In vitro Multistage Malaria Transmission Blocking Activity of Selected Malaria Box Compounds

Paving the Way: Contributions of Big Data to Apicomplexan and Kinetoplastid Research

In the age of big data an important question is how to ensure we make the most out of the resources we generate. In this review, we discuss the major methods used in Apicomplexan and Kinetoplastid research to produce big datasets and advance our understanding of Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, Trypanosoma and Leishmania biology. We debate the benefits and limitations of the current technologies, and propose future advancements that may be key to improving our use of these techniques. Finally, we consider the difficulties the field faces when trying to make the most of the abundance of data that has already been, and will continue to be, generated.

Malaria transmission blocking compounds: a patent review

INTRODUCTION

Despite substantial progress in the field, malaria remains a global health issue and currently available control strategies are not sufficient to achieve eradication. Agents able to prevent transmission are likely to have a strong impact on malaria control and have been prioritized as a primary objective to reduce the number of secondary infections. Therefore, there is an increased interest in finding novel drugs targeting sexual stages of Plasmodium and innovative methods to target malaria transmission from host to vector, and vice versa.

AREAS COVERED

This review covers innovative transmission-blocking inventions patented between 2015 and October 2021. The focus is on chemical interventions which could be used as "chemical vaccines" to prevent transmission (small molecules, carbohydrates, and polypeptides).

EXPERT OPINION

Even though the development of novel strategies to block transmission still requires fundamental additional research and a deeper understanding of parasite sexual stages biology, the research in this field has significantly accelerated. Among innovative inventions patented over the last six years, the surface-delivery of antimalarial drugs to kill transmission-stages parasites in mosquitoes holds the highest promise for success in malaria control strategies, opening completely new scenarios in malaria transmission-blocking drug discovery.

Recent advancement in drug development of nitro(NO2 )-heterocyclic compounds as lead scaffolds for the treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused predominantly by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). It was responsible for approximately 1.4 million deaths worldwide in 2019. The lack of new drugs to treat drug-resistant strains is a principal factor for the slow rise in TB infections. Our aim is to aid the development of new TB treatments by describing improvements (last decade, 2011-2021) to nitro(NO₂ )-based compounds that have shown activity or pharmacological properties (e.g., anti-proliferative, anti-kinetoplastid) against Mtb. For all compounds, we have included final correlations of minimum inhibitory concentrations against Mtb (H₃₇ Rv).

Evaluation of the Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Antiplasmodial Activities of Xanthones Isolated from Garcinia forbesii and Their In Silico Studies

This study aimed to isolate xanthones from Garcinia forbesii and evaluated their activity in vitro and in silico. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. The antidiabetic activity was performed against α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes. The antiplasmodial activity was evaluated using Plasmodium falciparum strain 3D7 sensitive to chloroquine. Molecular docking analysis on the human lysosomal acid-alpha-glucosidase enzyme (5NN8) and P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (1CET) and prediction of ADMET for the active compound, were also studied. For the first time, lichexanthone (1), subelliptenone H (2), 12b-hydroxy-des-D-garcigerrin A (3), garciniaxanthone B (4) and garcigerin A (5) were isolated from the CH₂Cl₂ extract of the stem bark of G. forbesii. Four xanthones (Compounds 2-5) showed strong antioxidant activity. In vitro α-glucosidase test showed that Compounds 2 and 5 were more active than the others, while Compound 4 was the strongest against α-amylase enzymes. In vitro antiplasmodial evaluation revealed that Compounds 2 and 3 showed inhibitory activity on P. falciparum. Molecular docking studies confirmed in vitro activity. ADMET predictions suggested that Compounds 1-5 were potential candidates for oral drugs. The isolated 2-5 can be used as promising phytotherapy in antidiabetic and antiplasmodial treatment.

Medicinal chemistry perspectives of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline analogs - biological activities and SAR studies

Isoquinoline alkaloids are a large group of natural products in which 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQ) form an important class. THIQ based natural and synthetic compounds exert diverse biological activities against various infective pathogens and neurodegenerative disorders. Due to these reasons, the THIQ heterocyclic scaffold has garnered a lot of attention in the scientific community which has resulted in the development of novel THIQ analogs with potent biological activity. The present review provides a much-needed update on the biological potential of THIQ analogs, their structural-activity relationship (SAR), and their mechanism of action. In addition, a note on commonly used synthetic strategies for constructing the core scaffold has also been discussed.