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Ferreira BA, Coser EM, de la Roca S, Aoki JI, Branco N, Soares GHC, Lima MIS, Coelho AC. Amphotericin B resistance in Leishmania amazonensis: In vitro and in vivo characterization of a Brazilian clinical isolate. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012175. [PMID: 38768213 PMCID: PMC11142706 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
In Brazil, Leishmania amazonensis is the etiological agent of cutaneous and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis. The state of Maranhão in the Northeast of Brazil is prevalent for these clinical forms of the disease and also has high rates of HIV infection. Here, we characterized the drug susceptibility of a L. amazonensis clinical isolate from a 46-year-old man with diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis coinfected with HIV from this endemic area. This patient underwent several therapeutic regimens with meglumine antimoniate, liposomal amphotericin B, and pentamidine, without success. In vitro susceptibility assays against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes demonstrated that this isolate had low susceptibility to amphotericin B, when compared with the reference strain of this species that is considered susceptible to antileishmanial drugs. Additionally, we investigated whether the low in vitro susceptibility would affect the in vivo response to amphotericin B treatment. The drug was effective in reducing the lesion size and parasite burden in mice infected with the reference strain, whereas those infected with the clinical isolate and a resistant line (generated experimentally by stepwise selection) were refractory to amphotericin B treatment. To evaluate whether the isolate was intrinsically resistant to amphotericin B in animals, infected mice were treated with other drugs that had not been used in the treatment of the patient (miltefosine, paromomycin, and a combination of both). Our findings demonstrated that all drug schemes were able to reduce lesion size and parasite burden in animals infected with the clinical isolate, confirming the amphotericin B-resistance phenotype. These findings indicate that the treatment failure observed in the patient may be associated with amphotericin B resistance, and demonstrate the potential emergence of amphotericin B-resistant L. amazonensis isolates in an area of Brazil endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca A. Ferreira
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth M. Coser
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Stephane de la Roca
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Juliana I. Aoki
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Nilson Branco
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Gustavo H. C. Soares
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mayara I. S. Lima
- Departamento de Biologia, Programas de Pós Graduação em Saúde e Ambiente e Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil
| | - Adriano C. Coelho
- Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
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Present C, Girão RD, Lin C, Caljon G, Van Calenbergh S, Moreira O, Ruivo LADS, Batista MM, Azevedo R, Batista DDGJ, Soeiro MDNC. N 6-methyltubercidin gives sterile cure in a cutaneous Leishmania amazonensis mouse model. Parasitology 2024; 151:506-513. [PMID: 38533610 PMCID: PMC11106500 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182024000362] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Leishmania is a trypanosomatid parasite that causes skin lesions in its cutaneous form. Current therapies rely on old and expensive drugs, against which the parasites have acquired considerable resistance. Trypanosomatids are unable to synthesize purines relying on salvaging from the host, and nucleoside analogues have emerged as attractive antiparasitic drug candidates. 4-Methyl-7-β-D-ribofuranosyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (CL5564), an analogue of tubercidin in which the amine has been replaced by a methyl group, demonstrates activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania infantum. Herein, we investigated its in vitro and in vivo activity against L. amazonensis. CL5564 was 6.5-fold (P = 0.0002) more potent than milteforan™ (ML) against intracellular forms in peritoneal mouse macrophages, and highly selective, while combination with ML gave an additive effect. These results stimulated us to study the activity of CL5564 in mouse model of cutaneous Leishmania infection. BALB/c female and male mice infected by L. amazonensis treated with CL5564 (10 mg kg−1, intralesional route for five days) presented a >93% reduction of paw lesion size likely ML given orally at 40 mg kg−1, while the combination (10 + 40 mg kg−1 of CL5564 and ML, respectively) caused >96% reduction. The qPCR confirmed the suppression of parasite load, but only the combination approach reached 66% of parasitological cure. These results support additional studies with nucleoside derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Present
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Roberson Donola Girão
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cai Lin
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Otacilio Moreira
- Laboratório de Virologia e Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Alexandre de Souza Ruivo
- Laboratório de Virologia e Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Meuser Batista
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raquel Azevedo
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Denise da Gama Jaen Batista
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria de Nazaré Correia Soeiro
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Salarkia E, Sharifi I, Keyhani A, Tavakoli Oliaee R, Khosravi A, Sharifi F, Bamorovat M, Babaei Z. In silico and in vitro potentials of crocin and amphotericin B on Leishmania major: Multiple synergistic mechanisms of actions. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291322. [PMID: 37682934 PMCID: PMC10490900 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A significant barrier to optimal antileishmanial treatment is low efficacy and the emergence of drug resistance. Multiple approaches were used to monitor and assess crocin (a central component of saffron) mixed with amphotericin B (AmpB) potential in silico and in vitro consequences. The binding behavior of crocin and iNOS was the purpose of molecular docking. The results showed that crocin coupled with AmpB demonstrated a safe combination, extremely antileishmanial, suppressed Leishmania arginase absorption, and increased parasite death. This natural flower component is a robust antioxidant, significantly promoting the expression of the Th1-connected cytokines (IL12p40, IFN-γ, and TNF- α), iNOS, and transcription factors (Elk-1, c-Fos, and STAT-1). In comparison, the expression of the Th2-associated phenotypes (IL-10, IL-4, and TGF-β) was significantly reduced. The leishmanicidal effect of this combination was also mediated through programmed cell death (PCD), as confirmed by the manifestation of phosphatidylserine and cell cycle detention at the sub-GO/G1 phase. In conclusion, crocin with AmpB synergistically exerted in vitro antileishmanial action, generated nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species, modulated Th1, and Th2 phenotypes and transfer factors, enhanced PCD profile and arrested the cell cycle of Leishmania major promastigotes. The main action of crocin and AmpB involved wide-ranging mechanistic insights for conducting other clinical settings as promising drug candidates for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Therefore, this combination could be esteemed as a basis for a potential bioactive component and a logical source for leishmanicidal drug development against CL in future advanced clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Salarkia
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Alireza Keyhani
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Razieh Tavakoli Oliaee
- Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Khosravi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Sharifi
- Research Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mehdi Bamorovat
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Zahra Babaei
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Miltefosine and Nifuratel Combination: A Promising Therapy for the Treatment of Leishmania donovani Visceral Leishmaniasis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021635. [PMID: 36675150 PMCID: PMC9865052 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected vector-borne tropical disease caused by Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum that is endemic not only in East African countries, but also in Asia, regions of South America and the Mediterranean Basin. For the pharmacological control of this disease, there is a limited number of old and, in general, poorly adherent drugs, with a multitude of adverse effects and low oral bioavailability, which favor the emergence of resistant pathogens. Pentavalent antimonials are the first-line drugs, but due to their misuse, resistant Leishmania strains have emerged worldwide. Although these drugs have saved many lives, it is recommended to reduce their use as much as possible and replace them with novel and more friendly drugs. From a commercial collection of anti-infective drugs, we have recently identified nifuratel-a nitrofurantoin used against vaginal infections-as a promising repurposing drug against a mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis. In the present work, we have tested combinations of miltefosine-the only oral drug currently used against leishmaniasis-with nifuratel in different proportions, both in axenic amastigotes from bone marrow and in intracellular amastigotes from infected Balb/c mouse spleen macrophages, finding a potent synergy in both cases. In vivo evaluation of oral miltefosine/nifuratel combinations using a bioimaging platform has revealed the potential of these combinations for the treatment of this disease.
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Valentim-Silva JR, de Barros NB, Macedo SRA, Ferreira ADS, Silva RS, Dill LSM, Zanchi FB, do Nascimento JR, do Nascimento FRF, Lourenzoni MR, Soares AM, Calderon LDA, Nicolete R. Antileishmanial activity, cytotoxicity and cellular response of amphotericin B in combination with crotamine derived from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom using in vitro and in silico approaches. Toxicon 2022; 217:96-106. [PMID: 35977615 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the in vitro activity, synergism, cytotoxicity and cellular immunological response, as well as the molecular affinity between amphotericin B (AmB) and crotamine (CTA), derived from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom against Leishmania amazonensis. METHODS This study performed the inhibition of promastigotes and amastigotes' growth under different concentrations of the drug and pharmacological combinations (AmB + CTA) based on the Berimbaum method (synergism study). The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) quantification method was used to determine the cytotoxicity of the drug and combinations employing four cell lines (J774, HepG2, VERO, and C2C12). Following, the levels of Tumour Necrose Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-12 (IL-12) cytokines, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and nitrites, as an indirect measure of Nitric Oxide (NO), using the Griess reaction were assessed in the supernatants of infected macrophages. In silico approach (molecular docking and dynamics) and binding affinity (surface plasmon resonance) between the drug and toxin were also investigated. RESULTS CTA enhanced AmB effect against promastigote and amastigote forms of L. amazonensis, decreased the drug toxicity in different cell lines and induced the production of important Th1-like cytokines and NO by infected macrophages. The pharmacological combination also displayed consistent molecular interactions with low energy of coupling and a concentration-dependent profile. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that this pharmacological approach is a promising alternative treatment against L. amazonensis infection due to the improved activity (synergistic effect) achieved against the parasites' forms and to the decreased cytotoxic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- João R Valentim-Silva
- Post-Doctoral Fellow in Health Sciences, Federal University of Acre (UFAC), Rio Branco, AC, Brazil; Physical Education Department of Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil; Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz Rondônia), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Rodrigo S Silva
- Center of Study of Biomolecules Applied in Medicine (CEBio), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz Rondônia) and Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Leandro S M Dill
- Center of Study of Biomolecules Applied in Medicine (CEBio), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz Rondônia) and Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Fernando B Zanchi
- Center of Study of Biomolecules Applied in Medicine (CEBio), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz Rondônia) and Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Johnny R do Nascimento
- Immunophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Flávia R F do Nascimento
- Immunophysiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | | | - Andreimar M Soares
- Center of Study of Biomolecules Applied in Medicine (CEBio), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz Rondônia) and Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil; eCentro Universitário São Lucas (UniSL), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Leonardo de A Calderon
- Center of Study of Biomolecules Applied in Medicine (CEBio), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz Rondônia) and Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Roberto Nicolete
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz Rondônia), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil; Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz Ceará), Eusébio, CE, Brazil.
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Wijnant GJ, Dumetz F, Dirkx L, Bulté D, Cuypers B, Van Bocxlaer K, Hendrickx S. Tackling Drug Resistance and Other Causes of Treatment Failure in Leishmaniasis. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.837460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a tropical infectious disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania parasite. The disease is transmitted by female sand flies and, depending on the infecting parasite species, causes either cutaneous (stigmatizing skin lesions), mucocutaneous (destruction of mucous membranes of nose, mouth and throat) or visceral disease (a potentially fatal infection of liver, spleen and bone marrow). Although more than 1 million new cases occur annually, chemotherapeutic options are limited and their efficacy is jeopardized by increasing treatment failure rates and growing drug resistance. To delay the emergence of resistance to existing and new drugs, elucidating the currently unknown causes of variable drug efficacy (related to parasite susceptibility, host immunity and drug pharmacokinetics) and improved use of genotypic and phenotypic tools to define, measure and monitor resistance in the field are critical. This review highlights recent progress in our understanding of drug action and resistance in Leishmania, ongoing challenges (including setbacks related to the COVID-19 pandemic) and provides an overview of possible strategies to tackle this public health challenge.
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Bastos DSS, Silva AC, Novaes RD, Souza ACF, Santos EC, Gonçalves RV, Marques-Da-Silva EA. Could combination chemotherapy be more effective than monotherapy in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis? A systematic review of preclinical evidence. Parasitology 2022; 149:1-14. [PMID: 35346411 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022000142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
From a systematic review framework, we assessed the preclinical evidence on the effectiveness of drug combinations for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) treatment. Research protocol was based on the PRISMA guideline. Research records were identified from Medline, Scopus and Web of Science. Animal models, infection and treatment protocols, parasitological and immunological outcomes were analysed. The SYRCLE's (SYstematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation) toll was used to evaluate the risk of bias in all studies reviewed. Fourteen papers using mice, hamster and dogs were identified. Leishmania donovani was frequently used to induce VL, which was treated with 23 drugs in 40 different combinations. Most combinations allowed to reduce the effective dose, cost and time of treatment, in addition to improving the parasitological control of Leishmania spp. The benefits achieved from drug combinations were associated with an increased drug's half-life, direct parasitic toxicity and improved immune defences in infected hosts. Selection, performance and detection bias were the main limitations identified. Current evidence indicates that combination chemotherapy, especially those based on classical drugs (miltefosine, amphotericin B antimony-based compounds) and new drugs (CAL-101, PAM3Cys, tufisin and DB766), develops additive or synergistic interactions, which trigger trypanocidal and immunomodulatory effects associated with reduced parasite load, organ damage and better cure rates in VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S S Bastos
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, 36570-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Adriana C Silva
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, 36570-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rômulo D Novaes
- Department of Structural Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Claudia F Souza
- Department of Animal Biology, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, 23897-000, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eliziária C Santos
- School of Medicine, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Diamantina39100-00, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Reggiani V Gonçalves
- Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, 36570-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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In vitro selection of ketoconazole-pentamidine-resistant Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis strains. Exp Parasitol 2021; 233:108206. [PMID: 34973293 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2021.108206] [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: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The use of ketoconazole (KTZ) plus pentamidine (PMD) could be an interesting treatment option for New World cutaneous leishmaniasis. The aim of this work was to generate KTZ- and PMD-resistant strains and to determine some characteristics of the selection process and the resulting parasites. Resistance to one or two drugs was selected on promastigotes by progressively increasing drug concentrations for eleven months. The resistance levels (IC50) to one or two drugs (synergism assay) were determined using a colorimetric resazurin methodology. The stability of the resistance phenotype (without drug pressure or after mouse passage), cross resistance with paromomycin and miltefosine, and resistance transference to intracellular amastigotes were determined. In addition, some parasite attributes compared with WT, such as growth kinetics, amastigogenesis, THP-1 cells, and mouse infection, were determined. Promastigotes resistant to KTZ or PMD were obtained three times earlier than the combined KTZ + PMD-resistant strains. Resistant parasites (promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes) were three to twelve times less susceptible to KTZ and PMD than WT parasites. The resistance phenotype on parasites was unstable, and no cross resistance was observed. Similar parasite fitness related to our evaluated characteristics was observed except for in vivo infection, where a delay of the onset of cutaneous lesions was observed after KTZ + PMD-resistant parasite infection. CONCLUSION: Combined treatment with KTZ and PMD delayed the onset of parasite resistance and was more effective in vitro than each drug separately for WT and all resistant strains. Parasites resistant to KTZ and PMD acquired similar in vitro behaviour to WT parasites, were less virulent to mice and maintained their resistance phenotype on intracellular amastigotes but not without drug pressure or after mouse infection.
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Keyhani A, Sharifi I, Salarkia E, Khosravi A, Tavakoli Oliaee R, Babaei Z, Ghasemi Nejad Almani P, Hassanzadeh S, Kheirandish R, Mostafavi M, Hakimi Parizi M, Alahdin S, Sharifi F, Dabiri S, Shamsi Meymandi S, Khamesipour A, Jafarzadeh A, Bamorovat M. In vitro and in vivo therapeutic potentials of 6-gingerol in combination with amphotericin B for treatment of Leishmania major infection: Powerful synergistic and multifunctional effects. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 101:108274. [PMID: 34688150 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing conventional drugs for leishmaniasis treatment are insufficient. The present study aimed to assess 6-gingerol alone and in combination with amphotericin B on Leishmania major stages using experimental and in vivo murine models. Here, arrays of experimental approaches were designed to monitor and evaluate the 6-gingerol potential therapeutic outcomes. The binding affinity of 6-gingerol and IFN-γ was the basis for docking conformations. 6-Gingerol combined with amphotericin B represented a safe mixture, extremely leishmanicidal, a potent antioxidant, induced a remarkable apoptotic index, significantly increased the expression of the Th1-related cytokines (IL-12p40, IFN-γ, and TNF- α), iNOS, and transcription factors (STAT1, c-Fos, and Elk-1). In contrast, the expression of the Th2-related cytokines was significantly downregulated (p < 0.001). This combination was also potent when the lesion appearance was evaluated following three weeks of treatment. The histopathological and immunohistochemical patterns of the murine model represented clusters of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes which compressed and deteriorated the macrophages harboring Leishman bodies. The primary mode of action of 6-gingerol and amphotericin B involved broad mechanistic insights providing a coherent basis for further clinical study as a potential drug candidate for CL. In conclusion, 6-gingerol with amphotericin B synergistically exerted anti-leishmanial activity in vitro and in vivo and potentiated macrophages' leishmanicidal activity, modulated Th1- and Th2-related phenotypes improved the histopathological changes in the BALB/c mice infected with L. major. They elevated the leukocyte infiltration into the lesions. Therefore, this combination should be considered for treating volunteer patients with CL in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Keyhani
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Ehsan Salarkia
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ahmad Khosravi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Zahra Babaei
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Saeid Hassanzadeh
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Reza Kheirandish
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mashid Mostafavi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Maryam Hakimi Parizi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sodabeh Alahdin
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Sharifi
- Research Center for Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Shahriar Dabiri
- Department of Pathology and Stem Cell Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Simin Shamsi Meymandi
- Department of Dermatology, Pathology and Stem Cell Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ali Khamesipour
- Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdollah Jafarzadeh
- Department of Immunology, Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mehdi Bamorovat
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Kar A, Jayaraman A, Kumar A, Kar Mahapatra S. Dynamicity in Host Metabolic Adaptation Is Influenced by the Synergistic Effect of Eugenol Oleate and Amphotericin B During Leishmania donovani Infection In Vitro. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:709316. [PMID: 34414131 PMCID: PMC8369346 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.709316] [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: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune metabolic adaptation in macrophages by intracellular parasites is recognized to play a crucial role during Leishmania infection. However, there is little accessible information about changes in a metabolic switch in L. donovani infected macrophages. In previous studies, we have reported on the anti-leishmanial synergic effect of eugenol oleate with amphotericin B. In the present study, we demonstrated that glycolytic enzymes were highly expressed in infected macrophages during combinatorial treatment of eugenol oleate (2.5 µM) and amphotericin B (0.3125 µM). Additionally, we found that the biphasic role in arachidonic acid metabolite, PGE2, and LTB4, is released during this treatment. In vitro data showed that COX-2 mediated PGE2 synthesis increased significantly (p<0.01) in infected macrophages. Not only was the level of prostaglandin synthesis decreased 4.38 fold in infected macrophages after treatment with eugenol oleate with amphotericin B. The mRNA expression of PTGES, MPGES, and PTGER4 were also moderately expressed in infected macrophages, and found to be decreased in combinatorial treatment. In addition, NOS2 expression was activated by the phosphorylation of p38MAPK when combination-treated macrophages were promoted to kill intracellular parasites. The findings of the present study indicate that the synergism between eugenol oleate and amphotericin B could play an important role in immune metabolism adaptation with a concomitant increase in host immune response against the intracellular pathogen, L. donovani.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Kar
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Adithyan Jayaraman
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Avanthika Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Santanu Kar Mahapatra
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India.,Department of Paramedical and Allied Health Sciences, Midnapore City College, Midnapore, India
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Hendrickx S, Van Bockstal L, Aslan H, Sadlova J, Maes L, Volf P, Caljon G. Transmission potential of paromomycin-resistant Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:951-957. [PMID: 31886863 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Former studies demonstrated quick selection of paromomycin resistance for Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani accompanied by increased fitness. The present study aimed to interpret these findings in an epidemiological context by comparing infection of WT and experimentally derived paromomycin-resistant strains in the sand fly vector. METHODS Depending on the Leishmania species, Lutzomyia longipalpis and Phlebotomus perniciosus or Phlebotomus argentipes sand flies were artificially infected with procyclic promastigotes of WT and paromomycin-resistant L. infantum (MHOM/FR/96/LEM3323-cl4) or L. donovani (MHOM/NP/03/BPK275/0-cl18). The infection rate and gut/stomodeal valve colonization were determined to monitor parasite phenotypic behaviour within the vector. The impact of the previously described gain of fitness in the vertebrate host on infectivity for the vector was assessed by feeding L. longipalpis on Syrian golden hamsters heavily infected with either WT or paromomycin-resistant parasites. RESULTS WT and paromomycin-resistant Leishmania of both species behaved similarly in terms of infection and parasite location within the studied sand fly species. Blood feeding on infected hamsters did not reveal differences in acquisition of WT and paromomycin-resistant parasites, despite the higher organ burdens observed for the paromomycin-resistant strain. Strains remained resistant after passage in the vector. CONCLUSIONS Although paromomycin-resistant parasites show an increased parasite fitness in vitro and in laboratory rodents, the intrinsic infection potential of paromomycin-resistant parasites remains unaltered in the sand fly. Of importance is the fact that paromomycin-resistant Leishmania are able to complete development in the natural vectors and produce stomodeal infection with metacyclic forms, which clearly suggests their potential to spread and circulate in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hendrickx
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - L Van Bockstal
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - H Aslan
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - J Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - L Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - P Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - G Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Effect of Itraconazole-Ezetimibe-Miltefosine Ternary Therapy in Murine Visceral Leishmaniasis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.02676-20. [PMID: 33619058 PMCID: PMC8092893 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02676-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug combination therapy is an interesting approach to increase the success of drug repurposing for neglected diseases. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate binary and ternary therapies composed of itraconazole, ezetimibe and miltefosine for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. Intracellular Leishmania infantum amastigotes were incubated with the drugs alone or in combination for 72 h. For in vivo experiments, we tested a long-course (21 days, once per day) and a short-course treatment (5 days, twice per day) for the binary combination with itraconazole and ezetimibe. For the ternary therapy including miltefosine, we adopted the short-course treatment and varied the vehicle. None of the combinations were toxic to macrophages. Binary combination of itraconazole plus ezetimibe and ternary combination of itraconazole, ezetimibe and miltefosine had synergistic effects in intracellular amastigotes, in some of the proportions evaluated. Although the in vivo long-course therapy had been more effective than the short-course protocol, it showed hepatic toxicity signs. Ezetimibe has proven to be able to reduce the parasite burden alone or in combination. Both suspensions of the ternary combination were active, but when the drugs were suspended in the commercial ORA-Plus formulation instead of purified water, the parasite burden was reduced by 98% in the liver and spleen. Altogether, the results demonstrate for the first time the activity of ezetimibe in a viscerotropic species of Leishmania and indicate that ternary treatment composed of miltefosine, itraconazole, and ezetimibe at low doses is a promising therapeutic alternative for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.
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Muraca G, Berti IR, Sbaraglini ML, Fávaro WJ, Durán N, Castro GR, Talevi A. Trypanosomatid-Caused Conditions: State of the Art of Therapeutics and Potential Applications of Lipid-Based Nanocarriers. Front Chem 2020; 8:601151. [PMID: 33324615 PMCID: PMC7726426 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.601151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatid-caused conditions (African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis) are neglected tropical infectious diseases that mainly affect socioeconomically vulnerable populations. The available therapeutics display substantial limitations, among them limited efficacy, safety issues, drug resistance, and, in some cases, inconvenient routes of administration, which made the scenarios with insufficient health infrastructure settings inconvenient. Pharmaceutical nanocarriers may provide solutions to some of these obstacles, improving the efficacy-safety balance and tolerability to therapeutic interventions. Here, we overview the state of the art of therapeutics for trypanosomatid-caused diseases (including approved drugs and drugs undergoing clinical trials) and the literature on nanolipid pharmaceutical carriers encapsulating approved and non-approved drugs for these diseases. Numerous studies have focused on the obtention and preclinical assessment of lipid nanocarriers, particularly those addressing the two currently most challenging trypanosomatid-caused diseases, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. In general, in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that delivering the drugs using such type of nanocarriers could improve the efficacy-safety balance, diminishing cytotoxicity and organ toxicity, especially in leishmaniasis. This constitutes a very relevant outcome, as it opens the possibility to extended treatment regimens and improved compliance. Despite these advances, last-generation nanosystems, such as targeted nanocarriers and hybrid systems, have still not been extensively explored in the field of trypanosomatid-caused conditions and represent promising opportunities for future developments. The potential use of nanotechnology in extended, well-tolerated drug regimens is particularly interesting in the light of recent descriptions of quiescent/dormant stages of Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi, which have been linked to therapeutic failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana Muraca
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Administración Nacional de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Tecnología Médica (ANMAT), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ignacio Rivero Berti
- Laboratorio de Nanobiomateriales, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales (CINDEFI), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) -CONICET (CCT La Plata), La Plata, Argentina
| | - María L. Sbaraglini
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Wagner J. Fávaro
- Laboratory of Urogenital Carcinogenesis and Immunotherapy, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Nelson Durán
- Laboratory of Urogenital Carcinogenesis and Immunotherapy, Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Nanomedicine Research Unit (Nanomed), Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Santo André, Brazil
| | - Guillermo R. Castro
- Laboratorio de Nanobiomateriales, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales (CINDEFI), Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) -CONICET (CCT La Plata), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Alan Talevi
- Laboratory of Bioactive Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
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Valentim Silva JR, de Barros NB, Aragão Macedo SR, Ferreira ADS, Moreira Dill LS, Zanchi FB, do Nascimento JR, Fernandes do Nascimento FR, Lourenzoni MR, de Azevedo Calderon L, Soares AM, Nicolete R. A natural cell-penetrating nanopeptide combined with pentavalent antimonial as experimental therapy against cutaneous leishmaniasis. Exp Parasitol 2020; 217:107934. [PMID: 32698075 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The inadequacy of available treatments for leishmaniasis has presented up to 40% therapeutic failure. This fact suggests an urgency in the discovery of new drugs or alternative approaches for treating this disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antileishmanial activity of combined therapy between crotamine (CTA) from Crotalus durissus terrificus and the pentavalent antimonial Glucantime® (GLU). The assays were in vitro performed measuring the inhibition of Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes, followed by the evaluation of cellular production of cytokines and nitrites. After that, analytical methods were performed in order to characterize the molecules involved in the study by Mass Spectrometry, molecular affinity through an in silico assay and Surface Plasmon Resonance. In vivo experiments with BALB/c mice were performed by analyzing parasitemia, lesion size and immunological mediators. In the in vitro experiments, the pharmacological association improved the inhibition of the amastigotes, modulated the production of cytokines and nitric oxide. The therapy improved the effectiveness of the GLU, demonstrating a decreased parasitemia in the infected tissues. Altogether, the results suggest that the combined approach with CTA and GLU may be a promising alternative for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Rafael Valentim Silva
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil; Physical Education Department of Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil; Physical Education Department of University Center UNINORTE, Rio Branco, AC, Brazil
| | - Neuza Biguinati de Barros
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Sharon Rose Aragão Macedo
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil; Centro de Estudos de Biomoléculas Aplicadas à Saúde (CEBio), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz - Rondônia e Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Amália Dos Santos Ferreira
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Leandro Soares Moreira Dill
- Centro de Estudos de Biomoléculas Aplicadas à Saúde (CEBio), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz - Rondônia e Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Fernando Berton Zanchi
- Centro de Estudos de Biomoléculas Aplicadas à Saúde (CEBio), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz - Rondônia e Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Johnny Ramos do Nascimento
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Flávia Raquel Fernandes do Nascimento
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | | | - Leonardo de Azevedo Calderon
- Centro de Estudos de Biomoléculas Aplicadas à Saúde (CEBio), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz - Rondônia e Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Andreimar Martins Soares
- Centro de Estudos de Biomoléculas Aplicadas à Saúde (CEBio), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz - Rondônia e Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil; eCentro Universitário São Lucas (UniSL), Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Roberto Nicolete
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz Ceará), Eusébio, CE, Brazil.
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15
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Saini S, Rai AK. Hamster, a close model for visceral leishmaniasis: Opportunities and challenges. Parasite Immunol 2020; 42:e12768. [DOI: 10.1111/pim.12768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sheetal Saini
- Department of Biotechnology Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad Praygraj India
| | - Ambak K. Rai
- Department of Biotechnology Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad Praygraj India
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16
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A review of current treatments strategies based on paromomycin for leishmaniasis. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2020.101664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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17
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Van Bockstal L, Bulté D, Hendrickx S, Sadlova J, Volf P, Maes L, Caljon G. Impact of clinically acquired miltefosine resistance by Leishmania infantum on mouse and sand fly infection. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2020; 13:16-21. [PMID: 32388220 PMCID: PMC7215113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Objectives This study evaluated the implications of clinically acquired miltefosine resistance (MIL-R) by assessing virulence in mice and sand flies to reveal the potential of MIL-R strains to circulate. Methods Experimental infections with the MIL-R clinical Leishmania infantum isolate MHOM/FR/2005/LEM5159, having a defect in the LiROS3 subunit of the MIL-transporter, and its syngeneic experimentally reconstituted MIL-S counterpart (LEM5159LiROS3) were performed in BALB/c mice and Lutzomyia longipalpis and Phlebotomus perniciosus sand flies. In mice, the amastigote burdens in liver and spleen were compared microscopically using Giemsa smears and by bioluminescent imaging. During the sand fly infections, the percentage of infected flies, parasite load, colonization of the stomodeal valve and metacyclogenesis were evaluated. The stability of the MIL-R phenotype after sand fly and mouse passage was determined as well. Results The fitness of the MIL-R strain differed between the mouse and sand fly infection model. In mice, a clear fitness loss was observed compared to the LiROS3-reconstituted susceptible strain. This defect could be rescued by episomal reconstitution with a wildtype LiROS3 copy. However, this fitness loss was not apparent in the sand fly vector, resulting in metacyclogenesis and efficient colonization of the stomodeal valve. Resistance was stable after passage in both sand fly and mouse. Conclusion The natural MIL-R strain is significantly hampered in its ability to multiply and cause a typical visceral infection pattern in BALB/c mice. However, this LiROS3-deficient strain efficiently produced mature infections and metacyclic promastigotes in the sand fly vector highlighting the transmission potential of this particular MIL-R clinical Leishmania strain. A clinical MIL-R L. infantum strain displays a loss-of-fitness in the mammalian host. ROS3-deficiency is compatible with efficient transmission by two sand fly species. Resistance is stable after mouse and sand fly passage. Transmission of this clinical MIL-R strain is a risk for immunocompromised patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieselotte Van Bockstal
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Dimitri Bulté
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Sarah Hendrickx
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, CZ-12844, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, CZ-12844, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Kaufer A, Ellis J, Stark D. Identification of Clinical Infections of Leishmania Imported into Australia: Revising Speciation with Polymerase Chain Reaction-RFLP of the Kinetoplast Maxicircle. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 101:590-601. [PMID: 31333156 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus. In Australia, leishmaniasis is an imported disease that is presenting itself at increased rates because of international travel, the influx of immigrants, and deployment of military operations to endemic regions. Although Leishmania species are morphologically indistinguishable, there is a strong correlation between some causative species of leishmaniasis and the subsequent response to the treatments available and patient outcome. Consequently, identification of the infective species is imperative as misidentification can result in the administering of an ineffective drug. The aim of this study was to develop a simple diagnostic tool with high sensitivity and specificity, which is capable of detecting the presence of the parasite and accurately differentiating the causative species in question. Using the advantageous properties of the maxi-circle kinetoplast DNA, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) targeting the ND7 gene was developed for the analysis of imported cases of human leishmaniasis in Australia. Designed as a dual analysis, concurrent PCR of Leishmania maxi-circle DNA and digestion with two separate enzymes (NlaIII and HpyCH4IV), this study provides an appraisal on 24 imported cases of leishmaniasis between 2008 and 2017. Five Leishmania species were reported, with members of the Viannia subgenus being the most common. The implementation of novel diagnostic procedures for leishmaniasis such as the one reported here is needed to establish a gold standard practice for the diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Kaufer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - John Ellis
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Damien Stark
- Department of Microbiology, St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Darlinghurst, Australia
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Capela R, Moreira R, Lopes F. An Overview of Drug Resistance in Protozoal Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E5748. [PMID: 31731801 PMCID: PMC6888673 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Protozoan diseases continue to be a worldwide social and economic health problem. Increased drug resistance, emerging cross resistance, and lack of new drugs with novel mechanisms of action significantly reduce the effectiveness of current antiprotozoal therapies. While drug resistance associated to anti-infective agents is a reality, society seems to remain unaware of its proportions and consequences. Parasites usually develops ingenious and innovative mechanisms to achieve drug resistance, which requires more research and investment to fight it. In this review, drug resistance developed by protozoan parasites Plasmodium, Leishmania, and Trypanosoma will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Capela
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.M.); (F.L.)
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20
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Gonçalves-Oliveira LF, Souza-Silva F, de Castro Côrtes LM, Veloso LB, Santini Pereira BA, Cysne-Finkelstein L, Lechuga GC, Bourguignon SC, Almeida-Souza F, da Silva Calabrese K, Ferreira VF, Alves CR. The combination therapy of meglumine antimoniate and oxiranes (epoxy-α-lapachone and epoxymethyl-lawsone) enhance the leishmanicidal effect in mice infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2019; 10:101-108. [PMID: 31430693 PMCID: PMC6712286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Current treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis includes pentavalent antimonials as first-line drugs, but this therapy has shown severe adverse effects. An alternative to minimize this issue is based on combination therapy scheme with other drugs. In this study we analyzed the potential of the association of meglumine antimoniate (MA) with the oxiranes epoxy-α-lapachone (LAP) or epoxymethyl-lawsone (LAW). Results demonstrated that association between these drugs enhanced leishmanicidal activity on Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis infection. The compounds were tested in monotherapy or in combinations (3:1; 1:1 and 1:3) and reduced intracellular parasite numbers, measured by the endocytic index, in all tested conditions. The most effective combination regimens were MA/LAP or MA/LAW in 3:1 ratio, which achieved a reduction of 98.3% and 93.6% in the endocytic index, respectively. BALB/c mice challenged with L. (L.) amazonensis showed significant reduction in lesion size and parasite load in both footpad and lymph nodes, after four weeks of treatment. Although, MA, LAP or LAW monotherapy were able to control the evolution of lesions when compared to untreated animals (30%, 40% and 40% of reduction, respectively), the combination of MA/LAP and LAW in 3:1 ratio showed better results reducing 61.7 and 54.4%, respectively. The results indicate that the association of meglumine antimoniate to oxiranes lead to an increment in the antileishmanial activity and represent a promising approach for the cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment. Meglumine antimoniate with oxiranes enhanced effect against Leishmania infection. The most effective treatment in vitro infection was observed in a 3:1 ratio. Mice treatment with drugs caused reductions in lesion size and parasite load. Antimony-based combination has the potential for leishmaniasis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Filipe Gonçalves-Oliveira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Franklin Souza-Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Avenida Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Luzia Monteiro de Castro Côrtes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Laura Barral Veloso
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Bernardo Acácio Santini Pereira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Lea Cysne-Finkelstein
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Avenida Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Guilherme Curty Lechuga
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Av. Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Saulo Cabral Bourguignon
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Laboratório de Interação Celular e Molecular, Outeiro São João Batista s/n, Centro, 24020-141, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Fernando Almeida-Souza
- Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Cidade Universitária Paulo VI, Av. Lourenço Vieira da Silva no 1000, Jardim São Cristóvão, 65055-310, São Luís, MA, Brazil; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia, Avenida Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Kátia da Silva Calabrese
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia, Avenida Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, 21040-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Vitor Francisco Ferreira
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Faculdade de Farmácia, Departamento de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Rua Doutor Mário Viana n(o) 523- Santa Rosa, 24241-002, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Carlos Roberto Alves
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil n(o) 4365 - Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, RJ, Brazil.
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21
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Carregal VM, Lanza JS, Souza DM, Islam A, Demicheli C, Fujiwara RT, Rivas L, Frézard F. Combination oral therapy against Leishmania amazonensis infection in BALB/c mice using nanoassemblies made from amphiphilic antimony(V) complex incorporating miltefosine. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:3077-3084. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06419-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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22
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Chauhan K, Kaur G, Kaur S. Evaluation of antileishmanial efficacy of Salidroside against the SSG-sensitive and resistant strain of Leishmania donovani. Parasitol Int 2019; 72:101928. [PMID: 31108221 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2019.101928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The successful control and eradication of leishmaniasis are still challenging in view of the lack of adequate chemotherapy and potential prophylaxis. Research is going on for finding an appropriate anti-leishmanial drug which should be acceptable in terms of cost and safety. In view of this, the current study investigated the anti-leishmanial efficacy of salidroside (SAL) which is a phenylpropanoid glycoside. The leishmanicidal capacity of SAL was verified in vitro as well as in vivo. The SAL exhibited leishmanicidal activity against the promastigotes of L. donovani which was further validated by propidium iodide staining and its ability to arrest the promastigotes at the sub G0/G1 stage. SAL decreased and controlled the VL infection in mice as estimated by real-time PCR. Active immunomodulation was exhibited upon SAL treatment in BALB/c mice. The characteristic features like pronounced DTH reaction, polarization of immune status to Th1 type of immune response, increased the production of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells indicated the immune-stimulatory property of SAL. In addition to this the expression of NF-ĸB, iNOS genes along with the levels of leishmanicidal species, NO and ROS were found to be augmented in SAL treated infected animals. Moreover, SAL exhibited minimal toxicity to the THP-1 cells and it revealed no toxicity against liver and kidney. The capability of SAL in promoting the immune status in favor of host during VL infection without causing any side-effects may be used as an effective strategy to fight the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gurpreet Kaur
- Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sukhbir Kaur
- Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
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23
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Sundar S, Chakravarty J, Meena LP. Leishmaniasis: treatment, drug resistance and emerging therapies. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2019.1552853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Jaya Chakravarty
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Lalit P Meena
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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24
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Carbone DCB, Zanoni LZG, Cônsolo FZ, Sanches SC, Reis VQD, Muller KDTC, Carvalho CME, Silva MC. Potential role of zinc in the visceromegaly regression and recovery of hematological parameters during treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in children from an endemic area. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2018; 60:e50. [PMID: 30231161 PMCID: PMC6169088 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201860050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a disease complex with various clinical symptoms caused by different species of parasites of the genus Leishmania. The visceral form of the disease, characterized by severe symptoms is fatal, if not treated. The high toxicity of current antileishmanial drugs and the need for long-term treatment make the therapy complicated, especially in a large number of infected children. Hence, the search for new therapies must be intensified. Oral administration of the trace element zinc has been considered in alternative treatments against different clinical forms of leishmaniasis. This study revealed that the administration of zinc in children with visceral leishmaniasis, during treatment with amphotericin B or glucantime, accelerates the regression of the spleen enlargement without interfering with the recovery of hematological parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Débora Cardozo Bonfim Carbone
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Desenvolvimento, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Lourdes Zélia Garcia Zanoni
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Desenvolvimento, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Zanoni Cônsolo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Desenvolvimento, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Simone Camargo Sanches
- Rede Centro-Oeste de Pós-Graduação, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Quadros Dos Reis
- Hospital Universitário Maria Aparecida Pedrossian, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maria Cláudia Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
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25
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Thompson AM, O'Connor PD, Marshall AJ, Blaser A, Yardley V, Maes L, Gupta S, Launay D, Braillard S, Chatelain E, Wan B, Franzblau SG, Ma Z, Cooper CB, Denny WA. Development of (6 R)-2-Nitro-6-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy]-6,7-dihydro-5 H-imidazo[2,1- b][1,3]oxazine (DNDI-8219): A New Lead for Visceral Leishmaniasis. J Med Chem 2018; 61:2329-2352. [PMID: 29461823 PMCID: PMC5867678 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Discovery
of the potent antileishmanial effects of antitubercular
6-nitro-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]oxazoles and
7-substituted 2-nitro-5,6-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]oxazines
stimulated the examination of further scaffolds (e.g., 2-nitro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]oxazepines), but the results for these seemed less
attractive. Following the screening of a 900-compound pretomanid analogue
library, several hits with more suitable potency, solubility, and
microsomal stability were identified, and the superior efficacy of
newly synthesized 6R enantiomers with phenylpyridine-based
side chains was established through head-to-head assessments in a Leishmania donovani mouse model. Two such leads (R-84 and R-89) displayed promising activity in the more stringent Leishmania
infantum hamster model but were unexpectedly found to be
potent inhibitors of hERG. An extensive structure–activity
relationship investigation pinpointed two compounds (R-6 and pyridine R-136)
with better solubility and pharmacokinetic properties that also provided
excellent oral efficacy in the same hamster model (>97% parasite
clearance
at 25 mg/kg, twice daily) and exhibited minimal hERG inhibition. Additional
profiling earmarked R-6 as the favored
backup development candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Thompson
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 , New Zealand
| | - Patrick D O'Connor
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 , New Zealand
| | - Andrew J Marshall
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 , New Zealand
| | - Adrian Blaser
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 , New Zealand
| | - Vanessa Yardley
- Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , Keppel Street , London WC1E 7HT , United Kingdom
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences , University of Antwerp , Universiteitsplein 1 , B-2610 Antwerp , Belgium
| | - Suman Gupta
- Division of Parasitology , CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute , Lucknow 226031 , India
| | - Delphine Launay
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, 15 Chemin Louis Dunant , 1202 Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Braillard
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, 15 Chemin Louis Dunant , 1202 Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, 15 Chemin Louis Dunant , 1202 Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Baojie Wan
- Institute for Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy , University of Illinois at Chicago , 833 South Wood Street , Chicago , Illinois 60612 , United States
| | - Scott G Franzblau
- Institute for Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy , University of Illinois at Chicago , 833 South Wood Street , Chicago , Illinois 60612 , United States
| | - Zhenkun Ma
- Global Alliance for TB Drug Development , 40 Wall Street , New York , New York 10005 , United States
| | - Christopher B Cooper
- Global Alliance for TB Drug Development , 40 Wall Street , New York , New York 10005 , United States
| | - William A Denny
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142 , New Zealand
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26
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Van den Kerkhof M, Mabille D, Chatelain E, Mowbray CE, Braillard S, Hendrickx S, Maes L, Caljon G. In vitro and in vivo pharmacodynamics of three novel antileishmanial lead series. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2018; 8:81-86. [PMID: 29425734 PMCID: PMC6114106 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Three new chemical series (bicyclic nitroimidazoles, aminopyrazoles and oxaboroles) were selected by Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative as potential new drug leads for leishmaniasis. Pharmacodynamics studies included both in vitro and in vivo efficacy, cross-resistance profiling against the current antileishmanial reference drugs and evaluation of their cidal activity potential. Methods Efficacy against the reference laboratory strains of Leishmania infantum (MHOM/MA(BE)/67/ITMAP263) and L. donovani (MHOM/ET/67/L82) was evaluated in vitro on intracellular amastigotes and in vivo in the early curative hamster model. Cidal activity was assessed over a period of 15 days in an in vitro ‘time-to-kill’ assay. Cross-resistance was assessed in vitro on a panel of L. infantum strains with different degrees of resistance to either antimony, miltefosine or paromomycin. Results All lead compounds showed potent and selective in vitro activity against the Leishmania strains tested and no cross-resistance could be demonstrated against any of the current antileishmanial drugs. Cidal activity was obtained in vitro for all series within 15 days of exposure with some differences noted between L. donovani and L. infantum. When evaluated in vivo, all lead compounds showed high efficacy and no adverse effects were observed. Conclusions The new lead series were shown to have cidal pharmacodynamic activity. The absence of cross-resistance with any of the current antileishmanial drugs opens possibilities for combination treatment to reduce the likelihood of treatment failures and drug resistance. Good efficacy was evaluated for all series in vitro and in vivo. No cross-resistance towards current anti-leishmanial drugs was observed. Cidal activity was obtained in vitro for all series within 15 days of exposure. Some differences were observed between L. infantum and L. donovani.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Van den Kerkhof
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - D Mabille
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - E Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - C E Mowbray
- Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - S Braillard
- Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - S Hendrickx
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - L Maes
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - G Caljon
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Belgium.
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27
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Abid H, Harigua-Souiai E, Mejri T, Barhoumi M, Guizani I. Leishmania infantum 5'-Methylthioadenosine Phosphorylase presents relevant structural divergence to constitute a potential drug target. BMC STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2017; 17:9. [PMID: 29258562 PMCID: PMC5738077 DOI: 10.1186/s12900-017-0079-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), an enzyme involved in purine and polyamine metabolism and in the methionine salvage pathway, is considered as a potential drug target against cancer and trypanosomiasis. In fact, Trypanosoma and Leishmania parasites lack de novo purine pathways and rely on purine salvage pathways to meet their requirements. Herein, we propose the first comprehensive bioinformatic and structural characterization of the putative Leishmania infantum MTAP (LiMTAP), using a comparative computational approach. RESULTS Sequence analysis showed that LiMTAP shared higher identity rates with the Trypanosoma brucei (TbMTAP) and the human (huMTAP) homologs as compared to the human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (huPNP). Motifs search using MEME identified more common patterns and higher relatedness of the parasite proteins to the huMTAP than to the huPNP. The 3D structures of LiMTAP and TbMTAP were predicted by homology modeling and compared to the crystal structure of the huMTAP. These models presented conserved secondary structures compared to the huMTAP, with a similar topology corresponding to the Rossmann fold. This confirmed that both LiMTAP and TbMTAP are members of the NP-I family. In comparison to the huMTAP, the 3D model of LiMTAP showed an additional α-helix, at the C terminal extremity. One peptide located in this specific region was used to generate a specific antibody to LiMTAP. In comparison with the active site (AS) of huMTAP, the parasite ASs presented significant differences in the shape and the electrostatic potentials (EPs). Molecular docking of 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA) and 5'-hydroxyethylthio-adenosine (HETA) on the ASs on the three proteins predicted differential binding modes and interactions when comparing the parasite proteins to the human orthologue. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted significant structural peculiarities, corresponding to functionally relevant sequence divergence in LiMTAP, making of it a potential drug target against Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hela Abid
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.,Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Emna Harigua-Souiai
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Thouraya Mejri
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mourad Barhoumi
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Ikram Guizani
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
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