a promising drug candidate to control neglected trematode infections in human and animal health.
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13
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Identification and characterization of human interferon alpha inhibitors through a WISH cell line-based reporter gene assay. Bioorg Chem 2019; 94:103372. [PMID: 31699391 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.103372] [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: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Interferons (IFNs) are important glycoproteins which can stimulate or inhibit up to three hundred different genes encoding proteins involved in antiviral defense mechanisms, inflammation, adaptive immunity, angiogenesis and among other processes. Nevertheless, different genetic alterations may lead to interferon alpha (IFN-α) overproduction in human autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus. As a consequence, IFN-α is a central molecule whose activity must be regulated to block their harmful effect on those disorders where the endogenous cytokine production constitutes the etiology of the illnesses. In this work, we evaluate the biological activity of eighty-eight compounds, from our own chemo-library, to find potential IFN-α inhibitors by using a reporter gene assay (RGA) WISH-Mx2/EGFP. We identified some compounds able to modulate negatively the IFN-α activity. The most active IFN-α inhibitors were further studied achieving promising results. In addition, some combinations of the most active compounds were analyzed accomplishing a stronger effect to decrease the IFN-α activity than each compound alone. Furthermore, the complete inhibition of the cytokine activity was reached with some combinations of compounds.
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14
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Ferraro F, Merlino A, Gil J, Cerecetto H, Corvo I, Cabrera M. Cathepsin L Inhibitors with Activity against the Liver Fluke Identified From a Focus Library of Quinoxaline 1,4-di- N-Oxide Derivatives. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24132348. [PMID: 31247891 PMCID: PMC6651555 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24132348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by Fasciola species are widely distributed in cattle and sheep causing significant economic losses, and are emerging as human zoonosis with increasing reports of human cases, especially in children in endemic areas. The current treatment is chemotherapeutic, triclabendazole being the drug of preference since it is active against all parasite stages. Due to the emergence of resistance in several countries, the discovery of new chemical entities with fasciolicidal activity is urgently needed. In our continuous search for new fasciolicide compounds, we identified and characterized six quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives from our in-house library. We selected them from a screening of novel inhibitors against FhCL1 and FhCL3 proteases, two essential enzymes secreted by juvenile and adult flukes. We report compounds C7, C17, C18, C19, C23, and C24 with an IC50 of less than 10 µM in at least one cathepsin. We studied their binding kinetics in vitro and their enzyme-ligand interactions in silico by molecular docking and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. These compounds readily kill newly excysted juveniles in vitro and have low cytotoxicity in a Hep-G2 cell line and bovine spermatozoa. Our findings are valuable for the development of new chemotherapeutic approaches against fascioliasis, and other pathologies involving cysteine proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Ferraro
- Laboratorio de I + D de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú 60000, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Química Teórica y Computacional, Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Alicia Merlino
- Laboratorio de Química Teórica y Computacional, Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Jorge Gil
- Laboratorio de Reproducción Animal, Producción y Reproducción de Rumiantes, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte-Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Paysandú 60000, Uruguay
| | - Hugo Cerecetto
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica & Área de Radiofarmacia, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Ileana Corvo
- Laboratorio de I + D de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú 60000, Uruguay.
| | - Mauricio Cabrera
- Laboratorio de I + D de Moléculas Bioactivas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Paysandú 60000, Uruguay.
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15
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Mahapatra DK, Ghorai S, Bharti SK, Patil AG, Gayen S. Current Discovery Progress of Some Emerging Anti-infective Chalcones: Highlights from 2016 to 2017. Curr Drug Discov Technol 2018; 17:30-44. [PMID: 30033873 DOI: 10.2174/1570163815666180720170030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The anti-infective potentials of the natural products are very well known for centuries and are a part of traditional healing. The foremost therapeutic classes include flavones, isoflavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanols, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanidins, chalcones, and aurones. The chalcone or 1,3-diphenyl-2E-propene-1-one represents the class of natural products which are comprised of benzylideneacetophenone function; i.e. two aromatic moieties linked together by an α, β-unsaturated carbonyl bridge comprising three-carbons. At present, chalcone is one of the privileged scaffolds that can be synthesized in the laboratory to derive different pharmacologically active compounds. This article is the continued form of the previously published work on anti-infective perspectives of chalcones (highlighted till 2015). The current work emphasizes on the discovery process of the chalcone in the period of 2016 to 2017 on malaria, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, filaria, tuberculosis, netamodes, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and miscellaneous conditions. This review comprehensively focuses on the latest progress related with the anti-infective chalcones. The content includes the crucial structural features of chalcone scaffold including structure-activity relationship(s) along with their plausible mechanism of action(s) from the duration Jan 2016 to Dec 2017. This literature will be of prime interest to medicinal chemists in getting ideas and concepts for better rational development of potential anti-infective inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debarshi K Mahapatra
- Laboratory of Drug Design and Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Hari Singh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Soumajit Ghorai
- Laboratory of Drug Design and Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Hari Singh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sanjay K Bharti
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Bilaspur 495009, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Asmita G Patil
- Laboratory of Drug Design and Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Hari Singh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Shovanlal Gayen
- Laboratory of Drug Design and Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Hari Singh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, Madhya Pradesh, India
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16
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Corvo I, Ferraro F, Merlino A, Zuberbühler K, O'Donoghue AJ, Pastro L, Pi-Denis N, Basika T, Roche L, McKerrow JH, Craik CS, Caffrey CR, Tort JF. Substrate Specificity of Cysteine Proteases Beyond the S 2 Pocket: Mutagenesis and Molecular Dynamics Investigation of Fasciola hepatica Cathepsins L. Front Mol Biosci 2018; 5:40. [PMID: 29725596 PMCID: PMC5917446 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2018.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cysteine proteases are widespread in all life kingdoms, being central to diverse physiological processes based on a broad range of substrate specificity. Paralogous Fasciola hepatica cathepsin L proteases are essential to parasite invasion, tissue migration and reproduction. In spite of similarities in their overall sequence and structure, these enzymes often exhibit different substrate specificity. These preferences are principally determined by the amino acid composition of the active site's S2 subsite (pocket) of the enzyme that interacts with the substrate P2 residue (Schetcher and Berger nomenclature). Although secreted FhCL1 accommodates aliphatic residues in the S2 pocket, FhCL2 is also efficient in cleaving proline in that position. To understand these differences, we engineered the FhCL1 S2 subsite at three amino acid positions to render it identical to that present in FhCL2. The substitutions did not produce the expected increment in proline accommodation in P2. Rather, they decreased the enzyme's catalytic efficiency toward synthetic peptides. Nonetheless, a change in the P3 specificity was associated with the mutation of Leu67 to Tyr, a hinge residue between the S2 and S3 subsites that contributes to the accommodation of Gly in S3. Molecular dynamic simulations highlighted changes in the spatial distribution and secondary structure of the S2 and S3 pockets of the mutant FhCL1 enzymes. The reduced affinity and catalytic efficiency of the mutant enzymes may be due to a narrowing of the active site cleft that hinders the accommodation of substrates. Because the variations in the enzymatic activity measured could not be exclusively allocated to those residues lining the active site, other more external positions might modulate enzyme conformation, and, therefore, catalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ileana Corvo
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Florencia Ferraro
- Laboratorio de Química Teórica y Computacional, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alicia Merlino
- Laboratorio de Química Teórica y Computacional, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Kathrin Zuberbühler
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Anthony J O'Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Lucía Pastro
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Natalia Pi-Denis
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Tatiana Basika
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Unidad de Biología Parasitaria, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Higiene, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Leda Roche
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - James H McKerrow
- Department of Pathology, Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Charles S Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Department of Pathology, Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - José F Tort
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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17
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Álvarez Touron GI. Bioguided Design of Trypanosomicidal Compounds: A Successful Strategy in Drug Discovery. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1824:139-163. [PMID: 30039405 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8630-9_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Drug development is a long and expensive process that takes about 15 years and is mostly carried out by the pharmaceutical industry. In the case of the diseases produced by trypanosomatids, this development is poorly performed by the pharmaceutical industry. As a result the academia is the one that take a leading role with the drug development process. More effective and economic methodologies to obtain safe compounds and with strong trypanosomicidal activity are urgently needed. In this work, a series of methods are described to obtain bioactive molecules with antiparasitic activity and good pharmacological profiles.
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18
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Yoonuan T, Nuamtanong S, Dekumyoy P, Phuphisut O, Adisakwattana P. Molecular and immunological characterization of cathepsin L-like cysteine protease of Paragonimus pseudoheterotremus. Parasitol Res 2016; 115:4457-4470. [PMID: 27562899 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-5232-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cathepsin L is a cysteine protease belonging to the papain family. In parasitic trematodes, cathepsin L plays essential roles in parasite survival and host-parasite interactions. In this study, cathepsin L of the lung fluke Paragonimus pseudoheterotremus (PpsCatL) was identified and its molecular biological and immunological features characterized. A sequence analysis of PpsCatL showed that the gene encodes a 325-amino-acid protein that is most similar to P. westermani cathepsin L. The in silico three-dimensional structure suggests that PpsCatL is a pro-enzyme that becomes active when the propeptide is cleaved. A recombinant pro-PpsCatL lacking the signal peptide (rPpsCatL), with a molecular weight of 35 kDa, was expressed in E. coli and reacted with P. pseudoheterotremus-infected rat sera. The native protein was detected in crude worm antigens and excretory-secretory products and was localized in the cecum and in the lamellae along the intestinal tract of the adult parasite. Enzymatic activity of rPpsCatL showed that the protein could cleave the fluorogenic substrate Z-Phe-Arg-AMC after autocatalysis but was inhibited with E64. The immunodiagnostic potential of the recombinant protein was evaluated with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and suggested that rPpsCatL can detect paragonimiasis with high sensitivity and specificity (100 and 95.6 %, respectively). This supports the further development of an rPpsCatL-ELISA as an immunodiagnostic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tippayarat Yoonuan
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Supaporn Nuamtanong
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Paron Dekumyoy
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Orawan Phuphisut
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Poom Adisakwattana
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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