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Queffeulou M, Leprohon P, Fernandez-Prada C, Ouellette M, Mejía-Jaramillo AM. CRISPR-Cas9 high-throughput screening to study drug resistance in Leishmania infantum. mBio 2024; 15:e0047724. [PMID: 38864609 PMCID: PMC11253630 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00477-24] [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: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Parasites of the genus Leishmania pose a global health threat with limited treatment options. New drugs are urgently needed, and genomic screens have the potential to accelerate target discovery, mode of action, and resistance mechanisms against these new drugs. We describe here our effort in developing a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen in Leishmania, an organism lacking a functional nonhomologous end joining system that must rely on microhomology-mediated end joining, single-strand annealing, or homologous recombination for repairing Cas9-induced double-stranded DNA breaks. A new vector for cloning and expressing single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) was designed and proven to be effective in a small pilot project while enriching specific sgRNAs during drug selection. We then developed a whole-genome library of 49,754 sgRNAs, targeting all the genes of Leishmania infantum. This library was transfected in L. infantum expressing Cas9, and these cells were selected for resistance to two antileishmanials, miltefosine and amphotericin B. The sgRNAs the most enriched in the miltefosine screen targeted the miltefosine transporter gene, but sgRNAs targeting genes coding for a RING-variant protein and a transmembrane protein were also enriched. The sgRNAs the most enriched by amphotericin B targeted the sterol 24 C methyltransferase genes and a hypothetical gene. Through gene disruption experiments, we proved that loss of function of these genes was associated with resistance. This study describes the feasibility of carrying out whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 screens in Leishmania provided that a strong selective pressure is applied. Such a screen can be used for accelerating the development of urgently needed antileishmanial drugs.IMPORTANCELeishmaniasis, a global health threat, lacks adequate treatment options and drug resistance exacerbates the challenge. This study introduces a CRISPR-Cas9 screening approach in Leishmania infantum, unraveling mechanisms of drug resistance at a genome-wide scale. Our screen was applied against two main antileishmanial drugs, and guides were enriched upon drug selection. These guides targeted known and new targets, hence validating the use of this screen against Leishmania. This strategy provides a powerful tool to expedite drug discovery as well as potential therapeutic targets against this neglected tropical disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Queffeulou
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Philippe Leprohon
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Christopher Fernandez-Prada
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc Ouellette
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Ana María Mejía-Jaramillo
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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2
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Pacheco-Fernandez T, Markle H, Verma C, Huston R, Gannavaram S, Nakhasi HL, Satoskar AR. Field-Deployable Treatments For Leishmaniasis: Intrinsic Challenges, Recent Developments and Next Steps. Res Rep Trop Med 2023; 14:61-85. [PMID: 37492219 PMCID: PMC10364832 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s392606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease endemic primarily to low- and middle-income countries, for which there has been inadequate development of affordable, safe, and efficacious therapies. Clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis range from self-healing skin lesions to lethal visceral infection with chances of relapse. Although treatments are available, secondary effects limit their use outside the clinic and negatively impact the quality of life of patients in endemic areas. Other non-medicinal treatments, such as thermotherapies, are limited to use in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis but not with visceral infection. Recent studies shed light to mechanisms through which Leishmania can persist by hiding in cellular safe havens, even after chemotherapies. This review focuses on exploring the cellular niches that Leishmania parasites may be leveraging to persist within the host. Also, the cellular, metabolic, and molecular implications of Leishmania infection and how those could be targeted for therapeutic purposes are discussed. Other therapies, such as those developed against cancer or for manipulation of the ferroptosis pathway, are proposed as possible treatments against leishmaniasis due to their mechanisms of action. In particular, treatments that target hematopoietic stem cells and monocytes, which have recently been found to be necessary components to sustain the infection and provide a safe niche for the parasites are discussed in this review as potential field-deployable treatments against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia Pacheco-Fernandez
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Hannah Markle
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Chaitenya Verma
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
| | - Ryan Huston
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Hira L Nakhasi
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Abhay R Satoskar
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA
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3
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Bigot S, Leprohon P, Vasquez A, Bhadoria R, Skouta R, Ouellette M. Thiophene derivatives activity against the protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022; 21:13-20. [PMID: 36525934 PMCID: PMC9772499 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Treatments against leishmaniasis are limited and the development of new molecules is crucial. One class of developmental drug that has shown activity against the parasite Leishmania are thiophene derivatives. Here we synthetized thirty-eight novel thiophene compounds and characterized their activity and potential for resistance against L. infantum. Half of the molecules had an EC50 in the low micromolar range, the piperidine derivatives being more potent than the tetramethylpyran derivatives. Resistance was challenging to select for, and resistant cells could only be raised against one (GC1-19) of the four most active compounds. Using chemogenomic screens we show that a gene conversion event at the ABCG2 locus as well as the overexpression of a tryparedoxin peroxidase are responsible for a weak but significant resistance to the GC1-19 drug candidate. Together, our results suggest that thiophene is a scaffold of interest for further drug development against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Bigot
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Canada,Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease and Immunology, University Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Philippe Leprohon
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Canada,Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease and Immunology, University Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Abimael Vasquez
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Rohit Bhadoria
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Rachid Skouta
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA,Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA,Corresponding author. University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
| | - Marc Ouellette
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Canada,Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease and Immunology, University Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada,Corresponding author. Centre de Recherche du CHU Québec, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 4G2, Canada.
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4
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Padilla AM, Wang W, Akama T, Carter DS, Easom E, Freund Y, Halladay JS, Liu Y, Hamer SA, Hodo CL, Wilkerson GK, Orr D, White B, George A, Shen H, Jin Y, Wang MZ, Tse S, Jacobs RT, Tarleton RL. Discovery of an orally active benzoxaborole prodrug effective in the treatment of Chagas disease in non-human primates. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:1536-1546. [PMID: 36065062 PMCID: PMC9519446 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01211-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, probably infects tens of millions of people, primarily in Latin America, causing morbidity and mortality. The options for treatment and prevention of Chagas disease are limited and underutilized. Here we describe the discovery of a series of benzoxaborole compounds with nanomolar activity against extra- and intracellular stages of T. cruzi. Leveraging both ongoing drug discovery efforts in related kinetoplastids, and the exceptional models for rapid drug screening and optimization in T. cruzi, we have identified the prodrug AN15368 that is activated by parasite carboxypeptidases to yield a compound that targets the messenger RNA processing pathway in T. cruzi. AN15368 was found to be active in vitro and in vivo against a range of genetically distinct T. cruzi lineages and was uniformly curative in non-human primates (NHPs) with long-term naturally acquired infections. Treatment in NHPs also revealed no detectable acute toxicity or long-term health or reproductive impact. Thus, AN15368 is an extensively validated and apparently safe, clinically ready candidate with promising potential for prevention and treatment of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel M Padilla
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Eric Easom
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Yang Liu
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Sarah A Hamer
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Carolyn L Hodo
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Gregory K Wilkerson
- Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
| | - Dylan Orr
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Brooke White
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Arlene George
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Huifeng Shen
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Yiru Jin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Michael Zhuo Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Susanna Tse
- Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism, Worldwide Research, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Rick L Tarleton
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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5
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Pinheiro AC, de Souza MVN. Current leishmaniasis drug discovery. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:1029-1043. [PMID: 36324493 PMCID: PMC9491386 DOI: 10.1039/d1md00362c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a complex protozoan infectious disease and, associated with malnutrition, poor health services and unavailability of prophylactic control measures, neglected populations are particularly affected. Current drug regimens are outdated and associated with some drawbacks, such as cytotoxicity and resistance, and the development of novel, efficacious and less toxic drug regimens is urgently required. In addition, leishmanial pathogenesis is not well established or understood, and a prophylactic vaccine is an unfulfilled goal. Human kinetoplastid protozoan infections, including leishmaniasis, have been neglected for many years, and in an attempt to overcome this situation, some new drug targets were recently identified, enabling the development of new drugs and vaccines. Compounds from new drug classes have also shown excellent antileishmanial activities, some of the most promising ones included in clinical trials, and could be a hope to control the disease burden of this endemic disease in the near future. In this review, we discuss the limitations of current control methods, explore the wide range of compounds that are being screened and identified as antileishmanial drug prototypes, summarize the advances in identifying new drug targets aiming at innovative treatments and explore the state-of-art vaccine development field, including immunomodulation strategies.
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6
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Wijnant GJ, Dumetz F, Dirkx L, Bulté D, Cuypers B, Van Bocxlaer K, Hendrickx S. Tackling Drug Resistance and Other Causes of Treatment Failure in Leishmaniasis. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.837460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a tropical infectious disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania parasite. The disease is transmitted by female sand flies and, depending on the infecting parasite species, causes either cutaneous (stigmatizing skin lesions), mucocutaneous (destruction of mucous membranes of nose, mouth and throat) or visceral disease (a potentially fatal infection of liver, spleen and bone marrow). Although more than 1 million new cases occur annually, chemotherapeutic options are limited and their efficacy is jeopardized by increasing treatment failure rates and growing drug resistance. To delay the emergence of resistance to existing and new drugs, elucidating the currently unknown causes of variable drug efficacy (related to parasite susceptibility, host immunity and drug pharmacokinetics) and improved use of genotypic and phenotypic tools to define, measure and monitor resistance in the field are critical. This review highlights recent progress in our understanding of drug action and resistance in Leishmania, ongoing challenges (including setbacks related to the COVID-19 pandemic) and provides an overview of possible strategies to tackle this public health challenge.
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7
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Imran M, Khan SA, Abida, Alshrari AS, Eltahir Mudawi MM, Alshammari MK, Harshan AA, Alshammari NA. Small molecules as kinetoplastid specific proteasome inhibitors for Leishmaniasis: a patent review from 1998 to 2021. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2022; 32:591-604. [PMID: 35220857 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2022.2045948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION : Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical infectious disease. The available limited therapeutic options for leishmaniasis are inadequate due to their poor pharmacokinetic profile, resistance, toxicity, high cost, and compliance problems. This warrants identification of new targets for the development of safer and effective anti-Leishmania therapy. The kinetoplastid specific proteasome (KSP) is a novel validated target to develop drugs against leishmaniasis. AREA COVERED : This review focuses on all the published patent applications and granted patents related to the studied small molecules as KSP inhibitors (KSPIs) against Leishmania from 1998 to December 31, 2021. EXPERT OPINION : A little amount of work has been done on KSPIs, but the study results are quite encouraging. LXE408 and GSK3494245 are two KSPIs in different phases of clinical trials. Some other small molecules have also shown KSP inhibitory potential, but they are not in clinical trials. The KSPIs are promising next-generation orally active patient compliant drugs against kinetoplastid diseases, including leishmaniasis. However, the main challenge to discover the KSPIs will be the resistance development and their selectivity against the proteasome of eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Imran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shah Alam Khan
- College of Pharmacy, National University of Science and Technology, Muscat 130, Oman
| | - Abida
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Subeh Alshrari
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohammed Kanan Alshammari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Rafha Central Hospital, North Zone, Rafha 91911, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Aishah Ali Harshan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Northern Area Armed Forces Hospital, King Khalid Military City Hospital, Hafr Al-Batin, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Noufah Aqeel Alshammari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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8
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Mowbray CE, Braillard S, Glossop PA, Whitlock GA, Jacobs RT, Speake J, Pandi B, Nare B, Maes L, Yardley V, Freund Y, Wall RJ, Carvalho S, Bello D, Van den Kerkhof M, Caljon G, Gilbert IH, Corpas-Lopez V, Lukac I, Patterson S, Zuccotto F, Wyllie S. DNDI-6148: A Novel Benzoxaborole Preclinical Candidate for the Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis. J Med Chem 2021; 64:16159-16176. [PMID: 34711050 PMCID: PMC8591608 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease endemic across multiple regions of the world and is fatal if untreated. Current therapies are unsuitable, and there is an urgent need for safe, short-course, and low-cost oral treatments to combat this neglected disease. The benzoxaborole chemotype has previously delivered clinical candidates for the treatment of other parasitic diseases. Here, we describe the development and optimization of this series, leading to the identification of compounds with potent in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity. The lead compound (DNDI-6148) combines impressive in vivo efficacy (>98% reduction in parasite burden) with pharmaceutical properties suitable for onward development and an acceptable safety profile. Detailed mode of action studies confirm that DNDI-6148 acts principally through the inhibition of Leishmania cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF3) endonuclease. As a result of these studies and its promising profile, DNDI-6148 has been declared a preclinical candidate for the treatment of VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E. Mowbray
- Drugs
for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), 15 Chemin Louis-Dunant, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland,
| | - Stéphanie Braillard
- Drugs
for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), 15 Chemin Louis-Dunant, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul A. Glossop
- Sandexis
Medicinal Chemistry Ltd, Innovation House, Discovery Park, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9ND, U.K.
| | - Gavin A. Whitlock
- Sandexis
Medicinal Chemistry Ltd, Innovation House, Discovery Park, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9ND, U.K.
| | - Robert T. Jacobs
- Scynexis, 3501 C Tricenter Boulevard, Durham, North Carolina 27713, United States
| | - Jason Speake
- Scynexis, 3501 C Tricenter Boulevard, Durham, North Carolina 27713, United States
| | - Bharathi Pandi
- Scynexis, 3501 C Tricenter Boulevard, Durham, North Carolina 27713, United States
| | - Bakela Nare
- Scynexis, 3501 C Tricenter Boulevard, Durham, North Carolina 27713, United States
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory
for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vanessa Yardley
- Faculty
of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London
School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, U.K.
| | - Yvonne Freund
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, 1020 East Meadow Circle, Palo Alto, California 94303, United States
| | - 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, U.K.
| | - 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, U.K.
| | - Davide Bello
- 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, U.K.
| | - Magali Van den Kerkhof
- Laboratory
for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory
for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ian H. Gilbert
- 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, U.K.
| | - Victoriano Corpas-Lopez
- 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, U.K.
| | - Iva Lukac
- 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, U.K.
| | - 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, U.K.
| | - Fabio Zuccotto
- 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, U.K.
| | - 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, U.K.,
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9
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Horn D. Genome-scale RNAi screens in African trypanosomes. Trends Parasitol 2021; 38:160-173. [PMID: 34580035 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Genome-scale genetic screens allow researchers to rapidly identify the genes and proteins that impact a particular phenotype of interest. In African trypanosomes, RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown screens have revealed mechanisms underpinning drug resistance, drug transport, prodrug metabolism, quorum sensing, genome replication, and gene expression control. RNAi screening has also been remarkably effective at highlighting promising potential antitrypanosomal drug targets. The first ever RNAi library screen was implemented in African trypanosomes, and genome-scale RNAi screens and other related approaches continue to have a major impact on trypanosomatid research. Here, I review those impacts in terms of both discovery and translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Horn
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
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