1
|
Jado JC, Dow M, Carolino K, Klie A, Fonseca GJ, Ideker T, Carter H, Winzeler EA. In vitro evolution and whole genome analysis to study chemotherapy drug resistance in haploid human cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13989. [PMID: 38886371 PMCID: PMC11183241 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63943-7] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
In vitro evolution and whole genome analysis has proven to be a powerful method for studying the mechanism of action of small molecules in many haploid microbes but has generally not been applied to human cell lines in part because their diploid state complicates the identification of variants that confer drug resistance. To determine if haploid human cells could be used in MOA studies, we evolved resistance to five different anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, gemcitabine, etoposide, topotecan, and paclitaxel) using a near-haploid cell line (HAP1) and then analyzed the genomes of the drug resistant clones, developing a bioinformatic pipeline that involved filtering for high frequency alleles predicted to change protein sequence, or alleles which appeared in the same gene for multiple independent selections with the same compound. Applying the filter to sequences from 28 drug resistant clones identified a set of 21 genes which was strongly enriched for known resistance genes or known drug targets (TOP1, TOP2A, DCK, WDR33, SLCO3A1). In addition, some lines carried structural variants that encompassed additional known resistance genes (ABCB1, WWOX and RRM1). Gene expression knockdown and knockout experiments of 10 validation targets showed a high degree of specificity and accuracy in our calls and demonstrates that the same drug resistance mechanisms found in diverse clinical samples can be evolved, discovered and studied in an isogenic background.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Jado
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Michelle Dow
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Health Science, Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Krypton Carolino
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Adam Klie
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Gregory J Fonseca
- Department of Medicine, Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decaire Blvd, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Trey Ideker
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Hannah Carter
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kwakye-Nuako G, Middleton CE, McCall LI. Small molecule mediators of host-T. cruzi-environment interactions in Chagas disease. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012012. [PMID: 38457443 PMCID: PMC10923493 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012012] [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] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Small molecules (less than 1,500 Da) include major biological signals that mediate host-pathogen-microbiome communication. They also include key intermediates of metabolism and critical cellular building blocks. Pathogens present with unique nutritional needs that restrict pathogen colonization or promote tissue damage. In parallel, parts of host metabolism are responsive to immune signaling and regulated by immune cascades. These interactions can trigger both adaptive and maladaptive metabolic changes in the host, with microbiome-derived signals also contributing to disease progression. In turn, targeting pathogen metabolic needs or maladaptive host metabolic changes is an important strategy to develop new treatments for infectious diseases. Trypanosoma cruzi is a single-celled eukaryotic pathogen and the causative agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease associated with cardiac and intestinal dysfunction. Here, we discuss the role of small molecules during T. cruzi infection in its vector and in the mammalian host. We integrate these findings to build a theoretical interpretation of how maladaptive metabolic changes drive Chagas disease and extrapolate on how these findings can guide drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Godwin Kwakye-Nuako
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Caitlyn E. Middleton
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tulloch LB, Carvalho S, Lima M, Wall RJ, Tinti M, Pinto EG, MacLean L, Wyllie S. RES-Seq-a barcoded library of drug-resistant Leishmania donovani allowing rapid assessment of cross-resistance and relative fitness. mBio 2023; 14:e0180323. [PMID: 37929970 PMCID: PMC10746238 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01803-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains the third largest parasitic killer worldwide, responsible for 20,000-30,000 deaths each year. Control and ultimate elimination of VL will require a range of therapeutic options with diverse mechanisms of action to combat drug resistance. One approach to ensure that compounds in development exploit diverse mechanisms of action is to screen them against highly curated cell lines resistant to drugs already in the VL pipeline. The identification of cross-resistant cell lines indicates that test compounds are likely acting via previously established mechanisms. Current cross-resistance screens are limited by the requirement to profile individual resistant cell lines one at a time. Here, we introduce unique DNA barcodes into multiple resistant cell lines to facilitate parallel profiling. Utilizing the power of Illumina sequencing, growth kinetics and relative fitness under compound selection can be monitored revolutionizing our ability to identify and prioritize compounds acting via novel mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay B. Tulloch
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Lima
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Wall
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Michele Tinti
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Erika G. Pinto
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Lorna MacLean
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Wyllie
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
González S, Wall RJ, Thomas J, Braillard S, Brunori G, Díaz IC, Cantizani J, Carvalho S, Castañeda Casado P, Chatelain E, Cotillo I, Fiandor JM, Francisco AF, Grimsditch D, Keenan M, Kelly JM, Kessler A, Luise C, Lyon JJ, MacLean L, Marco M, Martin JJ, Martinez MS, Paterson C, Read KD, Santos-Villarejo A, Zuccotto F, Wyllie S, Miles TJ, De Rycker M. Short-course combination treatment for experimental chronic Chagas disease. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadg8105. [PMID: 38091410 PMCID: PMC7615676 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg8105] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects millions of people in the Americas and across the world, leading to considerable morbidity and mortality. Current treatment options, benznidazole (BNZ) and nifurtimox, offer limited efficacy and often lead to adverse side effects because of long treatment durations. Better treatment options are therefore urgently required. Here, we describe a pyrrolopyrimidine series, identified through phenotypic screening, that offers an opportunity to improve on current treatments. In vitro cell-based washout assays demonstrate that compounds in the series are incapable of killing all parasites; however, combining these pyrrolopyrimidines with a subefficacious dose of BNZ can clear all parasites in vitro after 5 days. These findings were replicated in a clinically predictive in vivo model of chronic Chagas disease, where 5 days of treatment with the combination was sufficient to prevent parasite relapse. Comprehensive mechanism of action studies, supported by ligand-structure modeling, show that compounds from this pyrrolopyrimidine series inhibit the Qi active site of T. cruzi cytochrome b, part of the cytochrome bc1 complex of the electron transport chain. Knowledge of the molecular target enabled a cascade of assays to be assembled to evaluate selectivity over the human cytochrome b homolog. As a result, a highly selective and efficacious lead compound was identified. The combination of our lead compound with BNZ rapidly clears T. cruzi parasites, both in vitro and in vivo, and shows great potential to overcome key issues associated with currently available treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia González
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GSK, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Richard J. Wall
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - John Thomas
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | | | | | | | - Juan Cantizani
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GSK, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | | | | | - Ignacio Cotillo
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GSK, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose M. Fiandor
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GSK, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - John M. Kelly
- London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Albane Kessler
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GSK, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Chiara Luise
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | | | - Lorna MacLean
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Maria Marco
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GSK, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - J. Julio Martin
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GSK, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Christy Paterson
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Kevin D. Read
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | | | - Fabio Zuccotto
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Susan Wyllie
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Tim J. Miles
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GSK, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manu De Rycker
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Braillard S, Keenan M, Breese KJ, Heppell J, Abbott M, Islam R, Shackleford DM, Katneni K, Crighton E, Chen G, Patil R, Lee G, White KL, Carvalho S, Wall RJ, Chemi G, Zuccotto F, González S, Marco M, Deakyne J, Standing D, Brunori G, Lyon JJ, Castañeda Casado P, Camino I, Martinez MSM, Zulfiqar B, Avery VM, Feijens PB, Van Pelt N, Matheeussen A, Hendrickx S, Maes L, Caljon G, Yardley V, Wyllie S, Charman SA, Chatelain E. DNDI-6174 is a preclinical candidate for visceral leishmaniasis that targets the cytochrome bc 1. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadh9902. [PMID: 38091406 PMCID: PMC7615677 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adh9902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
New drugs for visceral leishmaniasis that are safe, low cost, and adapted to the field are urgently required. Despite concerted efforts over the last several years, the number of new chemical entities that are suitable for clinical development for the treatment of Leishmania remains low. Here, we describe the discovery and preclinical development of DNDI-6174, an inhibitor of Leishmania cytochrome bc1 complex activity that originated from a phenotypically identified pyrrolopyrimidine series. This compound fulfills all target candidate profile criteria required for progression into preclinical development. In addition to good metabolic stability and pharmacokinetic properties, DNDI-6174 demonstrates potent in vitro activity against a variety of Leishmania species and can reduce parasite burden in animal models of infection, with the potential to approach sterile cure. No major flags were identified in preliminary safety studies, including an exploratory 14-day toxicology study in the rat. DNDI-6174 is a cytochrome bc1 complex inhibitor with acceptable development properties to enter preclinical development for visceral leishmaniasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Braillard
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Jacob Heppell
- Epichem Pty Ltd, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Rafiqul Islam
- Epichem Pty Ltd, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - David M. Shackleford
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Kasiram Katneni
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Elly Crighton
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Gong Chen
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Rahul Patil
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Given Lee
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Karen L. White
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Wall
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Chemi
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Zuccotto
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia González
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid 28760, Spain
| | - Maria Marco
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid 28760, Spain
| | | | | | - Gino Brunori
- Global Investigative Safety, GSK, Ware, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Bilal Zulfiqar
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia 4111
| | - Vicky M. Avery
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia 4111
| | - Pim-Bart Feijens
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Natascha Van Pelt
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - An Matheeussen
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Sarah Hendrickx
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Vanessa Yardley
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Wyllie
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Susan A. Charman
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Laureano de Souza M, Lapierre TJWJD, Vitor de Lima Marques G, Ferraz WR, Penteado AB, Henrique Goulart Trossini G, Murta SMF, de Oliveira RB, de Oliveira Rezende C, Ferreira RS. Molecular targets for Chagas disease: validation, challenges and lead compounds for widely exploited targets. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:911-925. [PMID: 37772733 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2264512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease (CD) imposes social and economic burdens, yet the available treatments have limited efficacy in the disease's chronic phase and cause serious adverse effects. To address this challenge, target-based approaches are a possible strategy to develop new, safe, and active treatments for both phases of the disease. AREAS COVERED This review delves into target-based approaches applied to CD drug discovery, emphasizing the studies from the last five years. We highlight the proteins cruzain (CZ), trypanothione reductase (TR), sterol 14 α-demethylase (CPY51), iron superoxide dismutase (Fe-SOD), proteasome, cytochrome b (Cytb), and cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 3 (CPSF3), chosen based on their biological and chemical validation as drug targets. For each, we discuss its biological relevance and validation as a target, currently related challenges, and the status of the most promising inhibitors. EXPERT OPINION Target-based approaches toward developing potential CD therapeutics have yielded promising leads in recent years. We expect a significant advance in this field in the next decade, fueled by the new options for Trypanosoma cruzi genetic manipulation that arose in the past decade, combined with recent advances in computational chemistry and chemical biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Laureano de Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriel Vitor de Lima Marques
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Witor Ribeiro Ferraz
- Departamento de Farmacia, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André Berndt Penteado
- Departamento de Farmacia, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Renata Barbosa de Oliveira
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Rafaela Salgado Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rao SPS, Gould MK, Noeske J, Saldivia M, Jumani RS, Ng PS, René O, Chen YL, Kaiser M, Ritchie R, Francisco AF, Johnson N, Patra D, Cheung H, Deniston C, Schenk AD, Cortopassi WA, Schmidt RS, Wiedemar N, Thomas B, Palkar R, Ghafar NA, Manoharan V, Luu C, Gable JE, Wan KF, Myburgh E, Mottram JC, Barnes W, Walker J, Wartchow C, Aziz N, Osborne C, Wagner J, Sarko C, Kelly JM, Manjunatha UH, Mäser P, Jiricek J, Lakshminarayana SB, Barrett MP, Diagana TT. Cyanotriazoles are selective topoisomerase II poisons that rapidly cure trypanosome infections. Science 2023; 380:1349-1356. [PMID: 37384702 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh0614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Millions who live in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa are at risk of trypanosomatid infections, which cause Chagas disease and human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). Improved HAT treatments are available, but Chagas disease therapies rely on two nitroheterocycles, which suffer from lengthy drug regimens and safety concerns that cause frequent treatment discontinuation. We performed phenotypic screening against trypanosomes and identified a class of cyanotriazoles (CTs) with potent trypanocidal activity both in vitro and in mouse models of Chagas disease and HAT. Cryo-electron microscopy approaches confirmed that CT compounds acted through selective, irreversible inhibition of trypanosomal topoisomerase II by stabilizing double-stranded DNA:enzyme cleavage complexes. These findings suggest a potential approach toward successful therapeutics for the treatment of Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasa P S Rao
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Singapore
| | - Matthew K Gould
- College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jonas Noeske
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Manuel Saldivia
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Rajiv S Jumani
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Pearly S Ng
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Singapore
| | - Olivier René
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Yen-Liang Chen
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Singapore
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ryan Ritchie
- College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Nila Johnson
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Debjani Patra
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Harry Cheung
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Colin Deniston
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Remo S Schmidt
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Natalie Wiedemar
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bryanna Thomas
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Rima Palkar
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Catherine Luu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan E Gable
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Kah Fei Wan
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Singapore
| | - Elmarie Myburgh
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Jeremy C Mottram
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Whitney Barnes
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - John Walker
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Charles Wartchow
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Natasha Aziz
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Colin Osborne
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Juergen Wagner
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Singapore
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christopher Sarko
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - John M Kelly
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ujjini H Manjunatha
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Singapore
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan Jiricek
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Singapore
| | - Suresh B Lakshminarayana
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Singapore
| | - Michael P Barrett
- College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thierry T Diagana
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fairlamb AH, Wyllie S. The critical role of mode of action studies in kinetoplastid drug discovery. FRONTIERS IN DRUG DISCOVERY 2023; 3:fddsv.2023.1185679. [PMID: 37600222 PMCID: PMC7614965 DOI: 10.3389/fddsv.2023.1185679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the target and mode of action of compounds identified by phenotypic screening can greatly facilitate the process of drug discovery and development. Here, we outline the tools currently available for target identification against the neglected tropical diseases, human African trypanosomiasis, visceral leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease. We provide examples how these tools can be used to identify and triage undesirable mechanisms, to identify potential toxic liabilities in patients and to manage a balanced portfolio of target-based campaigns. We review the primary targets of drugs that are currently in clinical development that were initially identified via phenotypic screening, and whose modes of action affect protein turnover, RNA trans-splicing or signalling in these protozoan parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan H. Fairlamb
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Wyllie
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Won MM, Krüger T, Engstler M, Burleigh BA. The Intracellular Amastigote of Trypanosoma cruzi Maintains an Actively Beating Flagellum. mBio 2023; 14:e0355622. [PMID: 36840555 PMCID: PMC10128032 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03556-22] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout its complex life cycle, the uniflagellate parasitic protist, Trypanosoma cruzi, adapts to different host environments by transitioning between elongated motile extracellular stages and a nonmotile intracellular amastigote stage that replicates in the cytoplasm of mammalian host cells. Intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes retain a short flagellum that extends beyond the opening of the flagellar pocket with access to the extracellular milieu. Contrary to the long-held view that the T. cruzi amastigote flagellum is inert, we report that this organelle is motile and displays quasiperiodic beating inside mammalian host cells. Kymograph analysis determined an average flagellar beat frequency of ~0.7 Hz for intracellular amastigotes and similar beat frequencies for extracellular amastigotes following their isolation from host cells. Inhibitor studies reveal that flagellar motility in T. cruzi amastigotes is critically dependent on parasite mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. These novel observations reveal that flagellar motility is an intrinsic property of T. cruzi amastigotes and suggest that this organelle may play an active role in the parasite infection process. IMPORTANCE Understanding the interplay between intracellular pathogens and their hosts is vital to the development of new treatments and preventive strategies. The intracellular "amastigote" stage of the Chagas disease parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, is a critical but understudied parasitic life stage. Previous work established that cytosolically localized T. cruzi amastigotes engage physically and selectively with host mitochondria using their short, single flagellum. The current study was initiated to examine the dynamics of the parasite flagellum-host mitochondrial interaction through live confocal imaging and led to the unexpected discovery that the T. cruzi amastigote flagellum is motile.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madalyn M. Won
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Timothy Krüger
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Engstler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biozentrum, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Barbara A. Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rao SPS, Manjunatha UH, Mikolajczak S, Ashigbie PG, Diagana TT. Drug discovery for parasitic diseases: powered by technology, enabled by pharmacology, informed by clinical science. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:260-271. [PMID: 36803572 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
While prevention is a bedrock of public health, innovative therapeutics are needed to complement the armamentarium of interventions required to achieve disease control and elimination targets for neglected diseases. Extraordinary advances in drug discovery technologies have occurred over the past decades, along with accumulation of scientific knowledge and experience in pharmacological and clinical sciences that are transforming many aspects of drug R&D across disciplines. We reflect on how these advances have propelled drug discovery for parasitic infections, focusing on malaria, kinetoplastid diseases, and cryptosporidiosis. We also discuss challenges and research priorities to accelerate discovery and development of urgently needed novel antiparasitic drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paul G Ashigbie
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Emeryville, CA, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
In silico investigation of cytochrome bc1 molecular inhibition mechanism against Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010545. [PMID: 36689459 PMCID: PMC9894551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas' disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the kinetoplastid protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The only therapies are the nitroheterocyclic chemicals nifurtimox and benznidazole that cause various adverse effects. The need to create safe and effective medications to improve medical care remains critical. The lack of verified T. cruzi therapeutic targets hinders medication research for Chagas' disease. In this respect, cytochrome bc1 has been identified as a promising therapeutic target candidate for antibacterial medicines of medical and agricultural interest. Cytochrome bc1 belongs to the mitochondrial electron transport chain and transfers electrons from ubiquinol to cytochrome c1 by the action of two catalytic sites named Qi and Qo. The two binding sites are highly selective, and specific inhibitors exist for each site. Recent studies identified the Qi site of the cytochrome bc1 as a promising drug target against T. cruzi. However, a lack of knowledge of the drug mechanism of action unfortunately hinders the development of new therapies. In this context, knowing the cause of binding site selectivity and the mechanism of action of inhibitors and substrates is crucial for drug discovery and optimization processes. In this paper, we provide a detailed computational investigation of the Qi site of T. cruzi cytochrome b to shed light on the molecular mechanism of action of known inhibitors and substrates. Our study emphasizes the action of inhibitors at the Qi site on a highly unstructured portion of cytochrome b that could be related to the biological function of the electron transport chain complex.
Collapse
|
12
|
Kratz JM, Gonçalves KR, Romera LM, Moraes CB, Bittencourt-Cunha P, Schenkman S, Chatelain E, Sosa-Estani S. The translational challenge in Chagas disease drug development. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e200501. [PMID: 35613156 PMCID: PMC9128742 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. There is an urgent need for safe, effective, and accessible new treatments since the currently approved drugs have serious limitations. Drug development for Chagas disease has historically been hampered by the complexity of the disease, critical knowledge gaps, and lack of coordinated R&D efforts. This review covers some of the translational challenges associated with the progression of new chemical entities from preclinical to clinical phases of development, and discusses how recent technological advances might allow the research community to answer key questions relevant to the disease and to overcome hurdles in R&D for Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jadel M Kratz
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karolina R Gonçalves
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Lavínia Md Romera
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Carolina Borsoi Moraes
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Diadema, SP, Brasil
| | - Paula Bittencourt-Cunha
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Sosa-Estani
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland.,Epidemiology and Public Health Research Centre, CIESP-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
de Oliveira RG, Cruz LR, Mollo MC, Dias LC, Kratz JM. Chagas Disease Drug Discovery in Latin America-A Mini Review of Antiparasitic Agents Explored Between 2010 and 2021. Front Chem 2021; 9:771143. [PMID: 34778217 PMCID: PMC8581468 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.771143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that endangers almost 70 million people worldwide. The only two drugs that are currently approved for its treatment, benznidazole and nifurtimox, have controversial efficacy in adults and restricting safety issues, leaving thousands of patients without a suitable treatment. The neglect of Chagas disease is further illustrated by the lack of a robust and diverse drug discovery and development portfolio of new chemical entities, and it is of paramount importance to build a strong research and development network for antichagasic drugs. Focusing on drug discovery programs led by scientists based in Latin America, the main endemic region for this disease, we discuss herein what has been published in the last decade in terms of identification of new antiparasitic drugs to treat Chagas disease, shining a spotlight on the origin, chemical diversity, level of characterization of hits, and strategies used for optimization of lead compounds. Finally, we identify strengths and weaknesses in these drug discovery campaigns and highlight the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramon G. de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Luiza R. Cruz
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - María C. Mollo
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Luiz C. Dias
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Jadel M. Kratz
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gahura O, Hierro-Yap C, Zíková A. Redesigned and reversed: architectural and functional oddities of the trypanosomal ATP synthase. Parasitology 2021; 148:1151-1160. [PMID: 33551002 PMCID: PMC8311965 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021000202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial F-type adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthases are commonly introduced as highly conserved membrane-embedded rotary machines generating the majority of cellular ATP. This simplified view neglects recently revealed striking compositional diversity of the enzyme and the fact that in specific life stages of some parasites, the physiological role of the enzyme is to maintain the mitochondrial membrane potential at the expense of ATP rather than to produce ATP. In addition, mitochondrial ATP synthases contribute indirectly to the organelle's other functions because they belong to major determinants of submitochondrial morphology. Here, we review current knowledge about the trypanosomal ATP synthase composition and architecture in the context of recent advances in the structural characterization of counterpart enzymes from several eukaryotic supergroups. We also discuss the physiological function of mitochondrial ATP synthases in three trypanosomatid parasites, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania, with a focus on their disease-causing life cycle stages. We highlight the reversed proton-pumping role of the ATP synthase in the T. brucei bloodstream form, the enzyme's potential link to the regulation of parasite's glycolysis and its role in generating mitochondrial membrane potential in the absence of mitochondrial DNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Gahura
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Carolina Hierro-Yap
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Zíková
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Parab AR, McCall LI. Tryp-ing Up Metabolism: Role of Metabolic Adaptations in Kinetoplastid Disease Pathogenesis. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e00644-20. [PMID: 33526564 PMCID: PMC8090971 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00644-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Today, more than a billion people-one-sixth of the world's population-are suffering from neglected tropical diseases. Human African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis are neglected tropical diseases caused by protozoan parasites belonging to the genera Trypanosoma and Leishmania About half a million people living in tropical and subtropical regions of the world are at risk of contracting one of these three infections. Kinetoplastids have complex life cycles with different morphologies and unique physiological requirements at each life cycle stage. This review covers the latest findings on metabolic pathways impacting disease pathogenesis of kinetoplastids within the mammalian host. Nutrient availability is a key factor shaping in vivo parasite metabolism; thus, kinetoplastids display significant metabolic flexibility. Proteomic and transcriptomic profiles show that intracellular trypanosomatids are able to switch to an energy-efficient metabolism within the mammalian host system. Host metabolic changes can also favor parasite persistence, and contribute to symptom development, in a location-specific fashion. Ultimately, targeted and untargeted metabolomics studies have been a valuable approach to elucidate the specific biochemical pathways affected by infection within the host, leading to translational drug development and diagnostic insights.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adwaita R Parab
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Dumoulin PC, Vollrath J, Tomko SS, Wang JX, Burleigh B. Glutamine metabolism modulates azole susceptibility in Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes. eLife 2020; 9:60226. [PMID: 33258448 PMCID: PMC7707839 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying resistance of the Chagas disease parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, to current therapies are not well understood, including the role of metabolic heterogeneity. We found that limiting exogenous glutamine protects actively dividing amastigotes from ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors (azoles), independent of parasite growth rate. The antiparasitic properties of azoles are derived from inhibition of lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) in the endogenous sterol synthesis pathway. We find that carbons from 13C-glutamine feed into amastigote sterols and into metabolic intermediates that accumulate upon CYP51 inhibition. Incorporation of 13C-glutamine into endogenously synthesized sterols is increased with BPTES treatment, an inhibitor of host glutamine metabolism that sensitizes amastigotes to azoles. Similarly, amastigotes are re-sensitized to azoles following addition of metabolites upstream of CYP51, raising the possibility that flux through the sterol synthesis pathway is a determinant of sensitivity to azoles and highlighting the potential role for metabolic heterogeneity in recalcitrant T. cruzi infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Dumoulin
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
| | - Joshua Vollrath
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States.,Institute for Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sheena Shah Tomko
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
| | - Jennifer X Wang
- Harvard Center for Mass Spectrometry, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | - Barbara Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Van den Kerkhof M, Sterckx YGJ, Leprohon P, Maes L, Caljon G. Experimental Strategies to Explore Drug Action and Resistance in Kinetoplastid Parasites. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E950. [PMID: 32599761 PMCID: PMC7356981 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastids are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis, and American trypanosomiasis. They are responsible for high mortality and morbidity in (sub)tropical regions. Adequate treatment options are limited and have several drawbacks, such as toxicity, need for parenteral administration, and occurrence of treatment failure and drug resistance. Therefore, there is an urgency for the development of new drugs. Phenotypic screening already allowed the identification of promising new chemical entities with anti-kinetoplastid activity potential, but knowledge on their mode-of-action (MoA) is lacking due to the generally applied whole-cell based approach. However, identification of the drug target is essential to steer further drug discovery and development. Multiple complementary techniques have indeed been used for MoA elucidation. In this review, the different 'omics' approaches employed to define the MoA or mode-of-resistance of current reference drugs and some new anti-kinetoplastid compounds are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magali Van den Kerkhof
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (M.V.d.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Yann G.-J. Sterckx
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry (LMB), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;
| | - Philippe Leprohon
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (M.V.d.K.); (L.M.)
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (M.V.d.K.); (L.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Dziwornu GA, Attram HD, Gachuhi S, Chibale K. Chemotherapy for human schistosomiasis: how far have we come? What's new? Where do we go from here? RSC Med Chem 2020; 11:455-490. [PMID: 33479649 PMCID: PMC7593896 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00062k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, schistosomiasis threatens more than 700 million lives, mostly children, in poor localities of tropical and sub-tropical areas with morbidity due to acute and chronic pathological manifestations of the disease. After a century since the first antimonial-based drugs were introduced to treat the disease, anti-schistosomiasis drug development is again at a bottleneck with only one drug, praziquantel, available for treatment purposes. This review focuses on promising chemotypes as potential starting points in a drug discovery effort to meet the urgent need for new schistosomicides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Godwin Akpeko Dziwornu
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa . ; Tel: +27 21 6502553
| | - Henrietta Dede Attram
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa . ; Tel: +27 21 6502553
| | - Samuel Gachuhi
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa . ; Tel: +27 21 6502553
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa . ; Tel: +27 21 6502553
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Wall RJ, Carvalho S, Milne R, Bueren-Calabuig JA, Moniz S, Cantizani-Perez J, MacLean L, Kessler A, Cotillo I, Sastry L, Manthri S, Patterson S, Zuccotto F, Thompson S, Martin J, Marco M, Miles TJ, De Rycker M, Thomas MG, Fairlamb AH, Gilbert IH, Wyllie S. The Q i Site of Cytochrome b is a Promiscuous Drug Target in Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania donovani. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:515-528. [PMID: 31967783 PMCID: PMC7076694 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Available treatments for Chagas' disease and visceral leishmaniasis are inadequate, and there is a pressing need for new therapeutics. Drug discovery efforts for both diseases principally rely upon phenotypic screening. However, the optimization of phenotypically active compounds is hindered by a lack of information regarding their molecular target(s). To combat this issue we initiate target deconvolution studies at an early stage. Here, we describe comprehensive genetic and biochemical studies to determine the targets of three unrelated phenotypically active compounds. All three structurally diverse compounds target the Qi active-site of cytochrome b, part of the cytochrome bc1 complex of the electron transport chain. Our studies go on to identify the Qi site as a promiscuous drug target in Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma cruzi with a propensity to rapidly mutate. Strategies to rapidly identify compounds acting via this mechanism are discussed to ensure that drug discovery portfolios are not overwhelmed with inhibitors of a single target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J. Wall
- Division of Biological
Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives
Research, School of Life Sciences, University
of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1
5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Division of Biological
Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives
Research, School of Life Sciences, University
of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1
5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Milne
- Division of Biological
Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives
Research, School of Life Sciences, University
of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1
5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Juan A. Bueren-Calabuig
- Drug Discovery Unit,
Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Moniz
- Division of Biological
Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives
Research, School of Life Sciences, University
of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1
5EH, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lorna MacLean
- Drug Discovery Unit,
Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Albane Kessler
- Global Health R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos 28760, Spain
| | - Ignacio Cotillo
- Global Health R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos 28760, Spain
| | - Lalitha Sastry
- Drug Discovery Unit,
Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Sujatha Manthri
- Drug Discovery Unit,
Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Patterson
- Division of Biological
Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives
Research, School of Life Sciences, University
of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1
5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Zuccotto
- Drug Discovery Unit,
Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Thompson
- Drug Discovery Unit,
Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Julio Martin
- Global Health R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos 28760, Spain
| | - Maria Marco
- Global Health R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos 28760, Spain
| | | | - Manu De Rycker
- Drug Discovery Unit,
Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Michael G. Thomas
- Drug Discovery Unit,
Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Alan H. Fairlamb
- Division of Biological
Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives
Research, School of Life Sciences, University
of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1
5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Ian H. Gilbert
- Drug Discovery Unit,
Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Wyllie
- Division of Biological
Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives
Research, School of Life Sciences, University
of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1
5EH, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
AbstractDuring three decades, only about 20 new drugs have been developed for malaria, tuberculosis and all neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This critical situation was reached because NTDs represent only 10% of health research investments; however, they comprise about 90% of the global disease burden. Computational simulations applied in virtual screening (VS) strategies are very efficient tools to identify pharmacologically active compounds or new indications for drugs already administered for other diseases. One of the advantages of this approach is the low time-consuming and low-budget first stage, which filters for testing experimentally a group of candidate compounds with high chances of binding to the target and present trypanocidal activity. In this work, we review the most common VS strategies that have been used for the identification of new drugs with special emphasis on those applied to trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis. Computational simulations based on the selected protein targets or their ligands are explained, including the method selection criteria, examples of successful VS campaigns applied to NTDs, a list of validated molecular targets for drug development and repositioned drugs for trypanosomatid-caused diseases. Thereby, here we present the state-of-the-art of VS and drug repurposing to conclude pointing out the future perspectives in the field.
Collapse
|
21
|
Villalta F, Rachakonda G. Advances in preclinical approaches to Chagas disease drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2019; 14:1161-1174. [PMID: 31411084 PMCID: PMC6779130 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2019.1652593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Chagas disease affects 8-10 million people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. The current therapy for Chagas disease is limited to nifurtimox and benznidazole, which are effective in treating only the acute phase of the disease but with severe side effects. Therefore, there is an unmet need for new drugs and for the exploration of innovative approaches which may lead to the discovery of new effective and safe drugs for its treatment. Areas covered: The authors report and discuss recent approaches including structure-based design that have led to the discovery of new promising small molecule candidates for Chagas disease which affect prime targets that intervene in the sterol pathway of T. cruzi. Other trypanosome targets, phenotypic screening, the use of artificial intelligence and the challenges with Chagas disease drug discovery are also discussed. Expert opinion: The application of recent scientific innovations to the field of Chagas disease have led to the discovery of new promising drug candidates for Chagas disease. Phenotypic screening brought new hits and opportunities for drug discovery. Artificial intelligence also has the potential to accelerate drug discovery in Chagas disease and further research into this is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Villalta
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College , Nashville , TN , USA
| | - Girish Rachakonda
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College , Nashville , TN , USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Cowell AN, Winzeler EA. Advances in omics-based methods to identify novel targets for malaria and other parasitic protozoan infections. Genome Med 2019; 11:63. [PMID: 31640748 PMCID: PMC6805675 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-019-0673-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
A major advance in antimalarial drug discovery has been the shift towards cell-based phenotypic screening, with notable progress in the screening of compounds against the asexual blood stage, liver stage, and gametocytes. A primary method for drug target deconvolution in Plasmodium falciparum is in vitro evolution of compound-resistant parasites followed by whole-genome scans. Several of the most promising antimalarial drug targets, such as translation elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and phenylalanine tRNA synthetase (PheRS), have been identified or confirmed using this method. One drawback of this method is that if a mutated gene is uncharacterized, a substantial effort may be required to determine whether it is a drug target, a drug resistance gene, or if the mutation is merely a background mutation. Thus, the availability of high-throughput, functional genomic datasets can greatly assist with target deconvolution. Studies mapping genome-wide essentiality in P. falciparum or performing transcriptional profiling of the host and parasite during liver-stage infection with P. berghei have identified potentially druggable pathways. Advances in mapping the epigenomic regulation of the malaria parasite genome have also enabled the identification of key processes involved in parasite development. In addition, the examination of the host genome during infection has identified novel gene candidates associated with susceptibility to severe malaria. Here, we review recent studies that have used omics-based methods to identify novel targets for interventions against protozoan parasites, focusing on malaria, and we highlight the advantages and limitations of the approaches used. These approaches have also been extended to other protozoan pathogens, including Toxoplasma, Trypanosoma, and Leishmania spp., and these studies highlight how drug discovery efforts against these pathogens benefit from the utilization of diverse omics-based methods to identify promising drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annie N Cowell
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Mounkoro P, Michel T, Benhachemi R, Surpateanu G, Iorga BI, Fisher N, Meunier B. Mitochondrial complex III Q i -site inhibitor resistance mutations found in laboratory selected mutants and field isolates. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2019; 75:2107-2114. [PMID: 30426681 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complex III inhibitors targeting the Qi -site have been known for decades; some are used or being developed as antimicrobial compounds. Target site resistance mutations have been reported in laboratory-selected mutants and in field isolates. Here, we present a brief overview of mutations found in laboratory-selected resistant mutants. We also provide a study of mutations observed in field isolates of Plasmopara viticola, in particular the ametoctradin resistance substitution, S34L that we analysed in the yeast model. RESULTS A survey of laboratory mutants showed that resistance could be caused by a large number of substitutions in the Qi -site. Four residues seemed key in term of resistance: N31, G37, L198 and K228. Using yeast, we analysed the effect of the ametoctradin resistance substitution S34L reported in field isolates of P. viticola. We showed that S34L caused a high level of resistance combined with a loss of complex III activity and growth competence. CONCLUSION Use of single site Qi -site inhibitors is expected to result in the selection of resistant mutants. However, if the substitution is associated with a fitness penalty, as may be the case with S34L, resistance development might not be an insuperable obstacle, although careful monitoring is required. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Mounkoro
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Thomas Michel
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Rafik Benhachemi
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Georgiana Surpateanu
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS, UPR 2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Labex LERMIT, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Bogdan I Iorga
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS, UPR 2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Labex LERMIT, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Nicholas Fisher
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Brigitte Meunier
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
To kill a piroplasm: genetic technologies to advance drug discovery and target identification in Babesia. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:153-163. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
|
25
|
Mayoka G, Njoroge M, Okombo J, Gibhard L, Sanches-Vaz M, Fontinha D, Birkholtz LM, Reader J, van der Watt M, Coetzer TL, Lauterbach S, Churchyard A, Bezuidenhout B, Egan TJ, Yeates C, Wittlin S, Prudêncio M, Chibale K. Structure–Activity Relationship Studies and Plasmodium Life Cycle Profiling Identifies Pan-Active N-Aryl-3-trifluoromethyl Pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles Which Are Efficacious in an in Vivo Mouse Model of Malaria. J Med Chem 2018; 62:1022-1035. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey Mayoka
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - John Okombo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Margarida Sanches-Vaz
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Diana Fontinha
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Mariëtte van der Watt
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Theresa L. Coetzer
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Sonja Lauterbach
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Belinda Bezuidenhout
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Timothy J. Egan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Clive Yeates
- Inpharma
Consultancy, 6 Dudley Hill Close, Welwyn, Hertfordshire AL60QQ, U.K
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council, Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Qu C, Zhang S, Wang W, Li M, Wang Y, van der Heijde-Mulder M, Shokrollahi E, Hakim MS, Raat NJH, Peppelenbosch MP, Pan Q. Mitochondrial electron transport chain complex III sustains hepatitis E virus replication and represents an antiviral target. FASEB J 2018; 33:1008-1019. [PMID: 30070932 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201800620r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has emerged as a global health problem. However, no approved medication is available, and the infection biology remains largely elusive. Electron transport chain (ETC), a key component of the mitochondria, is the main site that produces ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS). By profiling the role of the different complexes of the mitochondrial ETC, we found that pharmacological inhibition of complex III, a well-defined drug target for the treatment of malaria and Pneumocystis pneumonia, potently restricts HEV replication. This effect demonstrated in our HEV models is equivalent to the anti-HEV potency of ribavirin, a widely used off-label treatment for patients with chronic HEV. Mechanistically, we found that this effect is independent of ATP production, ROS level, and pyridine depletion. By using pharmacological inhibitors and genetic approaches, we found that mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), a newly identified component of ETC, provides basal defense against HEV infection. HEV interferes with the opening of the MPTP. Furthermore, inhibition of the MPTP attenuated the anti-HEV effect of complex III inhibitors, suggesting that the MPTP mediates the antiviral effects of these inhibitors. These findings reveal new insights on HEV-host interactions and provide viable anti-HEV targets for therapeutic development.-Qu, C., Zhang, S., Wang, W., Li, M., Wang, Y., van der Heijde-Mulder, M., Shokrollahi, E., Hakim, M. S., Raat, N. J. H., Peppelenbosch, M. P., Pan, Q. Mitochondrial electron transport chain complex III sustains hepatitis E virus replication and represents an antiviral target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changbo Qu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Shaoshi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wenshi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Meng Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yijin Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pathology and Hepatology, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, China
| | | | - Ehsan Shokrollahi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Experimental Anesthesiology, The Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and
| | - Mohamad S Hakim
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Nicolaas J H Raat
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Experimental Anesthesiology, The Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and
| | - Maikel P Peppelenbosch
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Qiuwei Pan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Dumoulin PC, Burleigh BA. Stress-Induced Proliferation and Cell Cycle Plasticity of Intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi Amastigotes. mBio 2018; 9:e00673-18. [PMID: 29991586 PMCID: PMC6050952 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00673-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian stages of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, exhibit a wide host species range and extensive within-host tissue distribution. These features, coupled with the ability of the parasites to persist for the lifetime of the host, suggest an inherent capacity to tolerate changing environments. To examine this potential, we studied proliferation and cell cycle dynamics of intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes experiencing transient metabolic perturbation or drug pressure in the context of an infected mammalian host cell. Parasite growth plasticity was evident and characterized by rapid and reversible suppression of amastigote proliferation in response to exogenous nutrient restriction or exposure to metabolic inhibitors that target glucose metabolism or mitochondrial respiration. In most instances, reduced parasite proliferation was accompanied by the accumulation of amastigote populations in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, in a manner that was rapidly and fully reversible upon release from the metabolic block. Acute amastigote cell cycle changes at the G1 stage were similarly observed following exposure to sublethal concentrations of the first-line therapy drug, benznidazole, and yet, unlike the results seen with inhibitors of metabolism, recovery from exposure occurred at rates inversely proportional to the concentration of benznidazole. Our results show that T. cruzi amastigote growth plasticity is an important aspect of parasite adaptation to stress, including drug pressure, and is an important consideration for growth-based drug screening.IMPORTANCE Infection with the intracellular parasite Trypanosoma cruzi can cause debilitating and potentially life-threatening Chagas disease, where long-term parasite persistence is a critical determinant of clinical disease progression. Such tissue-resident T. cruzi amastigotes are refractory to immune-mediated clearance and to drug treatment, suggesting that in addition to exploiting immune avoidance mechanisms, amastigotes can facilitate their survival by adapting flexibly to diverse environmental stressors. We discovered that T. cruzi intracellular amastigotes exhibit growth plasticity as a strategy to adapt to and rebound from environmental stressors, including metabolic blockades, nutrient starvation, and sublethal exposure to the first-line therapy drug benznidazole. These findings have important implications for understanding parasite persistence, informing drug development, and interpreting drug efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Dumoulin
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Barbara A Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal drug identification. Emerg Top Life Sci 2017; 1:613-620. [PMID: 33525851 DOI: 10.1042/etls20170103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Although the treatments for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), leishmaniasis and Chagas disease (CD) still rely on drugs developed several decades ago, there has been significant progress in the identification, development and use of novel drugs and formulations. Notably, there are now two drugs in clinical trial for HAT, fexinidazole and acoziborole; the liposomal amphotericin B formulation AmBisome has become an essential tool for both treatment and control of visceral leishmaniasis; and antifungal triazoles, posoconazole and ravuconazole, together with fexinidazole, have reached clinical trials for CD. Several other novel and diverse candidates are moving through the pipeline; sustained funding for their clinical development will now be the key to bring new safe, oral, shorter-course treatments to the clinic.
Collapse
|
29
|
Chatelain E, Ioset JR. Phenotypic screening approaches for Chagas disease drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2017; 13:141-153. [PMID: 29235363 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2018.1417380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a global public health issue. Current treatments targeting the parasite are limited to two old nitroheterocyclic drugs with serious side effects. The need for new and safer drugs has prompted numerous drug discovery efforts to identify compounds suitable for parasitological cure in the last decade. Areas covered: Target-based drug discovery has been limited by the small number of well-validated targets - the latest example being the failure of azoles, T. cruzi CYP51 inhibitors, in proof-of-concept clinical trials; instead phenotypic-based drug discovery has become the main pillar of Chagas R&D. Rather than focusing on the technical features of these screening assays, the authors describe the different assays developed and available in the field, and provide a critical view on their values and limitations in the screening cascade for Chagas drug development. Expert opinion: The application of technological advances to the field of Chagas disease has led to a variety of phenotypic assays that have not only changed the disease discovery landscape but have also helped us to gain a better understanding of parasite/host interactions. Recent examples of target resolution from phenotypic hits will uncover new opportunities for drug discovery for Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chatelain
- a Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), R&D Department , Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Jean-Robert Ioset
- a Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), R&D Department , Geneva , Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Modulation of host central carbon metabolism and in situ glucose uptake by intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006747. [PMID: 29176805 PMCID: PMC5720825 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Obligate intracellular pathogens satisfy their nutrient requirements by coupling to host metabolic processes, often modulating these pathways to facilitate access to key metabolites. Such metabolic dependencies represent potential targets for pathogen control, but remain largely uncharacterized for the intracellular protozoan parasite and causative agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. Perturbations in host central carbon and energy metabolism have been reported in mammalian T. cruzi infection, with no information regarding the impact of host metabolic changes on the intracellular amastigote life stage. Here, we performed cell-based studies to elucidate the interplay between infection with intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes and host cellular energy metabolism. T. cruzi infection of non-phagocytic cells was characterized by increased glucose uptake into infected cells and increased mitochondrial respiration and mitochondrial biogenesis. While intracellular amastigote growth was unaffected by decreased host respiratory capacity, restriction of extracellular glucose impaired amastigote proliferation and sensitized parasites to further growth inhibition by 2-deoxyglucose. These observations led us to consider whether intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes utilize glucose directly as a substrate to fuel metabolism. Consistent with this prediction, isolated T. cruzi amastigotes transport extracellular glucose with kinetics similar to trypomastigotes, with subsequent metabolism as demonstrated in 13C-glucose labeling and substrate utilization assays. Metabolic labeling of T. cruzi-infected cells further demonstrated the ability of intracellular parasites to access host hexose pools in situ. These findings are consistent with a model in which intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes capitalize on the host metabolic response to parasite infection, including the increase in glucose uptake, to fuel their own metabolism and replication in the host cytosol. Our findings enrich current views regarding available carbon sources for intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes and underscore the metabolic flexibility of this pathogen, a feature predicted to underlie successful colonization of tissues with distinct metabolic profiles in the mammalian host. The kinetoplastid protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, is a highly successful parasite with a broad mammalian host range and the capacity to colonize a variety of tissues within a given host to establish life-long infection. T. cruzi infection causes Chagas disease in humans, characterized by severe cardiomyopathy and gastrointestinal motility disorders, with limited treatment options. Despite the critical role of T. cruzi amastigotes in sustaining mammalian infection, little is known about their metabolic requirements or the range of nutrients available to these parasites in the host cell cytoplasm. Here, we demonstrate that T. cruzi infection triggers a host response in infected cells that includes increased mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis and increased glucose uptake into infected cells. We show that exogenous glucose supports optimal intracellular parasite replication and that cytosolic T. cruzi amastigotes access glucose in situ, potentially via a facilitated transport process characterized here. These findings expand our view of the range of carbons available to the intracellular parasite and suggest even greater metabolic flexibility of the tissue-infective stages of T. cruzi than previously appreciated, a capability predicted to contribute to successful host colonization.
Collapse
|
31
|
Okombo J, Singh K, Mayoka G, Ndubi F, Barnard L, Njogu PM, Njoroge M, Gibhard L, Brunschwig C, Vargas M, Keiser J, Egan TJ, Chibale K. Antischistosomal Activity of Pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole Derivatives and Correlation with Inhibition of β-Hematin Formation. ACS Infect Dis 2017; 3:411-420. [PMID: 28440625 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The extensive use of praziquantel against schistosomiasis raises concerns about drug resistance. New therapeutic alternatives targeting critical pathways within the parasite are therefore urgently needed. Hemozoin formation in Schistosoma presents one such target. We assessed the in vitro antischistosomal activity of pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles (PBIs) and investigated correlations with their ability to inhibit β-hematin formation. We further evaluated the in vivo efficacy of representative compounds in experimental mice and conducted pharmacokinetic analysis on the most potent. At 10 μM, 48/57 compounds resulted in >70% mortality of newly transformed schistosomula, whereas 37 of these maintained >60% mortality of adult S. mansoni. No correlations were observed between β-hematin inhibitory and antischistosomal activities against both larval and adult parasites, suggesting possible presence of other target(s) or a mode of inhibition of crystal formation that is not adequately modeled by the assay. The most active compound in vivo showed 58.7 and 61.3% total and female worm burden reduction, respectively. Pharmacokinetic analysis suggested solubility-limited absorption and high hepatic clearance as possible contributors to the modest efficacy despite good in vitro activity. The PBIs evaluated in this report thus merit further optimization to improve their efficacy and to elucidate their possible mode of action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Okombo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Kawaljit Singh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Godfrey Mayoka
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Ferdinand Ndubi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Linley Barnard
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Peter M. Njogu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676, Nairobi 00202, Kenya
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D),
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D),
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Christel Brunschwig
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D),
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Mireille Vargas
- Department of Medical Parasitology and
Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and
Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timothy J. Egan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council,
Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Ottilie S, Goldgof GM, Calvet CM, Jennings GK, LaMonte G, Schenken J, Vigil E, Kumar P, McCall LI, Lopes ESC, Gunawan F, Yang J, Suzuki Y, Siqueira-Neto JL, McKerrow JH, Amaro RE, Podust LM, Durrant JD, Winzeler EA. Rapid Chagas Disease Drug Target Discovery Using Directed Evolution in Drug-Sensitive Yeast. ACS Chem Biol 2017; 12:422-434. [PMID: 27977118 PMCID: PMC5649375 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.6b01037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in cell-based, high-throughput phenotypic screening have identified new chemical compounds that are active against eukaryotic pathogens. A challenge to their future development lies in identifying these compounds' molecular targets and binding modes. In particular, subsequent structure-based chemical optimization and target-based screening require a detailed understanding of the binding event. Here, we use directed evolution and whole-genome sequencing of a drug-sensitive S. cerevisiae strain to identify the yeast ortholog of TcCyp51, lanosterol-14-alpha-demethylase (TcCyp51), as the target of MMV001239, a benzamide compound with activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. We show that parasites treated with MMV0001239 phenocopy parasites treated with another TcCyp51 inhibitor, posaconazole, accumulating both lanosterol and eburicol. Direct drug-protein binding of MMV0001239 was confirmed through spectrophotometric binding assays and X-ray crystallography, revealing a binding site shared with other antitrypanosomal compounds that target Cyp51. These studies provide a new probe chemotype for TcCyp51 inhibition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Ottilie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Gregory M Goldgof
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter Institute , La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Claudia Magalhaes Calvet
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Cellular Ultrastructure Laboratory, IOC, FIOCRUZ , Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21045-360
| | - Gareth K Jennings
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Greg LaMonte
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jake Schenken
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Edgar Vigil
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Prianka Kumar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Eduardo Soares Constantino Lopes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Paraná , Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil 80210-170
| | - Felicia Gunawan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jennifer Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Yo Suzuki
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter Institute , La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Jair L Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - James H McKerrow
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Rommie E Amaro
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093-0340, United States
| | - Larissa M Podust
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jacob D Durrant
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine , La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Singh K, Okombo J, Brunschwig C, Ndubi F, Barnard L, Wilkinson C, Njogu PM, Njoroge M, Laing L, Machado M, Prudêncio M, Reader J, Botha M, Nondaba S, Birkholtz LM, Lauterbach S, Churchyard A, Coetzer TL, Burrows JN, Yeates C, Denti P, Wiesner L, Egan TJ, Wittlin S, Chibale K. Antimalarial Pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles: Lead Optimization, Parasite Life Cycle Stage Profile, Mechanistic Evaluation, Killing Kinetics, and in Vivo Oral Efficacy in a Mouse Model. J Med Chem 2017; 60:1432-1448. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kawaljit Singh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry
and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - John Okombo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Christel Brunschwig
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, South Africa
| | - Ferdinand Ndubi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Linley Barnard
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Chad Wilkinson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Peter M. Njogu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676, Nairobi, 00202, Kenya
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, South Africa
| | - Lizahn Laing
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, South Africa
| | - Marta Machado
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade
de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade
de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Mariette Botha
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Sindisiwe Nondaba
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Sonja Lauterbach
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty
of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty
of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Theresa L. Coetzer
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty
of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Jeremy N. Burrows
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, P.O. Box 1826, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Clive Yeates
- Inpharma Consultancy, 6 Dudley Hill Close, Welwyn, Hertfordshire AL60QQ, U.K
| | - Paolo Denti
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, South Africa
| | - Lubbe Wiesner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, South Africa
| | - Timothy J. Egan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry
and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Chatelain E. Chagas disease research and development: Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2016; 15:98-103. [PMID: 28066534 PMCID: PMC5196238 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is the result of infection by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is endemic in Latin America, and spreading around the globe due to human migration. Although it was first identified more than a century ago, only two old drugs are available for treatment and a lot of questions related to the disease progression, its pathologies, and not to mention the assessment of treatment efficacy, are subject to debate and remain to be answered. Indeed, the current status of evidence and data available does not allow any absolute statement related to treatment needs and outcome for Chagas patients to be made. Although there has been some new impetus in Research and Development for Chagas disease following recent new clinical trials, there is a scientific requirement to review and challenge the current status of evidence and define basic and clinical research priorities and next steps in the field. This should ensure that the best drugs for Chagas disease are developed, but will require a focused and collaborative effort of the entire Chagas disease research community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DND i ), 15 Chemin Louis Dunant, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Dos Anjos DO, Sobral Alves ES, Gonçalves VT, Fontes SS, Nogueira ML, Suarez-Fontes AM, Neves da Costa JB, Rios-Santos F, Vannier-Santos MA. Effects of a novel β-lapachone derivative on Trypanosoma cruzi: Parasite death involving apoptosis, autophagy and necrosis. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2016; 6:207-219. [PMID: 27770751 PMCID: PMC5078628 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Natural products comprise valuable sources for new antiparasitic drugs. Here we tested the effects of a novel β-lapachone derivative on Trypanosoma cruzi parasite survival and proliferation and used microscopy and cytometry techniques to approach the mechanism(s) underlying parasite death. The selectivity index determination indicate that the compound trypanocidal activity was over ten-fold more cytotoxic to epimastigotes than to macrophages or splenocytes. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the R72 β-lapachone derivative affected the T. cruzi morphology and surface topography. General plasma membrane waving and blebbing particularly on the cytostome region were observed in the R72-treated parasites. Transmission electron microscopy observations confirmed the surface damage at the cytostome opening vicinity. We also observed ultrastructural evidence of the autophagic mechanism termed macroautophagy. Some of the autophagosomes involved large portions of the parasite cytoplasm and their fusion/confluence may lead to necrotic parasite death. The remarkably enhanced frequency of autophagy triggering was confirmed by quantitating monodansylcadaverine labeling. Some cells displayed evidence of chromatin pycnosis and nuclear fragmentation were detected. This latter phenomenon was also indicated by DAPI staining of R72-treated cells. The apoptotis induction was suggested to take place in circa one-third of the parasites assessed by annexin V labeling measured by flow cytometry. TUNEL staining corroborated the apoptosis induction. Propidium iodide labeling indicate that at least 10% of the R72-treated parasites suffered necrosis within 24 h. The present data indicate that the β-lapachone derivative R72 selectively triggers T. cruzi cell death, involving both apoptosis and autophagy-induced necrosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Oliveira Dos Anjos
- Lab. Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz UESC, Brazil
| | | | | | - Sheila Suarez Fontes
- Lab. Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Brazil
| | - Mateus Lima Nogueira
- Lab. Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Khare S, Nagle AS, Biggart A, Lai YH, Liang F, Davis LC, Barnes SW, Mathison CJN, Myburgh E, Gao MY, Gillespie JR, Liu X, Tan JL, Stinson M, Rivera IC, Ballard J, Yeh V, Groessl T, Federe G, Koh HXY, Venable JD, Bursulaya B, Shapiro M, Mishra PK, Spraggon G, Brock A, Mottram JC, Buckner FS, Rao SPS, Wen BG, Walker JR, Tuntland T, Molteni V, Glynne RJ, Supek F. Proteasome inhibition for treatment of leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and sleeping sickness. Nature 2016; 537:229-233. [PMID: 27501246 PMCID: PMC5161665 DOI: 10.1038/nature19339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 275] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness affect 20 million people worldwide and lead to more than 50,000 deaths annually. The diseases are caused by infection with the kinetoplastid parasites Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma brucei spp., respectively. These parasites have similar biology and genomic sequence, suggesting that all three diseases could be cured with drugs that modulate the activity of a conserved parasite target. However, no such molecular targets or broad spectrum drugs have been identified to date. Here we describe a selective inhibitor of the kinetoplastid proteasome (GNF6702) with unprecedented in vivo efficacy, which cleared parasites from mice in all three models of infection. GNF6702 inhibits the kinetoplastid proteasome through a non-competitive mechanism, does not inhibit the mammalian proteasome or growth of mammalian cells, and is well-tolerated in mice. Our data provide genetic and chemical validation of the parasite proteasome as a promising therapeutic target for treatment of kinetoplastid infections, and underscore the possibility of developing a single class of drugs for these neglected diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shilpi Khare
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Advait S Nagle
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Agnes Biggart
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Yin H Lai
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Fang Liang
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Lauren C Davis
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - S Whitney Barnes
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Casey J N Mathison
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Elmarie Myburgh
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Mu-Yun Gao
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - J Robert Gillespie
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Xianzhong Liu
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Jocelyn L Tan
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Monique Stinson
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Ianne C Rivera
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Jaime Ballard
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Vince Yeh
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Todd Groessl
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Glenn Federe
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Hazel X Y Koh
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, Singapore 138670
| | - John D Venable
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Badry Bursulaya
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Michael Shapiro
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Pranab K Mishra
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Glen Spraggon
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Ansgar Brock
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Jeremy C Mottram
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Frederick S Buckner
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Srinivasa P S Rao
- Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, 10 Biopolis Road, Singapore 138670
| | - Ben G Wen
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - John R Walker
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Tove Tuntland
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Valentina Molteni
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Richard J Glynne
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - Frantisek Supek
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, 10675 John Jay Hopkins Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Targeting the Cytochrome bc1 Complex of Leishmania Parasites for Discovery of Novel Drugs. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:4972-82. [PMID: 27297476 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00850-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Endochin-like quinolones (ELQs) are potent and specific inhibitors of cytochrome bc1 from Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii and show promise for novel antiparasitic drug development. To determine whether the mitochondrial electron transport chain of Leishmania parasites could be targeted similarly for drug development, we investigated the activity of 134 structurally diverse ELQs. A cohort of ELQs was selectively toxic to amastigotes of Leishmania mexicana and L. donovani, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) in the low micromolar range, but the structurally similar hydroxynaphthoquinone buparvaquone was by far the most potent inhibitor of electron transport, ATP production, and intracellular amastigote growth. Cytochrome bc1 is thus a promising target for novel antileishmanial drugs, and further improvements on the buparvaquone scaffold are warranted for development of enhanced therapeutics.
Collapse
|
38
|
Shah-Simpson S, Pereira CFA, Dumoulin PC, Caradonna KL, Burleigh BA. Bioenergetic profiling of Trypanosoma cruzi life stages using Seahorse extracellular flux technology. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2016; 208:91-5. [PMID: 27392747 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Energy metabolism is an attractive target for the development of new therapeutics against protozoan pathogens, including Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of human Chagas disease. Despite emerging evidence that mitochondrial electron transport is essential for the growth of intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes in mammalian cells, fundamental knowledge of mitochondrial energy metabolism in this parasite life stage remains incomplete. The Clark-type electrode, which measures the rate of oxygen consumption, has served as the traditional tool to study mitochondrial energetics and has contributed to our understanding of it in T. cruzi. Here, we evaluate the Seahorse XF(e)24 extracellular flux platform as an alternative method to assess mitochondrial bioenergetics in isolated T. cruzi parasites. We report optimized assay conditions used to perform mitochondrial stress tests with replicative life cycle stages of T. cruzi using the XF(e)24 instrument, and discuss the advantages and potential limitations of this methodology, as applied to T. cruzi and other trypanosomatids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheena Shah-Simpson
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Camila F A Pereira
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Av, Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco G, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Peter C Dumoulin
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | - Barbara A Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Goldgof GM, Durrant JD, Ottilie S, Vigil E, Allen KE, Gunawan F, Kostylev M, Henderson KA, Yang J, Schenken J, LaMonte GM, Manary MJ, Murao A, Nachon M, Murray R, Prescott M, McNamara CW, Slayman CW, Amaro RE, Suzuki Y, Winzeler EA. Comparative chemical genomics reveal that the spiroindolone antimalarial KAE609 (Cipargamin) is a P-type ATPase inhibitor. Sci Rep 2016; 6:27806. [PMID: 27291296 PMCID: PMC4904242 DOI: 10.1038/srep27806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The spiroindolones, a new class of antimalarial medicines discovered in a cellular screen, are rendered less active by mutations in a parasite P-type ATPase, PfATP4. We show here that S. cerevisiae also acquires mutations in a gene encoding a P-type ATPase (ScPMA1) after exposure to spiroindolones and that these mutations are sufficient for resistance. KAE609 resistance mutations in ScPMA1 do not confer resistance to unrelated antimicrobials, but do confer cross sensitivity to the alkyl-lysophospholipid edelfosine, which is known to displace ScPma1p from the plasma membrane. Using an in vitro cell-free assay, we demonstrate that KAE609 directly inhibits ScPma1p ATPase activity. KAE609 also increases cytoplasmic hydrogen ion concentrations in yeast cells. Computer docking into a ScPma1p homology model identifies a binding mode that supports genetic resistance determinants and in vitro experimental structure-activity relationships in both P. falciparum and S. cerevisiae. This model also suggests a shared binding site with the dihydroisoquinolones antimalarials. Our data support a model in which KAE609 exerts its antimalarial activity by directly interfering with P-type ATPase activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M. Goldgof
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter
Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jacob D. Durrant
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the National
Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California, San
Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Edgar Vigil
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Kenneth E. Allen
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of
Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Felicia Gunawan
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Maxim Kostylev
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter
Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Jennifer Yang
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jake Schenken
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Gregory M. LaMonte
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Micah J. Manary
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ayako Murao
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter
Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Marie Nachon
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Rebecca Murray
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Maximo Prescott
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Case W. McNamara
- Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation,
San Diego, California, USA
| | - Carolyn W. Slayman
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of
Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Rommie E. Amaro
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the National
Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California, San
Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Yo Suzuki
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter
Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Winzeler
- Division of Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine,
La Jolla, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Chemogenetic Characterization of Inositol Phosphate Metabolic Pathway Reveals Druggable Enzymes for Targeting Kinetoplastid Parasites. Cell Chem Biol 2016; 23:608-617. [PMID: 27133314 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2016.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Kinetoplastids cause Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniases. Current treatments for these diseases are toxic and inefficient, and our limited knowledge of drug targets and inhibitors has dramatically hindered the development of new drugs. Here we used a chemogenetic approach to identify new kinetoplastid drug targets and inhibitors. We conditionally knocked down Trypanosoma brucei inositol phosphate (IP) pathway genes and showed that almost every pathway step is essential for parasite growth and infection. Using a genetic and chemical screen, we identified inhibitors that target IP pathway enzymes and are selective against T. brucei. Two series of these inhibitors acted on T. brucei inositol polyphosphate multikinase (IPMK) preventing Ins(1,4,5)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 phosphorylation. We show that IPMK is functionally conserved among kinetoplastids and that its inhibition is also lethal for Trypanosoma cruzi. Hence, IP enzymes are viable drug targets in kinetoplastids, and IPMK inhibitors may aid the development of new drugs.
Collapse
|
41
|
Li Y, Shah-Simpson S, Okrah K, Belew AT, Choi J, Caradonna KL, Padmanabhan P, Ndegwa DM, Temanni MR, Corrada Bravo H, El-Sayed NM, Burleigh BA. Transcriptome Remodeling in Trypanosoma cruzi and Human Cells during Intracellular Infection. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005511. [PMID: 27046031 PMCID: PMC4821583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular colonization and persistent infection by the kinetoplastid protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, underlie the pathogenesis of human Chagas disease. To obtain global insights into the T. cruzi infective process, transcriptome dynamics were simultaneously captured in the parasite and host cells in an infection time course of human fibroblasts. Extensive remodeling of the T. cruzi transcriptome was observed during the early establishment of intracellular infection, coincident with a major developmental transition in the parasite. Contrasting this early response, few additional changes in steady state mRNA levels were detected once mature T. cruzi amastigotes were formed. Our findings suggest that transcriptome remodeling is required to establish a modified template to guide developmental transitions in the parasite, whereas homeostatic functions are regulated independently of transcriptomic changes, similar to that reported in related trypanosomatids. Despite complex mechanisms for regulation of phenotypic expression in T. cruzi, transcriptomic signatures derived from distinct developmental stages mirror known or projected characteristics of T. cruzi biology. Focusing on energy metabolism, we were able to validate predictions forecast in the mRNA expression profiles. We demonstrate measurable differences in the bioenergetic properties of the different mammalian-infective stages of T. cruzi and present additional findings that underscore the importance of mitochondrial electron transport in T. cruzi amastigote growth and survival. Consequences of T. cruzi colonization for the host include dynamic expression of immune response genes and cell cycle regulators with upregulation of host cholesterol and lipid synthesis pathways, which may serve to fuel intracellular T. cruzi growth. Thus, in addition to the biological inferences gained from gene ontology and functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes in parasite and host, our comprehensive, high resolution transcriptomic dataset provides a substantially more detailed interpretation of T. cruzi infection biology and offers a basis for future drug and vaccine discovery efforts. In-depth knowledge of the functional processes governing host colonization and transmission of pathogenic microorganisms is essential for the advancement of effective intervention strategies. This study focuses on Trypanosoma cruzi, the vector-borne protozoan parasite responsible for human Chagas disease and the leading cause of infectious myocarditis worldwide. To gain global insights into the biology of this parasite and its interaction with mammalian host cells, we have exploited a deep-sequencing approach to generate comprehensive, high-resolution transcriptomic maps for mammalian-infective stages of T. cruzi with the simultaneous interrogation of the human host cell transcriptome across an infection time course. We demonstrate that the establishment of intracellular T. cruzi infection in mammalian host cells is accompanied by extensive remodeling of the parasite and host cell transcriptomes. Despite the lack of transcriptional control mechanisms in trypanosomatids, our analyses identified functionally-enriched processes within sets of developmentally-regulated transcripts in T. cruzi that align with known or predicted biological features of the parasite. The novel insights into the biology of intracellular T. cruzi infection and the regulation of amastigote development gained in this study establish a unique foundation for functional network analyses that will be instrumental in providing functional links between parasite dependencies and host functional pathways that have the potential to be exploited for intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sheena Shah-Simpson
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kwame Okrah
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - A Trey Belew
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jungmin Choi
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kacey L Caradonna
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Prasad Padmanabhan
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David M Ndegwa
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - M Ramzi Temanni
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Héctor Corrada Bravo
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Najib M El-Sayed
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America.,Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Barbara A Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease is a chronic infection associated with long-term morbidity. Increased funding and advocacy for drug discovery for neglected diseases have prompted the introduction of several important technological advances, and Chagas disease is among the neglected conditions that has mostly benefited from technological developments. A number of screening campaigns, and the development of new and improved in vitro and in vivo assays, has led to advances in the field of drug discovery. AREAS COVERED This review highlights the major advances in Chagas disease drug screening, and how these are being used not only to discover novel chemical entities and drug candidates, but also increase our knowledge about the disease and the parasite. Different methodologies used for compound screening and prioritization are discussed, as well as novel techniques for the investigation of these targets. The molecular mechanism of action is also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Technological advances have been executed with scientific rigour for the development of new in vitro cell-based assays and in vivo animal models, to bring about novel and better drugs for Chagas disease, as well as to increase our understanding of what are the necessary properties for a compound to be successful in the clinic. The gained knowledge, combined with new exciting approaches toward target deconvolution, will help identifying new targets for Chagas disease chemotherapy in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina B Moraes
- a Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio) , Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM) , Campinas , Brazil
| | - Caio H Franco
- a Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio) , Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM) , Campinas , Brazil.,b Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology , Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo , Sao Paulo , Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Marine natural products with anti-inflammatory activity. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 100:1645-1666. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-7244-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
44
|
de Oliveira Filho GB, de Oliveira Cardoso MV, Espíndola JWP, Ferreira LFGR, de Simone CA, Ferreira RS, Coelho PL, Meira CS, Magalhaes Moreira DR, Soares MBP, Lima Leite AC. Structural design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 4-thiazolidinones against Trypanosoma cruzi. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:7478-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.10.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
|