1
|
Al-Ashwal MA, Al-Adhroey AH, Atroosh WM, Al-Subbary AA, Albhri AA, Azlan UW, Tan JH, Alkhali AA, Alshoteri SA, Sady H, Alharazi TH, Lau YL, Al-Mekhlafi HM. First report of Leishmania tropica in domestic and wild animal hosts in hyperendemic areas of human cutaneous leishmaniasis in western Yemen: a neglected tropical disease needing One Health approach. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:256. [PMID: 38935203 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08273-3] [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: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a neglected tropical disease, is a major public health concern in Yemen, with Leishmania tropica identified as the main causative agent. This study aims to investigate the occurrence and distribution of Leishmania parasites in domestic and wild animals in CL endemic areas in the western highlands of Yemen. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Utmah District of western Yemen. Blood and skin scraping specimens were collected from 122 domestic and wild animals and tested for the Leishmania DNA using internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) nested polymerase chain reaction. Phylogenetic analyses were performed on 20 L. tropica sequences obtained from animals in this study and 34 sequences from human isolates (collected concurrently from the same study area) retrieved from the GenBank. Overall, L. tropica was detected in 16.4% (20/122) of the examined animals, including 11 goats, two dogs, two bulls, one cow, one donkey, one rabbit, one rat and one bat. None of the examined cats and sheep was positive. The animal sequences were segregated into four different L. tropica haplotypes, with the majority of the animal (15/20) and human (32/34) sequences composed of one dominant haplotype/genotype. These findings represent the first confirmed evidence of natural L. tropica infections in different kinds of domestic and wild animals in western Yemen, suggesting these animals potentially have a role in the transmission of CL in Yemen. Therefore, a One Health approach is required for the effective prevention and control of this devastating disease among endemic populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manal Ali Al-Ashwal
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Wahib M Atroosh
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Aden, Aden, Yemen.
| | | | - Adel Ahmed Albhri
- Al-Medan Health Centre, Ministry of Health and Population, Dhamar, Yemen
| | - Ummi Wahidah Azlan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jia Hui Tan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Arwa Ahmed Alkhali
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Environment and Quality, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco
| | - Sheikh Abdulhafed Alshoteri
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Aden, Aden, Yemen
| | - Hany Sady
- Centre for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Talal H Alharazi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen
| | - Yee-Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Jazan University, 45142, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a 1247, Yemen.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abdoul-Latif FM, Oumaskour K, Abdallah N, Ainane A, Houmed Aboubaker I, Merito A, Mohamed H, Ainane T. Overview of Research on Leishmaniasis in Africa: Current Status, Diagnosis, Therapeutics, and Recent Advances Using By-Products of the Sargassaceae Family. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:523. [PMID: 38675483 PMCID: PMC11054980 DOI: 10.3390/ph17040523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis in Africa, which has been designated as a priority neglected tropical disease by various global organizations, exerts its impact on millions of individuals, primarily concentrated within this particular region of the world. As a result of the progressively grave epidemiological data, numerous governmental sectors and civil organizations have concentrated their endeavors on this widespread outbreak with the objective of devising appropriate remedies. This comprehensive examination delves into multiple facets of this parasitic ailment, scrutinizing the associated perils, diagnostic intricacies, and deficiencies within the existing therapeutic protocols. Despite the established efficacy of current treatments, they are not immune to deleterious incidents, particularly concerning toxicity and the emergence of parasitic resistance, thus accentuating the necessity of exploring alternative avenues. Consequently, this research not only encompasses conventional therapeutic approaches, but also extends its scope to encompass complementary and alternative medicinal techniques, thereby striving to identify innovative solutions. A particularly auspicious dimension of this study lies in the exploration of natural substances and by-products derived from some brown algae of the Sargassaceae family. These resources possess the potential to assume a pivotal role in the management of leishmaniasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatouma Mohamed Abdoul-Latif
- Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Santé (ISSS), Djibouti City P.O. Box 2530, Djibouti
- Medicinal Research Institute, Center for Studies and Research of Djibouti, IRM-CERD, Route de l’Aéroport, Haramous, Djibouti City P.O. Box 486, Djibouti
| | - Khadija Oumaskour
- Superior School of Technology of Khenifra, University of Sultan Moulay Slimane, P.O. Box 170, Khenifra 54000, Morocco
| | - Nadira Abdallah
- Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Santé (ISSS), Djibouti City P.O. Box 2530, Djibouti
| | - Ayoub Ainane
- Superior School of Technology of Khenifra, University of Sultan Moulay Slimane, P.O. Box 170, Khenifra 54000, Morocco
| | | | - Ali Merito
- Medicinal Research Institute, Center for Studies and Research of Djibouti, IRM-CERD, Route de l’Aéroport, Haramous, Djibouti City P.O. Box 486, Djibouti
| | - Houda Mohamed
- Peltier Hospital of Djibouti, Djibouti City P.O. Box 2123, Djibouti
| | - Tarik Ainane
- Superior School of Technology of Khenifra, University of Sultan Moulay Slimane, P.O. Box 170, Khenifra 54000, Morocco
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Talimi H, Daoui O, Bussotti G, Mhaidi I, Boland A, Deleuze JF, Fissoune R, Lemrani M, F Späth G. A comparative genomics approach reveals a local genetic signature of Leishmania tropica in Morocco. Microb Genom 2024; 10. [PMID: 38578294 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001230] [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] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In Morocco, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania (L.) tropica is an important health problem. Despite the high incidence of CL in the country, the genomic heterogeneity of these parasites is still incompletely understood. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of 14 Moroccan isolates of L. tropica collected from confirmed cases of CL to investigate their genomic heterogeneity. Comparative genomics analyses were conducted by applying the recently established Genome Instability Pipeline (GIP), which allowed us to conduct phylogenomic and principal components analyses (PCA), and to assess genomic variations at the levels of the karyotype, gene copy number, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and small insertions/deletions (INDELs) variants. Read-depth analyses revealed a mostly disomic karyotype, with the exception of the stable tetrasomy of chromosome 31. In contrast, we identified important gene copy number variations across all isolates, which affect known virulence genes and thus were probably selected in the field. SNP-based cluster analysis of the 14 isolates revealed a core group of 12 strains that formed a tight cluster and shared 45.1 % (87 751) of SNPs, as well as two strains (M3015, Ltr_16) that clustered separately from each other and the core group, suggesting the circulation of genetically highly diverse strains in Morocco. Phylogenetic analysis, which compared our 14 L. tropica isolates against 40 published genomes of L. tropica from a diverse array of locations, confirmed the genetic difference of our Moroccan isolates from all other isolates examined. In conclusion, our results indicate potential regional variations in SNP profiles that may differentiate Moroccan L. tropica from other L. tropica strains circulating in endemic countries in the Middle East. Our report paves the way for future research with a larger number of strains that will allow correlation of diverse phenotypes (resistance to treatments, virulence) and origins (geography, host species, year of isolation) to defined genomic signals such as gene copy number variations or SNP profiles that may represent interesting biomarker candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hasnaa Talimi
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector-Borne-Diseases, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
- Systems and Data Engineering Team, National School of Applied Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essaadi, Tangier, Morocco
| | - Othmane Daoui
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector-Borne-Diseases, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Giovanni Bussotti
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM 1201, Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, Paris, France
| | - Idris Mhaidi
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector-Borne-Diseases, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Anne Boland
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine (CNRGH), 91057, Evry, France
| | - Jean-François Deleuze
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine (CNRGH), 91057, Evry, France
| | - Rachida Fissoune
- Systems and Data Engineering Team, National School of Applied Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essaadi, Tangier, Morocco
| | - Meryem Lemrani
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector-Borne-Diseases, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Gerald F Späth
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INSERM 1201, Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Montaner-Angoiti E, Llobat L. Is leishmaniasis the new emerging zoonosis in the world? Vet Res Commun 2023; 47:1777-1799. [PMID: 37438495 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10171-5] [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: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania is a genus of parasitic protozoa that causes a disease called leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female sandflies. There are several different species of Leishmania that can cause various forms of the disease, and the symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on species of Leishmania involved and the immune response of the host. Leishmania parasites have a variety of reservoirs, including humans, domestic animals, horses, rodents, wild animals, birds, and reptiles. Leishmaniasis is endemic of 90 countries, mainly in South American, East and West Africa, Mediterranean region, Indian subcontinent, and Central Asia. In recent years, cases have been detected in other countries, and it is already an infection present throughout the world. The increase in temperatures due to climate change makes it possible for sandflies to appear in countries with traditionally colder regions, and the easy movement of people and animals today, facilitate the appearance of Leishmania species in new countries. These data mean that leishmaniasis will probably become an emerging zoonosis and a public health problem in the coming years, which we must consider controlling it from a One Health point of view. This review summarizes the prevalence of Leishmania spp. around the world and the current knowledge regarding the animals that could be reservoirs of the parasite.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esperanza Montaner-Angoiti
- Molecular Mechanisms of Zoonotic Disease (MMOPS) Group, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lola Llobat
- Molecular Mechanisms of Zoonotic Disease (MMOPS) Group, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Divenuto F, Pavia G, Marascio N, Barreca GS, Quirino A, Matera G. Role of Treg, Breg and other cytokine sets in host protection and immunopathology during human leishmaniasis: Are they potential valuable markers in clinical settings and vaccine evaluation? Acta Trop 2023; 240:106849. [PMID: 36731621 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106849] [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: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by obligate intracellular protozoan parasites that can infect humans and other mammals. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are important regulators of innate and specific responses in Leishmania infection. Resistance to leishmaniasis is related to T helper 1 (Th1) response with the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines: IL-12, IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 leading to activation of macrophages and parasite killing. Instead, a more intense Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), Treg (IL-10 and TGF-β) and Breg response (IL-10 and IL-35) are related to parasite persistence through the inhibition of macrophage activation, which promotes the escape from host immune system. Interestingly, a cytokine involved in the parasite killing in one form of leishmaniasis may be "pathogen friendly" in another form of the disease. To date, few studies are focusing on the role of Treg and Breg cytokines in human models of leishmaniasis; therefore, further investigations are needed to clarify their potential role in the diagnosis and prognosis of such protozoan infections, as well as in the development of vaccines against leishmaniasis. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the role of cytokines produced by Th1, Th2, Treg, and Breg cells involved in Leishmania disease progression and host protection. Some cytokines might play a role as diagnostic and prognostic clinical markers, or they could represent a novel approach leading to new anti-leishmaniasis therapies. Overall, advances in knowledge of the complex network of cytokines secreted by immune cells could help to better understand signaling pathways and host immune responses during Leishmania infection. This approach would allow these mediators to be used as therapeutic strategies against leishmaniasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Divenuto
- Clinical Microbiology Unit, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Grazia Pavia
- Clinical Microbiology Unit, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nadia Marascio
- Clinical Microbiology Unit, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Angela Quirino
- Clinical Microbiology Unit, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Matera
- Clinical Microbiology Unit, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ndlovu K, Kannigadu C, Aucamp J, van Rensburg HDJ, N'Da DD. Exploration of ethylene glycol linked nitrofurantoin derivatives against Leishmania: Synthesis and in vitro activity. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2200529. [PMID: 36759973 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202200529] [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: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that is caused by the Leishmania parasite. It is estimated that there are more than 350 million people at risk of infection annually. Current treatments that are in clinical use are expensive, have toxic side effects, and are facing parasitic resistance. Therefore, new drugs are urgently required. In the quest for new, safe, and cost-effective drugs, a series of novel ethylene glycol derivatives of nitrofurantoin was synthesised and the in vitro antileishmanial efficacy of the compounds tested against Leishmania donovani and Leishmania major strains. Arylated ethylene glycol derivatives were found to be the most potent, with submicromolar activity up to 294-fold greater than the parent compound nitrofurantoin. Analogues 2j and 2k had the best antipromastigote activities with submicromolar IC50 values against L. major IR-173 and antimonial-resistant L. donovani 9515 strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keitumetsi Ndlovu
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Christina Kannigadu
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Janine Aucamp
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | | | - David D N'Da
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Daoui O, Bennaid H, Kbaich MA, Mhaidi I, Aderdour N, Rhinane H, Bouhout S, Akarid K, Lemrani M. Environmental, Climatic, and Parasite Molecular Factors Impacting the Incidence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Due to Leishmania tropica in Three Moroccan Foci. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091712. [PMID: 36144314 PMCID: PMC9506065 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) occurring due to Leishmania tropica is a public health problem in Morocco. The distribution and incidence of this form of leishmaniasis have increased in an unusual way in the last decade, and the control measures put in place are struggling to slow down the epidemic. This study was designed to assess the impact of climatic and environmental factors on CL in L. tropica foci. The data collected included CL incidence and climatic and environmental factors across three Moroccan foci (Foum Jemaa, Imintanout, and Ouazzane) from 2000 to 2019. Statistical analyses were performed using the linear regression model. An association was found between the occurrence of CL in Imintanout and temperature and humidity (r2 = 0.6076, df = (1.18), p-value = 3.09 × 10−5; r2 = 0.6306, df = (1.18), p-value = 1.77 × 10−5). As a second objective of our study, we investigated the population structure of L.tropica in these three foci, using the nuclear marker internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1). Our results showed a low-to-medium level of geographic differentiation among the L.tropica populations using pairwise differentiation. Molecular diversity indices showed a high genetic diversity in Foum Jemaa and Imintanout; indeed, 29 polymorphic sites were identified, leading to the definition of 13 haplotypes. Tajima’s D and Fu’s F test statistics in all populations were not statistically significant, and consistent with a population at drift–mutation equilibrium. Further analysis, including additional DNA markers and a larger sample size, could provide a more complete perspective of L. tropica’s population structure in these three regions. In addition, further research is needed to better understand the impact of climatic conditions on the transmission cycle of Leishmania, allowing both for the development of effective control measures, and for the development of a predictive model for this parasitosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Othmane Daoui
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector-Borne-Diseases, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca 20250, Morocco
- Molecular Genetics and Immunophysiopathology Research Team, Health and Environment Laboratory, Aïn Chock Faculty of Sciences, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca 20000, Morocco
| | - Hamza Bennaid
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector-Borne-Diseases, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca 20250, Morocco
- Information Retrieval and Data Analytics Laboratory, National School of Computer Science and System Analysis (Ensias), Rabat 10112, Morocco
| | - Mouad Ait Kbaich
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector-Borne-Diseases, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca 20250, Morocco
| | - Idris Mhaidi
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector-Borne-Diseases, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca 20250, Morocco
| | - Nacer Aderdour
- Geosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca 20000, Morocco
| | - Hassan Rhinane
- Geosciences Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Ain Chock, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca 20000, Morocco
| | - Souad Bouhout
- Directorate of Epidemiology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Service of Parasitic Diseases, Ministry of Health of Morocco, Rabat 10020, Morocco
| | - Khadija Akarid
- Molecular Genetics and Immunophysiopathology Research Team, Health and Environment Laboratory, Aïn Chock Faculty of Sciences, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Casablanca 20000, Morocco
| | - Meryem Lemrani
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector-Borne-Diseases, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca 20250, Morocco
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Synthesis, Structure and Antileishmanial Evaluation of Endoperoxide–Pyrazole Hybrids. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175401. [PMID: 36080174 PMCID: PMC9457810 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniases are among the most impacting neglected tropical diseases. In attempts to repurpose antimalarial drugs or candidates, it was found that selected 1,2,4-trioxanes, 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes, and pyrazole-containing chemotypes demonstrated activity against Leishmania parasites. This study reports the synthesis and structure of trioxolane–pyrazole (OZ1, OZ2) and tetraoxane–pyrazole (T1, T2) hybrids obtained from the reaction of 3(5)-aminopyrazole with endoperoxide-containing building blocks. Interestingly, only the endocyclic amine of 3(5)-aminopyrazole was found to act as nucleophile for amide coupling. However, the fate of the reaction was influenced by prototropic tautomerism of the pyrazole heterocycle, yielding 3- and 5-aminopyrazole containing hybrids which were characterized by different techniques, including X-ray crystallography. The compounds were evaluated for in vitro antileishmanial activity against promastigotes of L. tropica and L. infantum, and for cytotoxicity against THP-1 cells. Selected compounds were also evaluated against intramacrophage amastigote forms of L. infantum. Trioxolane–pyrazole hybrids OZ1 and OZ2 exhibited some activity against Leishmania promastigotes, while tetraoxane–pyrazole hybrids proved inactive, most likely due to solubility issues. Eight salt forms, specifically tosylate, mesylate, and hydrochloride salts, were then prepared to improve the solubility of the corresponding peroxide hybrids and were uniformly tested. Biological evaluations in promastigotes showed that the compound OZ1•HCl was the most active against both strains of Leishmania. Such finding was corroborated by the results obtained in assessments of the L. infantum amastigote susceptibility. It is noteworthy that the salt forms of the endoperoxide–pyrazole hybrids displayed a broader spectrum of action, showing activity in both strains of Leishmania. Our preliminary biological findings encourage further optimization of peroxide–pyrazole hybrids to identify a promising antileishmanial lead.
Collapse
|