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Sundar S, Singh VK, Agrawal N, Singh OP, Kumar R. Investigational new drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2024:1-18. [PMID: 39225742 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2024.2400139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Over the past 20 years, significant progress has been made in anti-leishmanial therapy. Three new drugs/formulations are available for the treatment of various forms of leishmaniasis, namely oral miltefosine, paromomycin and liposomal amphotericin B. However, these advances in drug development have added considerable complexity for clinicians including toxicity, emergence of resistance and decreased sensitivity of available drugs. The development of newer drugs with less toxicity and more efficacy is urgently needed. AREAS COVERED This review comprehensively examines the latest developments and current status of antileishmanial drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis across the world. Several new investigational drugs that showed anti-leishmanial activity under in vitro or in vivo conditions and either underwent the phase-I/II clinical trials or are on the verge of entering the trials were reviewed. We also delve into the challenges of drug resistance and discuss the emergence of new and effective antileishmanial compounds. EXPERT OPINION The available treatments for leishmaniasis are limited in number, toxic, expensive, and demand extensive healthcare resources. Every available antileishmanial drug is associated with several disadvantages, such as drug resistance and toxicity or high cost. Miltefosine is potentially teratogenic. New antileishmanial drugs/treatment modalities are sorely needed for expanding future treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Vishal Kumar Singh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Neha Agrawal
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Om Prakash Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Rajiv Kumar
- Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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Nery RLA, Santos TMS, Gois LL, Barral A, Khouri R, Feitosa CA, Santos LA. Leishmania spp. genetic factors associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis antimony pentavalent drug resistance: a systematic review. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2024; 119:e230240. [PMID: 39230137 PMCID: PMC11370656 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760230240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a neglected zoonosis caused by parasites of Leishmania spp. The main drug used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the antimoniate of meglumine. This drug, which has strong adverse and toxic effects, is usually administered intravenously, further complicating the difficult treatment. Factors such as Leishmania gene expression and genomic mutations appear to play a role in the development of drug resistance. OBJECTIVES This systematic review summarises the results of the literature evaluating parasite genetic markers possibly associated with resistance to pentavalent antimony in CL. METHODS This study followed PRISMA guidelines and included articles from PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases. Inclusion criteria were studies that (i) investigated mutations in the genome and/or changes in gene expression of Leishmania associated with treatment resistance; (ii) used antimony drugs in the therapy of CL; (iii) used naturally resistant strains isolated from patients. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess article quality and risk of bias. FINDINGS A total of 23 articles were selected, of which 18 investigated gene expression and nine genomic mutations. Of these 23 articles, four examined gene expression and genomic mutations in the same samples. Regarding gene expression, genes from the ABC transporter protein family, AQP1, MRPA, TDR1 and TRYR were most frequently associated with drug resistance. In one of the articles in which mutations were investigated, a mutation was found in HSP70 (T579A) and in three articles mutations were found in AQP1 (A516C, G562A and G700A). A limitation of this review is that in most of the included studies, parasites were isolated from cultured lesion samples and drug resistance was assessed using in vitro drug susceptibility testing. These approaches may not be ideal for accurate genetic evaluation and detection of treatment failure. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The development of further studies to evaluate the genetic resistance factors of Leishmania spp. is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of the parasite and improve patient treatment and infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaela Lisboa Andrade Nery
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | | | - Luana Leandro Gois
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Ciências da Biointeração, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Aldina Barral
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Ricardo Khouri
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | | | - Luciane Amorim Santos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brasil
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Andrés-Rodríguez J, González-Montero MC, García-Fernández N, Calvo-Álvarez E, Pérez-Pertejo MY, Reguera-Torres RM, Balaña-Fouce R, García-Estrada C. Free Radical Production Induced by Nitroimidazole Compounds Lead to Cell Death in Leishmania infantum Amastigotes. Molecules 2024; 29:4041. [PMID: 39274889 PMCID: PMC11396368 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29174041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum is the vector-borne trypanosomatid parasite causing visceral leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean basin. This neglected tropical disease is treated with a limited number of obsolete drugs that are not exempt from adverse effects and whose overuse has promoted the emergence of resistant pathogens. In the search for novel antitrypanosomatid molecules that help overcome these drawbacks, drug repurposing has emerged as a good strategy. Nitroaromatic compounds have been found in drug discovery campaigns as promising antileishmanial molecules. Fexinidazole (recently introduced for the treatment of stages 1 and 2 of African trypanosomiasis), and pretomanid, which share the nitroimidazole nitroaromatic structure, have provided antileishmanial activity in different studies. In this work, we have tested the in vitro efficacy of these two nitroimidazoles to validate our 384-well high-throughput screening (HTS) platform consisting of L. infantum parasites emitting the near-infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP) as a biomarker of cell viability. These molecules showed good efficacy in both axenic and intramacrophage amastigotes and were poorly cytotoxic in RAW 264.7 and HepG2 cultures. Fexinidazole and pretomanid induced the production of ROS in axenic amastigotes but were not able to inhibit trypanothione reductase (TryR), thus suggesting that these compounds may target thiol metabolism through a different mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Andrés-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - María-Cristina González-Montero
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Nerea García-Fernández
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Estefanía Calvo-Álvarez
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - María-Yolanda Pérez-Pertejo
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Rosa-María Reguera-Torres
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Carlos García-Estrada
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
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Salpadoru T, Pinks KE, Lieberman JA, Cotton K, Wozniak KL, Gerasimchuk N, Patrauchan MA. Novel antimony-based antimicrobial drug targets membranes of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0423423. [PMID: 38651882 PMCID: PMC11237720 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04234-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant worldwide public health crisis that continues to threaten our ability to successfully treat bacterial infections. With the decline in effectiveness of conventional antimicrobial therapies and the lack of new antibiotic pipelines, there is a renewed interest in exploring the potential of metal-based antimicrobial compounds. Antimony-based compounds with a long history of use in medicine have re-emerged as potential antimicrobial agents. We previously synthesized a series of novel organoantimony(V) compounds complexed with cyanoximates with a strong potential of antimicrobial activity against several AMR bacterial and fungal pathogens. Here, five selected compounds were studied for their antibacterial efficacy against three important bacterial pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Among five tested compounds, SbPh4ACO showed antimicrobial activity against all three bacterial strains with the MIC of 50-100 µg/mL. The minimum bactericidal concentration/MIC values were less than or equal to 4 indicating that the effects of SbPh4ACO are bactericidal. Moreover, ultra-thin electron microscopy revealed that SbPh4ACO treatment caused membrane disruption in all three strains, which was further validated by increased membrane permeability. We also showed that SbPh4ACO acted synergistically with the antibiotics, polymyxin B and cefoxitin used to treat AMR strains of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively, and that at synergistic MIC concentration 12.5 µg/mL, its cytotoxicity against the cell lines, Hela, McCoy, and A549 dropped below the threshold. Overall, the results highlight the antimicrobial potential of novel antimony-based compound, SbPh4ACO, and its use as a potentiator of other antibiotics against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance presents a critical global public health crisis that threatens our ability to combat bacterial infections. In light of the declining efficacy of traditional antibiotics, the use of alternative solutions, such as metal-based antimicrobial compounds, has gained renewed interest. Based on the previously synthesized innovative organoantimony(V) compounds, we selected and further characterized the antibacterial efficacy of five of them against three important Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Among these compounds, SbPh4ACO showed broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, with membrane-disrupting effects against all three pathogens. Furthermore, we revealed the synergistic potential of SbPh4ACO when combined with antibiotics, such as cefoxitin, at concentrations that exert no cytotoxic effects tested on three mammalian cell lines. This study offers the first report on the mechanisms of action of novel antimony-based antimicrobial and presents the therapeutic potential of SbPh4ACO in combating both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens while enhancing the efficacy of existing antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarosha Salpadoru
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Kevin E. Pinks
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, USA
| | - Jacob A. Lieberman
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Cotton
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Karen L. Wozniak
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Nikolay Gerasimchuk
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, USA
| | - Marianna A. Patrauchan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
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Sheikh SY, Hassan F, Shukla D, Bala S, Faruqui T, Akhter Y, Khan AR, Nasibullah M. A review on potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Parasitol Int 2024; 100:102863. [PMID: 38272301 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Leishmania, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for the occurrence of leishmaniasis, a disease that is prevalent in tropical regions. Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar in Asian countries, is one of the most significant forms of VL, along with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (ML). Management of this condition typically entails the use of chemotherapy as the sole therapeutic option. The current treatments for leishmaniasis present several drawbacks, including a multitude of side effects, prolonged treatment duration, disparate efficacy across different regions, and the emergence of resistance. To address this urgent need, it is imperative to identify alternative treatments that are both safer and more effective. The identification of appropriate pharmacological targets in conjunction with biological pathways constitutes the initial stage of drug discovery. In this review, we have addressed the key metabolic pathways that represent potential pharmacological targets as well as prominent treatment options for leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabahat Yasmeen Sheikh
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Firoj Hassan
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Deepanjali Shukla
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Shashi Bala
- Department of Chemistry, Lucknow University, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Tabrez Faruqui
- Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Yusuf Akhter
- Department of Biotechnology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, India
| | - Abdul Rahman Khan
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Malik Nasibullah
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India.
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6
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Islam A, do Prado BR, Dittz D, Rodrigues BL, Silva SMD, do Monte-Neto RL, Shabeer M, Frézard F, Demicheli C. Susceptibility of Leishmania to novel pentavalent organometallics: Investigating impact on DNA and membrane integrity in antimony(III)-sensitive and -resistant strains. Drug Dev Res 2024; 85:e22194. [PMID: 38704828 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22194] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
The aim the present study was to investigate the impact of novel pentavalent organobismuth and organoantimony complexes on membrane integrity and their interaction with DNA, activity against Sb(III)-sensitive and -resistant Leishmania strains and toxicity in mammalian peritoneal macrophages. Ph3M(L)2 type complexes were synthesized, where M = Sb(V) or Bi(V) and L = deprotonated 3-(dimethylamino)benzoic acid or 2-acetylbenzoic acid. Both organobismuth(V) and organoantimony(V) complexes exhibited efficacy at micromolar concentrations against Leishmania amazonensis and L. infantum but only the later ones demonstrated biocompatibility. Ph3Sb(L1)2 and Ph3Bi(L1)2 demonstrated distinct susceptibility profiles compared to inorganic Sb(III)-resistant strains of MRPA-overexpressing L. amazonensis and AQP1-mutated L. guyanensis. These complexes were able to permeate the cell membrane and interact with the Leishmania DNA, suggesting that this effect may contribute to the parasite growth inhibition via apoptosis. Taken altogether, our data substantiate the notion of a distinct mechanism of uptake pathway and action in Leishmania for these organometallic complexes, distinguishing them from the conventional inorganic antimonial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arshad Islam
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Postgraduate Program in Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Department of Pathology, Government Lady Reading Hospital Medical Teaching Institution, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Bruno Rodrigues do Prado
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Dalton Dittz
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), Av. Universitária, Teresina, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Lages Rodrigues
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Sydnei Magno da Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av Amazonas, s/n, Umuarama, Brazil
| | | | - Muhammad Shabeer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Frédéric Frézard
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Postgraduate Program in Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Cynthia Demicheli
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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7
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Saleh F, Kheirandish F, Abbasi M, Ahmadpour F, Veiskarami S, Mirderikvand A. Comparison of biosynthetic zinc oxide nanoparticle and glucantime cytotoxic effects on Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER). J Basic Microbiol 2024; 64:e2300490. [PMID: 38227394 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Currently, zinc oxide (ZnO) particles are used in nanotechnology to destroy a wide range of microorganisms. Although pentavalent antimony compounds are used as antileishmanial drugs, they are associated with several limitations and side effects. Therefore, it is always desirable to try to find new and effective treatments. The aim of this research is to determine the antileishmanial effect of ZnO particles in comparison to the Antimoan Meglumine compound on promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER). After the extraction and purification of macrophages from the peritoneal cavity of C57BL/6 mice, L. major parasites were cultured in Roswell Park Memorial Institute-1640 culture medium containing fetal bovine serum (FBS) 10% and antibiotic. In this experimental study, the effect of different concentrations of nanoparticles was investigated using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric method, in comparison to the glucantime on promastigotes, amastigotes and healthy macrophages in the culture medium. The amount of light absorption of the obtained color from the regeneration of tetrazolium salt to the product color of formazan by the parasite was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader, and the IC50 value was calculated. IC50 after 24 h of incubation was calculated as IC50 = 358.6 µg/mL. The results showed, that the efficacy of ZnO nanoparticles was favorable and dose-dependent. The concentration of 500 µg/mL of ZnO nanoparticles induced 84.67% apoptosis after 72. Also, the toxicity of nanoparticles was less than the drug. Nanoparticles exert their cytotoxic effects by inducing apoptosis. They can be suitable candidates in the pharmaceutical industry in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Saleh
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Farnaz Kheirandish
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Abbasi
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ahmadpour
- Nutritional Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Saeed Veiskarami
- Department of Animal Science, Lorestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Atefe Mirderikvand
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
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8
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Pivotto AP, de Souza Lima LB, Michelon A, Ferreira CZP, Gandra RF, Ayala TS, Menolli RA. Topical application of ozonated sunflower oil accelerates the healing of lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis in mice under meglumine antimoniate treatment. Med Microbiol Immunol 2024; 213:4. [PMID: 38532203 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-024-00788-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Besides being scarce, the drugs available for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis have many adverse effects. Ozone is an option to enhance the standard treatment due to the wound-healing activity reported in the literature. In this study, we evaluated the efficiency of ozonated sunflower oil as an adjuvant in treating cutaneous lesions caused by Leishmania amazonensis. BALB/c mice were infected with L. amazonensis, and after the lesions appeared, they were treated in four different schedules using the drug treatment with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®), with or without ozonated oil. After thirty days of treatment, the lesions' thickness and their parasitic burden, blood leukocytes, production of NO and cytokines from peritoneal macrophages and lymph node cells were analyzed. The group treated with ozonated oil plus meglumine antimoniate showed the best performance, improving the lesion significantly. The parasitic burden showed that ozonated oil enhanced the leishmanicidal activity of the treatment, eliminating the parasites in the lesion. Besides, a decrease in the TNF levels from peritoneal macrophages and blood leukocytes demonstrated an immunomodulatory action of ozone in the ozonated oil-treated animals compared to the untreated group. Thus, ozonated sunflower oil therapy has been shown as an adjuvant in treating Leishmania lesions since this treatment enhanced the leishmanicidal and wound healing effects of meglumine antimoniate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Pivotto
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Center of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western Parana State University, Cascavel, PR, Zip Code 85819-110, Brazil
| | - Lucas Bonatto de Souza Lima
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Center of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western Parana State University, Cascavel, PR, Zip Code 85819-110, Brazil
| | - Alexandra Michelon
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Center of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western Parana State University, Cascavel, PR, Zip Code 85819-110, Brazil
| | - Camilla Zottesso Pellon Ferreira
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Center of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western Parana State University, Cascavel, PR, Zip Code 85819-110, Brazil
| | - Rinaldo Ferreira Gandra
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Western Parana University Hospital, Western Parana State University, Cascavel, PR, Brazil
| | - Thaís Soprani Ayala
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Center of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western Parana State University, Cascavel, PR, Zip Code 85819-110, Brazil
| | - Rafael Andrade Menolli
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Center of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western Parana State University, Cascavel, PR, Zip Code 85819-110, Brazil.
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Sozanschi A, Asiki H, Amaral M, de Castro Levatti EV, Tempone AG, Wheeler RJ, Anderson EA. Synthesis and Evaluation of (Bis)benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloids as Antiparasitic Agents. JACS AU 2024; 4:847-854. [PMID: 38425909 PMCID: PMC10900488 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis and Chagas disease are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that severely impact the developing world. With current therapies suffering from poor efficacy and safety profiles as well as emerging resistance, new drug leads are direly needed. In this work, 26 alkaloids (9 natural and 17 synthetic) belonging to the benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline (BI) family were evaluated against both the pro/trypomastigote and amastigote forms of the parasites Leishmania infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agents of these diseases. These alkaloids were synthesized via an efficient and modular enantioselective approach based on Bischler-Napieralski cyclization/Noyori asymmetric transfer hydrogenation to build the tetrahydroisoquinoline core. The bis-benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline (BBI) alkaloids were prepared using an Ullmann coupling of two BI units to form the biaryl ether linkage, which enabled a comprehensive survey of the influence of BI stereochemistry on bioactivity. Preliminary studies into the mechanism of action against Leishmania mexicana demonstrate that these compounds interfere with the cell cycle, potentially through inhibition of kinetoplast division, which may offer opportunities to identify a new target/mechanism of action. Three of the synthesized alkaloids showed promising druglike potential, meeting the Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi) criteria for a hit against Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sozanschi
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Hannah Asiki
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
- Peter
Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford , OX1 3SY, U.K.
| | - Maiara Amaral
- Laboratory
of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto
de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, 05403-000 São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Andre G. Tempone
- Laboratory
of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Richard J. Wheeler
- Peter
Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford , OX1 3SY, U.K.
| | - Edward A. Anderson
- Chemistry
Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
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10
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Dourado D, Silva Medeiros T, do Nascimento Alencar É, Matos Sales E, Formiga FR. Curcumin-loaded nanostructured systems for treatment of leishmaniasis: a review. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 15:37-50. [PMID: 38213574 PMCID: PMC10777206 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.15.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that has affected more than 350 million people worldwide and can manifest itself in three different forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral. Furthermore, the current treatment options have drawbacks which compromise efficacy and patient compliance. To face this global health concern, new alternatives for the treatment of leishmaniasis have been explored. Curcumin, a polyphenol obtained from the rhizome of turmeric, exhibits leishmanicidal activity against different species of Leishmania spp. Although its mechanism of action has not yet been fully elucidated, its leishmanicidal potential may be associated with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it has limitations that compromise its clinical use. Conversely, nanotechnology has been used as a tool for solving biopharmaceutical challenges associated with drugs, such as curcumin. From a drug delivery standpoint, nanocarriers (1-1000 nm) can improve stability, increase solubility, promote intracellular delivery, and increase biological activity. Thus, this review offers a deep look into curcumin-loaded nanocarriers intended for the treatment of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Dourado
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Thayse Silva Medeiros
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), 59010180, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Éverton do Nascimento Alencar
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), 79070-900, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | | | - Fábio Rocha Formiga
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute (IAM), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil
- Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), 50100-130, Recife, PE, Brazil
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11
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Mahmoudi M, Mehravi B, Shabani M, Hadighi R, Badirzadeh A, Dehdast A, Chizari-Fard G, Pirhajati-Mahabadi V, Akbari S, Tabatabaie F, Mohebali M. Anti-Leishmanial Effects of a Novel Biocompatible Non-Invasive Nanofibers Containing Royal Jelly and Propolis against Iranian Strain of Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER): an In-Vitro Study. J Arthropod Borne Dis 2023; 17:299-320. [PMID: 38868671 PMCID: PMC11164616 DOI: 10.18502/jad.v17i4.15294] [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: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Current medications especially the pentavalent antimonial compounds have been used as the first line treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), but they have limitations due to serious side effects such as drug resistance, cardio and nephrotoxicity, and high costs. Hence, the demand to find more usable drugs is evident. Synthesis and development of natural, effective, biocompatible, and harmless compounds against Leishmania major is the principal priority of this study. Methods By electrospinning method, a new type of nanofiber were synthesized from royal jelly and propolis with different ratios. Nanofibers were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Contact angle, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), Half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) and the 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) for different concentrations of nanofibers were determined using quantitative calorimetric methods. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and flow cytometry were performed as complementary tests. Results The results showed that the proposed formulas provide a new achievement that, despite the significant killing activity on L. major, has negligible cytotoxicity on the host cells. Royal jelly nanofibers have significantly shown the best 72 hours results (IC50= 35 μg/ml and EC50=16.4 μg/ml) and the least cytotoxicity. Conclusion This study presents a great challenge to introduce a new low-cost treatment method for CL, accelerate wound healing, and reduce scarring with minimal side effects and biocompatible materials. Royal jelly and propolis nanofibers significantly inhibit the growth of L. major in-vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Mahmoudi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bita Mehravi
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Shabani
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramtin Hadighi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Badirzadeh
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Dehdast
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghazale Chizari-Fard
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Pirhajati-Mahabadi
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sekineh Akbari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tabatabaie
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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12
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Duffin RN, Andrews PC. Structure-activity effects in the anti-leishmanial activity of di-alkyl gallium quinolin-8-olates. Dalton Trans 2023; 52:15848-15858. [PMID: 37828871 DOI: 10.1039/d3dt02542j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Six (G1-G6) novel organogallium complexes of the general formula [Ga(R)2quin] (where R = Et, iPr, nBu, tBu, sBu and hexyl; quin = quinolin-8-olate, C9H6NO) have been synthesised and fully characterised. Single crystal X-ray diffraction shows the complexes adopt a five-coordinate geometry through dimerisation. Complexes G1-G5 were analytically pure and could undergo further biological analysis. [Ga(hex)2quin] G6 could not be satisfactorily purified and was excluded from biological assays. 1H NMR spectroscopy indicated the complexes are stable to hydrolysis over 24 hours in 'wet' d6-DMSO. Complexes G1-G5 were assessed for their anti-leishmanial activity towards three separate strains: L. major, L. amazonensis and L. donovani, with varied results toward the promastigote form. G1 and G2 were found to be the most selective with little to no toxicity towards mammalian cell lines. Amastigote invasion assays on the three strains showed that [Ga(nBu)2quin] G3 and [Ga(tBu)2quin] G4 gave the best all round anti-parasitic activity with percentage infection ranges of 1.50-3.00% and 3.25-7.50% respectively, with G3 out-performing the drug control amphotericin B in all three assays. The activity was found to correlate with lipophilicity and water solubility, with the most effective G3 proving the most lipophilic and least water soluble.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah N Duffin
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Philip C Andrews
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
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13
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Martín-Montes Á, Jimenez-Falcao S, Gómez-Ruiz S, Marín C, Mendez-Arriaga JM. First-Row Transition 7-Oxo-5-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine Metal Complexes: Antiparasitic Activity and Release Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1380. [PMID: 37895851 PMCID: PMC10610057 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101380] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease are still considered neglected illnesses due to the lack of investment in research, despite the fact that almost one million new cases are reported every year. Four 7-oxo-5-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (HftpO) first-row transition complexes (Cu, Co, Ni, Zn) have been studied for the first time in vitro against five different species of Leishmania spp. (L. infantum, L. braziliensis, L. donovani, L. peruviana and L. mexicana) as well as Trypanosoma cruzi, showing higher efficacy than the reference commercial drugs. UV and luminescence properties were also evaluated. As a proof of concept, anchoring of a model high-effective-metal complex as an antiparasitic agent on silica nanoparticles was carried out for the first time, and drug-release behaviour was evaluated, assessing this new approach for drug vehiculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Martín-Montes
- Departamento De Parasitología, Universidad De Granada, Avenida Fuentenueva, 18071 Granada, Spain;
| | - Sandra Jimenez-Falcao
- Organic Nanotechnology Lab, Departamento De Materiales Y Producción Aeroespacial E.T.S.I Aeronáutica Y Del Espacio, Universidad Politécnica De Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Santiago Gómez-Ruiz
- COMET-NANO Group, Departamento De Biología y Geología, Física Y Química Inorgánica, E.S.C.E.T., Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain;
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Departamento De Parasitología, Universidad De Granada, Avenida Fuentenueva, 18071 Granada, Spain;
| | - José M. Mendez-Arriaga
- COMET-NANO Group, Departamento De Biología y Geología, Física Y Química Inorgánica, E.S.C.E.T., Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain;
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14
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Bhattacharya S, Bhattacharyya T, Khanra S, Banerjee R, Dash J. Nucleoside-Derived Metallohydrogel Induces Cell Death in Leishmania Parasites. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1676-1684. [PMID: 37606735 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00635] [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] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembled hydrogels by virtue of their unique 3D network and tunability have extensively been explored for bio-medical applications like tissue engineering, delivery and release of therapeutic agents, etc. Herein, we demonstrate for the first-time nucleoside-based biocompatible hydrogels with a remarkable leishmanicidal effect against both Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes and no cytotoxic effect on the macrophage cell line. In this work, a series of biocompatible hydrogels have been synthesized by silver ion-driven self-assembly of natural nucleoside and nucleotide-like cytidine and 5'-GMP. The supramolecular metallogel obtained from the assembly of cytidine and boronic acid is capable of inducing apoptotic-like cell death of protozoan parasite by causing damage to the membrane as well as DNA. These hydrogels could find promising applications in combating cutaneous leishmaniasis by topical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semantee Bhattacharya
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Tanima Bhattacharyya
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Supriya Khanra
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata 700064, India
| | - Rahul Banerjee
- Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata 700064, India
| | - Jyotirmayee Dash
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
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15
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dos Santos FS, de Freitas RP, de Freitas CS, Mendonça DVC, Lage DP, Tavares GDSV, Machado AS, Martins VT, Costa AV, de Queiroz VT, de Oliveira MB, de Oliveira FM, Antinarelli LMR, Coimbra ES, Pilau EJ, da Silva GP, Coelho EAF, Teixeira RR. Synthesis of 1,2,3-Triazole-Containing Methoxylated Cinnamides and Their Antileishmanial Activity against the Leishmania braziliensis Species. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1113. [PMID: 37631028 PMCID: PMC10459042 DOI: 10.3390/ph16081113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a group of infectious diseases caused by protozoan parasites that belong to the genus Leishmania. Currently, there is no human vaccine, and the available treatments are associated with toxicity, high cost, and the emergence of resistant strains. These factors highlight the need to identify new antileishmanial candidates. In this study, we synthesized twenty-four methoxylated cinnamides containing 1,2,3-triazole fragments and evaluated their antileishmanial activity against the Leishmania braziliensis species, which is the main etiological agent responsible for American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL). The cinnamides were synthetically prepared using nucleophilic acyl substitution and copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions. The compounds were characterized using infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques. We performed preliminary studies to evaluate the biological activity of these compounds against L. braziliensis promastigotes and axenic amastigotes. Compound 28, N-((1-(7-(diethylamino)-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-yl) methyl)-3,4-dimethoxy cinnamide, demonstrated relevant antileishmanial activity with low toxicity in murine cells. The selectivity index values for this compound were superior compared with data obtained using amphotericin B. Furthermore, this cinnamide derivative reduced the infection percentage and number of recovered amastigotes in L. braziliensis-infected macrophages. It also induced an increase in reactive oxygen species production, depolarization of the mitochondrial potential, and disruption of the parasite membrane. Taken together, these findings suggest that this synthetic compound holds potential as an antileishmanial candidate and should be considered for future studies in the treatment of ATL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabíola Suelen dos Santos
- Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica (LABSINTO), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (F.S.d.S.); (R.P.d.F.)
| | - Rossimiriam Pereira de Freitas
- Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica (LABSINTO), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (F.S.d.S.); (R.P.d.F.)
| | - Camila Simões de Freitas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (D.V.C.M.); (D.P.L.); (G.d.S.V.T.); (A.S.M.); (V.T.M.); (E.A.F.C.)
| | - Débora Vasconcelos Costa Mendonça
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (D.V.C.M.); (D.P.L.); (G.d.S.V.T.); (A.S.M.); (V.T.M.); (E.A.F.C.)
| | - Daniela Pagliara Lage
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (D.V.C.M.); (D.P.L.); (G.d.S.V.T.); (A.S.M.); (V.T.M.); (E.A.F.C.)
| | - Grasiele de Sousa Vieira Tavares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (D.V.C.M.); (D.P.L.); (G.d.S.V.T.); (A.S.M.); (V.T.M.); (E.A.F.C.)
| | - Amanda Sanchez Machado
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (D.V.C.M.); (D.P.L.); (G.d.S.V.T.); (A.S.M.); (V.T.M.); (E.A.F.C.)
| | - Vivian Tamieti Martins
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (D.V.C.M.); (D.P.L.); (G.d.S.V.T.); (A.S.M.); (V.T.M.); (E.A.F.C.)
| | - Adilson Vidal Costa
- Grupo de Estudo Aplicado em Produtos Naturais e Síntese Orgânica (GEAPS), Departamento de Química e Física, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Espírito Santo, Brazil; (A.V.C.); (V.T.d.Q.); (M.B.d.O.)
| | - Vagner Tebaldi de Queiroz
- Grupo de Estudo Aplicado em Produtos Naturais e Síntese Orgânica (GEAPS), Departamento de Química e Física, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Espírito Santo, Brazil; (A.V.C.); (V.T.d.Q.); (M.B.d.O.)
| | - Mariana Belizario de Oliveira
- Grupo de Estudo Aplicado em Produtos Naturais e Síntese Orgânica (GEAPS), Departamento de Química e Física, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre 29500-000, Espírito Santo, Brazil; (A.V.C.); (V.T.d.Q.); (M.B.d.O.)
| | | | - Luciana Maria Ribeiro Antinarelli
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora 36036-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (L.M.R.A.); (E.S.C.)
| | - Elaine Soares Coimbra
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora 36036-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (L.M.R.A.); (E.S.C.)
| | - Eduardo Jorge Pilau
- Centro de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Química, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá 87020-900, Paraná, Brazil; (E.J.P.); (G.P.d.S.)
| | - Geovane Perez da Silva
- Centro de Ciências Exatas, Departamento de Química, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá 87020-900, Paraná, Brazil; (E.J.P.); (G.P.d.S.)
| | - Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil; (C.S.d.F.); (D.V.C.M.); (D.P.L.); (G.d.S.V.T.); (A.S.M.); (V.T.M.); (E.A.F.C.)
| | - Róbson Ricardo Teixeira
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos (GSPCB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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16
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García-García A, Rojas S, Rodríguez-Diéguez A. Therapy and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: from discrete metal complexes to metal-organic frameworks. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:7024-7040. [PMID: 37435638 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb00427a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting 44 million people worldwide. Although many issues (pathogenesis, genetics, clinical features, and pathological aspects) are still unknown, this disease is characterized by noticeable hallmarks such as the formation of β-amyloid plaques, hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, and the reduction of acetylcholine levels. There is still no cure for AD and the current treatments are aimed at regulating the cholinesterase levels, attenuating symptoms temporarily rather than preventing the AD progression. In this context, coordination compounds are regarded as a promissing tool in AD treatment and/or diagnosis. Coordination compounds (discrete or polymeric) possess several features that make them an interesting option for developing new drugs for AD (good biocompatibility, porosity, synergetic effects of ligand-metal, fluorescence, particle size, homogeneity, monodispersity, etc.). This review discusses the recent progress in the development of novel discrete metal complexes and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the treatment, diagnosis and theragnosis of AD. These advanced therapies for AD treatment are organized according to the target: Aβ peptides, hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, synaptic dysfunction, and mitochondrial failure with subsequent oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia García-García
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Av. Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, Spain.
- Centro de Química del Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, 18 sur & Av. San Claudio, Col. San Manuel, 72570 Puebla, Mexico
| | - Sara Rojas
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Av. Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, Spain.
| | - Antonio Rodríguez-Diéguez
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Av. Fuentenueva S/N, 18071 Granada, Spain.
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17
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Demicheli C, Vallejos VMR, Lanza JS, Ramos GS, Do Prado BR, Pomel S, Loiseau PM, Frézard F. Supramolecular assemblies from antimony(V) complexes for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:751-765. [PMID: 37681109 PMCID: PMC10480371 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01073-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The pentavalent meglumine antimoniate (MA) is still a first-line drug in the treatment of leishmaniasis in several countries. As an attempt to elucidate its mechanism of action and develop new antimonial drugs with improved therapeutic profile, Sb(V) complexes with different ligands, including β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), nucleosides and non-ionic surfactants, have been studied. Interestingly, Sb(V) oxide, MA, its complex with β-CD, Sb(V)-guanosine complex and amphiphilic Sb(V) complexes with N-alkyl-N-methylglucamide, have shown marked tendency to self-assemble in aqueous solutions, forming nanoaggregates, hydrogel or micelle-like nanoparticles. Surprisingly, the resulting assemblies presented in most cases slow dissociation kinetics upon dilution and a strong influence of pH, which impacted on their pharmacokinetic and therapeutic properties against leishmaniasis. To explain this unique property, we raised the hypothesis that multiple pnictogen bonds could contribute to the formation of these assemblies and their kinetic of dissociation. The present article reviews our current knowledge on the structural organization and physicochemical characteristics of Sb-based supramolecular assemblies, as well as their pharmacological properties and potential for treatment of leishmaniasis. This review supports the feasibility of the rational design of new Sb(V) complexes with supramolecular assemblies for the safe and effective treatment of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Demicheli
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901 Brazil
| | - Virgínia M. R. Vallejos
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901 Brazil
| | | | - Guilherme S. Ramos
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901 Brazil
| | - Bruno R. Do Prado
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901 Brazil
| | - Sébastien Pomel
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Antiparasite Chemotherapy (PARACHEM), UMR 8076 CNRS BioCIS, University Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Philippe M. Loiseau
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Antiparasite Chemotherapy (PARACHEM), UMR 8076 CNRS BioCIS, University Paris-Saclay, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Frédéric Frézard
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901 Brazil
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18
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Afonso RC, Yien RMK, de Siqueira LBDO, Simas NK, Dos Santos Matos AP, Ricci-Júnior E. Promising natural products for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: A review of in vitro and in vivo studies. Exp Parasitol 2023; 251:108554. [PMID: 37268108 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108554] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Although there are available treatments for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), the drugs used are far from ideal, toxic, and costly, in addition to the challenge faced by the development of resistance. Plants have been used as a source of natural compounds with antileishmanial action. However, few have reached the market and become phytomedicines with registration in regulatory agencies. Difficulties related to the extraction, purification, chemical identification, efficacy, safety, and production in sufficient quantity for clinical studies, hinder the emergence of new effective phytomedicines against leishmaniasis. Despite the difficulties reported, the major research centers in the world see that natural products are a trend concerning the treatment of leishmaniasis. The present work consists of a literature review of articles with in vivo studies, covering the period from January 2011 to December 2022, providing an overview of promising natural products for CL treatment. The papers show encouraging antileishmanial action of natural compounds with reduced parasite load and lesion size in animal models, suggesting new strategies for the treatment of the disease. The results reported in this review show advances in using natural products as safe and effective formulations, which can stimulate clinical studies to establish clinical therapy. In conclusion, the information in this review article serves as a preliminary basis for establishing a therapeutic protocol for future clinical trials that can validate the safety and efficacy of natural compounds, providing the development of affordable and safe phytomedicines for the treatment of CL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhuane Coutinho Afonso
- Galenic Development Laboratory (LADEG), Department of Drugs and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Raíssa Mara Kao Yien
- Galenic Development Laboratory (LADEG), Department of Drugs and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Laboratory of Natural Products and Biological Assays, Department of Natural Products and Food, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Naomi Kato Simas
- Laboratory of Natural Products and Biological Assays, Department of Natural Products and Food, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Dos Santos Matos
- Galenic Development Laboratory (LADEG), Department of Drugs and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Ricci-Júnior
- Galenic Development Laboratory (LADEG), Department of Drugs and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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19
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Ogra Y, Roldán N, Verdugo M, González AA, Suzuki N, Quiroz W. Distribution, Metabolism, and Toxicity of Antimony Species in Wistar Rats. A Bio-Analytical Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023:104160. [PMID: 37236494 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
This work studied the distribution, reactivity, and biological effects of pentavalent or trivalent antimony (Sb(V), Sb(III)) and N-methylglucamine antimonate (NMG-Sb(V)) in Wistar Rats. The expression of fibrosis genes such as α-SMA, PAI-1, and CTGF were determined in Liver, and Kidney tissues. Wistar rats were treated with different concentrations of Sb(V), Sb(III), As(V) and As(III), and MA via intra-peritoneal injections. The results indicated a noteworthy elevation in mRNA levels of plasminogen activator 1 (PAI-1) in the kidneys of rats that were injected. The main accumulation site for Sb(V) was observed to be the liver, from which it is primarily excreted in its reduced form (Sb(III)) through the urine. The generation of Sb(III) in the kidneys has been found to induce damage through the expression of α-SMA and CTGF, and also lead to a higher creatinine clearance compared to As(III).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasumitsu Ogra
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Japan.
| | - Nicole Roldán
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Japan; Laboratorio de Química Analítica y Ambiental, Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile; Laboratorio de Química Biológica, Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Marcelo Verdugo
- Laboratorio de Química Analítica y Ambiental, Departamento de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Alexis A González
- Laboratorio de Química Biológica, Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Noriyuki Suzuki
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Japan
| | - Waldo Quiroz
- Laboratorio de Química Analítica y Ambiental, Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile
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20
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Yadagiri G, Singh A, Arora K, Mudavath SL. Immunotherapy and immunochemotherapy in combating visceral leishmaniasis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1096458. [PMID: 37265481 PMCID: PMC10229823 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1096458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a vector-borne disease, is caused by an obligate intramacrophage, kinetoplastid protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania. Globally, VL is construed of diversity and complexity concerned with high fatality in tropics, subtropics, and Mediterranean regions with ~50,000-90,000 new cases annually. Factors such as the unavailability of licensed vaccine(s), insubstantial measures to control vectors, and unrestrained surge of drug-resistant parasites and HIV-VL co-infections lead to difficulty in VL treatment and control. Furthermore, VL treatment, which encompasses several problems including limited efficacy, emanation of drug-resistant parasites, exorbitant therapy, and exigency of hospitalization until the completion of treatment, further exacerbates disease severity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of safe and efficacious therapies to control and eliminate this devastating disease. In such a scenario, biotherapy/immunotherapy against VL can become an alternative strategy with limited side effects and no or nominal chance of drug resistance. An extensive understanding of pathogenesis and immunological events that ensue during VL infection is vital for the development of immunotherapeutic strategies against VL. Immunotherapy alone or in combination with standard anti-leishmanial chemotherapeutic agents (immunochemotherapy) has shown better therapeutic outcomes in preclinical studies. This review extensively addresses VL treatment with an emphasis on immunotherapy or immunochemotherapeutic strategies to improve therapeutic outcomes as an alternative to conventional chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesh Yadagiri
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, Punjab, India
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Aakriti Singh
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Kanika Arora
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Shyam Lal Mudavath
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, Punjab, India
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21
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Dube P, Angula KT, Legoabe LJ, Jordaan A, Boitz Zarella JM, Warner DF, Doggett JS, Beteck RM. Quinolone-3-amidoalkanol: A New Class of Potent and Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Agent. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:17086-17102. [PMID: 37214682 PMCID: PMC10193574 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we describe 39 novel quinolone compounds bearing a hydrophilic amine chain and varied substituted benzyloxy units. These compounds demonstrate broad-spectrum activities against acid-fast bacterium, Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, fungi, and leishmania parasite. Compound 30 maintained antitubercular activity against moxifloxacin-, isoniazid-, and rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, while 37 exhibited low micromolar activities (<1 μg/mL) against World Health Organization (WHO) critical pathogens: Cryptococcus neoformans, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Compounds in this study are metabolically robust, demonstrating % remnant of >98% after 30 min in the presence of human, rat, and mouse liver microsomes. Several compounds thus reported here are promising leads for the treatment of diseases caused by infectious agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phelelisiwe
S. Dube
- Centre
of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Klaudia T. Angula
- Centre
of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Lesetja J. Legoabe
- Centre
of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Audrey Jordaan
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT
Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
- Institute
of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Jan M. Boitz Zarella
- Division
of Infectious Diseases, VA Portland Healthcare
System, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Digby F. Warner
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT
Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
- Institute
of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
- Wellcome
Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa),
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of
Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - J. Stone Doggett
- Division
of Infectious Diseases, VA Portland Healthcare
System, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Richard M. Beteck
- Centre
of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
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22
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Abirami M, Karan Kumar B, Dey S, Johri S, Reguera RM, Balaña-Fouce R, Gowri Chandra Sekhar KV, Sankaranarayanan M. Molecular-level strategic goals and repressors in Leishmaniasis - Integrated data to accelerate target-based heterocyclic scaffolds. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 257:115471. [PMID: 37257213 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a complex of neglected tropical diseases caused by various species of leishmanial parasites that primarily affect the world's poorest people. A limited number of standard medications are available for this disease that has been used for several decades, these drugs have many drawbacks such as resistance, higher cost, and patient compliance, making it difficult to reach the poor. The search for novel chemical entities to treat leishmaniasis has led to target-based scaffold research. Among several identified potential molecular targets, enzymes involved in the purine salvage pathway include polyamine biosynthetic process, such as arginase, ornithine decarboxylase, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, spermidine synthase, trypanothione reductase as well as enzymes in the DNA cell cycle, such as DNA topoisomerases I and II plays vital role in the life cycle survival of leishmanial parasite. This review mainly focuses on various heterocyclic scaffolds, and their specific inhibitory targets against leishmaniasis, particularly those from the polyamine biosynthesis pathway and DNA topoisomerases with estimated activity studies of various heterocyclic analogs in terms of their IC50 or EC50 value, reported molecular docking analysis from available published literatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Abirami
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, India
| | - Banoth Karan Kumar
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, India; Department of Pharmacy, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vaddeswaram, AP, India
| | - Sanchita Dey
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, India
| | - Samridhi Johri
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, India
| | - Rosa M Reguera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of León, 24071, León, Spain
| | | | - Kondapalli Venkata Gowri Chandra Sekhar
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Kapra Mandal, Hyderabad, 500078, Telangana, India
| | - Murugesan Sankaranarayanan
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, India.
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23
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Lima SKSD, Jesus JA, Raminelli C, Laurenti MD, Passero LFD. High Selectivity of 8-Hydroxyquinoline on Leishmania (Leishmania) and Leishmania (Viannia) Species Correlates with a Potent Therapeutic Activity In Vivo. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050707. [PMID: 37242490 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050707] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which causes different clinical manifestations. Drugs currently used in the treatment such as pentavalent antimonial and amphotericin B cause severe side effects in patients, and parasite resistance has been reported. Thus, it is necessary and urgent to characterize new and effective alternative drugs to replace the current chemotherapy of leishmaniasis. In this regard, it has been experimentally demonstrated that quinoline derivatives present significative pharmacological and parasitic properties. Thus, the aim of this work was to demonstrate the leishmanicidal activity of 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) in vitro and in vivo. The leishmanicidal activity (in vitro) of 8-HQ was assayed on promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of L. (L.) amazonensis, L. (L.) infantum chagasi, L. (V.) guyanensis L. (V.) naiffi, L. (V.) lainsoni, and L. (V.) shawi. Additionally, the levels of nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide were analyzed. The therapeutic potential of 8-HQ was analyzed in BALB/c mice infected with a strain of L. (L.) amazonensis that causes anergic cutaneous diffuse leishmaniasis. In vitro data showed that at 24 and 72 h, 8-HQ eliminated promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of all studied species and this effect may be potentialized by nitric oxide. Furthermore, 8-HQ was more selective than miltefosine. Infected animals treated with 8-HQ by the intralesional route dramatically reduced the number of tissue parasites in the skin, and it was associated with an increase in IFN-γ and decrease in IL-4, which correlated with a reduction in inflammatory reaction in the skin. These results strongly support the idea that 8-HQ is an alternative molecule that can be employed in the treatment of leishmaniasis, given its selectivity and multispectral action in parasites from the Leishmania genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kymberly Santos de Lima
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n, São Vicente 11330-900, Brazil
- Laboratory of Pathology of Infectious Diseases (LIM50), Department of Pathology, Medical School of São Paulo University, São Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Adriana Jesus
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n, São Vicente 11330-900, Brazil
| | - Cristiano Raminelli
- Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema 09920-000, Brazil
| | - Márcia Dalastra Laurenti
- Laboratory of Pathology of Infectious Diseases (LIM50), Department of Pathology, Medical School of São Paulo University, São Paulo 01246-903, Brazil
| | - Luiz Felipe Domingues Passero
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n, São Vicente 11330-900, Brazil
- Institute for Advanced Studies of Ocean, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rua João Francisco Bensdorp, 1178, São Vicente 11350-011, Brazil
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24
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Peixoto JF, Gonçalves-Oliveira LF, Souza-Silva F, Côrtes LMDC, Dias-Lopes G, Cardoso FDO, Santos RDO, Patricio BFDC, Nicoletti CD, Lima CGDS, Calabrese KDS, Moreira DDL, Rocha HVA, da Silva FDC, Ferreira VF, Alves CR. Development of a microemulsion loaded with epoxy-α-lapachone against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis murine infection. Int J Pharm 2023; 636:122864. [PMID: 36934883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Epoxy-α-lapachone (ELAP), an oxirane-functionalized molecule synthesized from naturally occurring lapachol, has shown promising activity against murine infection with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Herein, we report the successful development of oil-in-water-type (o/w) microemulsions (ME) loaded with ELAP (ELAP-ME) using Capmul MCM, Labrasol, and PEG 400. Stability studies revealed that ELAP-ME (100 µg/mL of ELAP), which was comprised of globule size smaller than 120.4 ± 7.7 nm, displayed a good stability profile over 73 days. ELAP-ME had an effect in BALB/c mice infected with L. (L.) amazonensis, causing reductions in paw lesions after two weeks of treatment (∼2-fold) when compared to untreated animals. Furthermore, there was also a reduction in the parasite load both in the footpad (60.3%) and in the lymph nodes (31.5%). Based on these findings, ELAP-ME emerges as a promising treatment for tegumentar leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Figueiredo Peixoto
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luiz Filipe Gonçalves-Oliveira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Franklin Souza-Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Iguaçu, Avenida Abílio Augusto Távora 2134, CEP 26260-045, Dom Rodrigo, Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luzia Monteiro de Castro Côrtes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Geovane Dias-Lopes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Flávia de Oliveira Cardoso
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia, Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rafael de Oliveira Santos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos, Farmanguinhos, Departamento de Produtos Naturais, Sizenando Nabuco 100, CEP 21041250, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais, Rua Pacheco Leão 15, CEP 22460-030, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Ferreira de Carvalho Patricio
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Farmanguinhos, Laboratório de Micro e Nanotecnologia, Avenida Brasil 4036, CEP 21040361, Bonsucesso, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto Biomédico, Laboratório de Farmacologia, Rua Frei Caneca 94, Centro, CEP 20211040, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Caroline Deckmann Nicoletti
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica, Outeiro de São João Batista s/n, CEP 24020-141, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carolina Guimarães de Souza Lima
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica, Outeiro de São João Batista s/n, CEP 24020-141, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Kátia da Silva Calabrese
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia, Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Davyson de Lima Moreira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos, Farmanguinhos, Departamento de Produtos Naturais, Sizenando Nabuco 100, CEP 21041250, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Produtos Naturais, Rua Pacheco Leão 15, CEP 22460-030, Jardim Botânico, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Helvécio Vinícius Antunes Rocha
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Farmanguinhos, Laboratório de Micro e Nanotecnologia, Avenida Brasil 4036, CEP 21040361, Bonsucesso, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernando de Carvalho da Silva
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica, Outeiro de São João Batista s/n, CEP 24020-141, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Vitor Francisco Ferreira
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica, Outeiro de São João Batista s/n, CEP 24020-141, Niterói, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Federal Fluminense, Faculdade de Farmácia, Departamento de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Rua Dr. Mario Vianna 523, Santa Rosa, CEP 24241-002, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos Roberto Alves
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil 4365, CEP 21040-900, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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25
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García-Estrada C, Pérez-Pertejo Y, Domínguez-Asenjo B, Holanda VN, Murugesan S, Martínez-Valladares M, Balaña-Fouce R, Reguera RM. Further Investigations of Nitroheterocyclic Compounds as Potential Antikinetoplastid Drug Candidates. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040637. [PMID: 37189384 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the lack of specific vaccines, management of the trypanosomatid-caused neglected tropical diseases (sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis) relies exclusively on pharmacological treatments. Current drugs against them are scarce, old and exhibit disadvantages, such as adverse effects, parenteral administration, chemical instability and high costs which are often unaffordable for endemic low-income countries. Discoveries of new pharmacological entities for the treatment of these diseases are scarce, since most of the big pharmaceutical companies find this market unattractive. In order to fill the pipeline of compounds and replace existing ones, highly translatable drug screening platforms have been developed in the last two decades. Thousands of molecules have been tested, including nitroheterocyclic compounds, such as benznidazole and nifurtimox, which had already provided potent and effective effects against Chagas disease. More recently, fexinidazole has been added as a new drug against African trypanosomiasis. Despite the success of nitroheterocycles, they had been discarded from drug discovery campaigns due to their mutagenic potential, but now they represent a promising source of inspiration for oral drugs that can replace those currently on the market. The examples provided by the trypanocidal activity of fexinidazole and the promising efficacy of the derivative DNDi-0690 against leishmaniasis seem to open a new window of opportunity for these compounds that were discovered in the 1960s. In this review, we show the current uses of nitroheterocycles and the novel derived molecules that are being synthesized against these neglected diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos García-Estrada
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Yolanda Pérez-Pertejo
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Bárbara Domínguez-Asenjo
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Vanderlan Nogueira Holanda
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Sankaranarayanan Murugesan
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani 333031, India
| | - María Martínez-Valladares
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (IGM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de León, Carretera León-Vega de Infanzones, Vega de Infanzones, 24346 León, Spain
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Rosa M. Reguera
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
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Tagliazucchi L, Perea-Martinez A, Fiorini G, Manzano JI, Genovese F, García-Hernández R, Pinetti D, Gamarro F, Costi MP. Label-Free Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Reveals Different Pathways Modulated in THP-1 Cells Infected with Therapeutic Failure and Drug Resistance Leishmania infantum Clinical Isolates. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:470-485. [PMID: 36762976 PMCID: PMC10012269 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
As the world is facing increasing difficulties to treat leishmaniasis with current therapies, deeper investigation into the molecular mechanisms responsible for both drug resistance and treatment failure (TF) is essential in drug discovery and development. So far, few available drugs cause severe side effects and have developed several resistance mechanisms. Drug resistance and TF parasite strains from clinical isolates may have acquired altered expression of proteins that characterize specific mechanisms leading to therapy inefficacy. This work aims to identify the biochemical pathways of THP-1 human monocytes infected by different Leishmania infantum clinical isolates from patients with either resistance or with TF outcome, using whole cell differential Mass Spectrometry proteomics. We have adopted network enrichment analysis to integrate the transcriptomics and the proteomic results of infected cells studies. Transferrin receptor C (TFRC) and nucleoside diphosphate kinase 3 (NDK3) were discovered as overexpressed proteins in THP-1 cells infected with paromomycin, antimony, and miltefosine resistant L. infantum lines. The overall achievements represent founding concepts to confirm new targets involved in the parasitic drug resistance and TF mechanisms, and to consider in perspective the importance of a dual host-guest pharmacological approach to treat the acute stage of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Tagliazucchi
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy.,Clinical and Experimental Medicine (CEM) Ph.D. Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Ana Perea-Martinez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), Avda. del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Greta Fiorini
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - José Ignacio Manzano
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), Avda. del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Filippo Genovese
- Centro Interdipartimentale Grandi Strumenti (CIGS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Raquel García-Hernández
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), Avda. del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Diego Pinetti
- Centro Interdipartimentale Grandi Strumenti (CIGS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Francisco Gamarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), Avda. del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Maria Paola Costi
- Department of Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Romano PS, Akematsu T, Besteiro S, Bindschedler A, Carruthers VB, Chahine Z, Coppens I, Descoteaux A, Alberto Duque TL, He CY, Heussler V, Le Roch KG, Li FJ, de Menezes JPB, Menna-Barreto RFS, Mottram JC, Schmuckli-Maurer J, Turk B, Tavares Veras PS, Salassa BN, Vanrell MC. Autophagy in protists and their hosts: When, how and why? AUTOPHAGY REPORTS 2023; 2:2149211. [PMID: 37064813 PMCID: PMC10104450 DOI: 10.1080/27694127.2022.2149211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic protists are a group of organisms responsible for causing a variety of human diseases including malaria, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis, among others. These diseases, which affect more than one billion people globally, mainly the poorest populations, are characterized by severe chronic stages and the lack of effective antiparasitic treatment. Parasitic protists display complex life-cycles and go through different cellular transformations in order to adapt to the different hosts they live in. Autophagy, a highly conserved cellular degradation process, has emerged as a key mechanism required for these differentiation processes, as well as other functions that are crucial to parasite fitness. In contrast to yeasts and mammals, protist autophagy is characterized by a modest number of conserved autophagy-related proteins (ATGs) that, even though, can drive the autophagosome formation and degradation. In addition, during their intracellular cycle, the interaction of these pathogens with the host autophagy system plays a crucial role resulting in a beneficial or harmful effect that is important for the outcome of the infection. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on autophagy and other related mechanisms in pathogenic protists and their hosts. We sought to emphasize when, how, and why this process takes place, and the effects it may have on the parasitic cycle. A better understanding of the significance of autophagy for the protist life-cycle will potentially be helpful to design novel anti-parasitic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Silvia Romano
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y de la célula hospedadora. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. (IHEM-CONICET-UNCUYO). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Av. Libertador 80 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Takahiko Akematsu
- Department of Biosciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Vern B Carruthers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zeinab Chahine
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Baltimore 21205, MD, USA
| | - Albert Descoteaux
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Laval, QC
| | - Thabata Lopes Alberto Duque
- Autophagy Inflammation and Metabolism Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Cynthia Y He
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Volker Heussler
- Institute of Cell Biology.University of Bern. Baltzerstr. 4 3012 Bern
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Feng-Jun Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Jeremy C Mottram
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | | | - Boris Turk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Patricia Sampaio Tavares Veras
- Laboratory of Host-Parasite Interaction and Epidemiology, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Fiocruz-Bahia
- National Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases - National Council for Scientific Research and Development (CNPq)
| | - Betiana Nebai Salassa
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y de la célula hospedadora. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. (IHEM-CONICET-UNCUYO). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Av. Libertador 80 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - María Cristina Vanrell
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y de la célula hospedadora. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. (IHEM-CONICET-UNCUYO). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Av. Libertador 80 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
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Capparis spinosa inhibits Leishmania major growth through nitric oxide production in vitro and arginase inhibition in silico. Exp Parasitol 2023; 245:108452. [PMID: 36581148 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an infectious disease, considered as a major public health problem in different regions of the world. The current treatments are limited due to their toxicity and treatment failures, which have increased the search for new substances of natural origin to control this infection. Capparis spinosa is an important medicinal plant, rich in biochemical compounds with a broad range of activities including antimicrobial effects. Nevertheless, more investigations are still needed to determine its effect on Leishmania parasites. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of C. spinosa' extracts on Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes growth as well as on L-arginine metabolic pathways, especially the production of leishmanicidal molecules such as nitric oxide. Our results showed that C. spinosa' methanolic and aqueous extracts contained polyphenols and flavonoids at different concentrations. The methanolic extract of C. spinosa, compared to the aqueous extract, showed significantly higher amounts of total polyphenols (21.23 ± 1.08) mg GAE/g of dw (P < 0.05), as well as a higher antioxidant activity evaluated respectively by Reducing Power and DPPH (EC50: 0.31 ± 0.02 and 7.69 ± 1.28) mg/ml. Both extracts significantly inhibited L. major promastigotes and intra-macrophagic amastigotes growth in vitro in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.001) and induced NO production not only in Leishmania-infected macrophages but also in uninfected macrophages, without showing any cytotoxicity in vitro. Furthermore, in silico docking studies showed that C. spinosa compounds identified by RP-HPLC exhibited inhibitory activity against the arginase enzyme. The leishmanicidal effect of C. spinosa may be due to its phenolic content and its mechanism of action may be mediated by an increase in NO production and by the inhibition of arginase enzyme in silico. These findings support the hypothesis that C. spinosa might be a valuable source of new biomolecules for leishmaniasis treatment.
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Miltefosine and Nifuratel Combination: A Promising Therapy for the Treatment of Leishmania donovani Visceral Leishmaniasis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021635. [PMID: 36675150 PMCID: PMC9865052 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected vector-borne tropical disease caused by Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum that is endemic not only in East African countries, but also in Asia, regions of South America and the Mediterranean Basin. For the pharmacological control of this disease, there is a limited number of old and, in general, poorly adherent drugs, with a multitude of adverse effects and low oral bioavailability, which favor the emergence of resistant pathogens. Pentavalent antimonials are the first-line drugs, but due to their misuse, resistant Leishmania strains have emerged worldwide. Although these drugs have saved many lives, it is recommended to reduce their use as much as possible and replace them with novel and more friendly drugs. From a commercial collection of anti-infective drugs, we have recently identified nifuratel-a nitrofurantoin used against vaginal infections-as a promising repurposing drug against a mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis. In the present work, we have tested combinations of miltefosine-the only oral drug currently used against leishmaniasis-with nifuratel in different proportions, both in axenic amastigotes from bone marrow and in intracellular amastigotes from infected Balb/c mouse spleen macrophages, finding a potent synergy in both cases. In vivo evaluation of oral miltefosine/nifuratel combinations using a bioimaging platform has revealed the potential of these combinations for the treatment of this disease.
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Kavouris JA, McCall LI, Giardini MA, De Muylder G, Thomas D, Garcia-Pérez A, Cantizani J, Cotillo I, Fiandor JM, McKerrow JH, De Oliveira CI, Siqueira-Neto JL, González S, Brown LE, Schaus SE. Discovery of pyrazolopyrrolidinones as potent, broad-spectrum inhibitors of Leishmania infection. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2023; 3:1011124. [PMID: 36818551 PMCID: PMC9937549 DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.1011124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that affects more than 1 million people worldwide annually, predominantly in resource-limited settings. The challenge in compound development is to exhibit potent activity against the intracellular stage of the parasite (the stage present in the mammalian host) without harming the infected host cells. We have identified a compound series (pyrazolopyrrolidinones) active against the intracellular parasites of Leishmania donovani and L. major; the causative agents of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Old World, respectively. Methods In this study, we performed medicinal chemistry on a newly discovered antileishmanial chemotype, with over 100 analogs tested. Studies included assessments of antileishmanial potency, toxicity towards host cells, and in vitro ADME screening of key drug properties. Results and discussion Members of the series showed high potency against the deadliest form, visceral leishmaniasis (approximate EC50 ≥ 0.01 μM without harming the host macrophage up to 10.0 μM). In comparison, the most efficient monotherapy treatment for visceral leishmaniasis is amphotericin B, which presents similar activity in the same assay (EC50 = 0.2 μM) while being cytotoxic to the host cell at 5.0 μM. Continued development of this compound series with the Discovery Partnership with Academia (DPAc) program at the GlaxoSmithKline Diseases of the Developing World (GSK DDW) laboratories found that the compounds passed all of GSK's criteria to be defined as a potential lead drug series for leishmaniasis. Conclusion Here, we describe preliminary structure-activity relationships for antileishmanial pyrazolopyrrolidinones, and our progress towards the identification of candidates for future in vivo assays in models of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A. Kavouris
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Miriam A. Giardini
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Geraldine De Muylder
- Department of Pathology, Sandler Center for Drug Discovery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Diane Thomas
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Adolfo Garcia-Pérez
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Cantizani
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Cotillo
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose M. Fiandor
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.,Department of Pathology, Sandler Center for Drug Discovery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Camila I. De Oliveira
- HUPES, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT) -Salvador, Brazil; Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia (iii-INCT), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jair L. Siqueira-Neto
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.,Department of Pathology, Sandler Center for Drug Discovery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Silvia González
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lauren E. Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Scott E. Schaus
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.,Correspondence: Scott E. Schaus,
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31
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Guhe V, Ingale P, Tambekar A, Singh S. Systems biology of autophagy in leishmanial infection and its diverse role in precision medicine. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1113249. [PMID: 37152895 PMCID: PMC10160387 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1113249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a contentious issue in leishmaniasis and is emerging as a promising therapeutic regimen. Published research on the impact of autophagic regulation on Leishmania survival is inconclusive, despite numerous pieces of evidence that Leishmania spp. triggers autophagy in a variety of cell types. The mechanistic approach is poorly understood in the Leishmania parasite as autophagy is significant in both Leishmania and the host. Herein, this review discusses the autophagy proteins that are being investigated as potential therapeutic targets, the connection between autophagy and lipid metabolism, and microRNAs that regulate autophagy and lipid metabolism. It also highlights the use of systems biology to develop novel autophagy-dependent therapeutics for leishmaniasis by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), mathematical modeling, network analysis, and other computational methods. Additionally, we have shown many databases for autophagy and metabolism in Leishmania parasites that suggest potential therapeutic targets for intricate signaling in the autophagy system. In a nutshell, the detailed understanding of the dynamics of autophagy in conjunction with lipids and miRNAs unfolds larger dimensions for future research.
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Zabala-Peñafiel A, Dias-Lopes G, Souza-Silva F, Miranda LFC, Conceição-Silva F, Alves CR. Assessing the effect of antimony pressure on trypanothione reductase activity in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Biochimie 2022; 208:86-92. [PMID: 36586564 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania parasites have an oxidative and chemical defense mechanism called trypanothione system (T[SH]2), the most abundant thiol system in trypanosomatids. This system has a central role in processing pentavalent antimony and resistance has been related to a better capacity to metabolize it through the activation of T[SH]2 enzymatic cascade. A biochemical approach was applied to assess the effect of trivalent (SbIII) and pentavalent antimony (SbV) on Trypanothione Reductase (TR) activity of two Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis clinical isolates, which were labeled as responder (R) and non-responder (NR) after patient treatment with Glucantime®. Both isolates were characterized based on in vitro susceptibility to SbIII and SbV and trypanothione reductase (TR) activity. SbIII and SbV discriminated susceptibility profiles in all parasite forms, since isolate NR had significantly higher EC50 values than isolate R. Differences were observed in TR activity between promastigotes, axenic amastigotes and intracellular amastigotes: R (0.439 ± 0.009, 0.103 ± 0.01 and 0.185 ± 0.01AU.min-1.μg of protein-1) and NR (1.083 ± 0.04, 0.914 ± 0.04 and 0.343 ± 0.04 AU. min-1.μg of protein-1), respectively. Incubation with SbIII and SbV using each form EC50 value caused a time-dependent differential effect on TR activity suggesting that oxidative defense is related to the antimony susceptibility phenotype. Data gathered here shows a biochemical approach able to discriminate two L. (V.) braziliensis clinical isolates measurements TR activity of promastigotes, axenic amastigotes and intracellular amastigotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zabala-Peñafiel
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - G Dias-Lopes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - F Souza-Silva
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Iguaçu, Dom Rodrigo, Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - L F C Miranda
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - F Conceição-Silva
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - C R Alves
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Teles HR, Valli M, Ferreira LLG, Andricopulo AD. Molecular Modeling, Virtual Screening, and Molecular Dynamics for Leishmania infantum Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:10834-10843. [PMID: 36534784 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by Leishmania infantum and L. donovani that is lethal in cases of nontreatment. The treatments are limited by serious drawbacks involving safety, resistance, stability, and high costs. In this work, we aimed to identify inhibitors of Leishmania infantum methionyl-tRNA synthetase (LiMetRS), a validated molecular target for leishmaniasis drug discovery, using a combination of strategies. A virtual database of compounds was organized by filtering compounds from the ZINC15 database. Homology modeling was used to obtain the structure of LiMetRS based on the crystal coordinates of the enzyme from Trypanosoma brucei (TbMetRS). A virtual screening using molecular docking identified 10 candidate compounds from among more than 5 million that were included in the initial database. The selected hits were further evaluated using a script created in this work to select only the ligands that interacted with specific amino acids in the catalytic site of the enzyme. Furthermore, suitable pharmacokinetic profiles were predicted for the selected compounds, especially a good balance between aqueous solubility and lipophilic character, no ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, good oral absorption, and no liability toward P-gp efflux for most compounds. Six compounds were then subjected to all-atom molecular dynamics. Two compounds showed good stability when bound to the leishmanial enzyme, which provided a deeper understanding of the structural differences between TbMetRS and LiMetRS that can guide further drug discovery efforts for visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique R Teles
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry (LQMC), Center for Research and Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery (CIBFar), Institute of Physics of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. João Dagnone, no. 1100, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Marilia Valli
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry (LQMC), Center for Research and Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery (CIBFar), Institute of Physics of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. João Dagnone, no. 1100, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Leonardo L G Ferreira
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry (LQMC), Center for Research and Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery (CIBFar), Institute of Physics of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. João Dagnone, no. 1100, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Adriano D Andricopulo
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry (LQMC), Center for Research and Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery (CIBFar), Institute of Physics of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. João Dagnone, no. 1100, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil
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Frézard F, Aguiar MMG, Ferreira LAM, Ramos GS, Santos TT, Borges GSM, Vallejos VMR, De Morais HLO. Liposomal Amphotericin B for Treatment of Leishmaniasis: From the Identification of Critical Physicochemical Attributes to the Design of Effective Topical and Oral Formulations. Pharmaceutics 2022; 15:pharmaceutics15010099. [PMID: 36678729 PMCID: PMC9864876 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The liposomal amphotericin B (AmB) formulation, AmBisome®, still represents the best therapeutic option for cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. However, its clinical efficacy depends on the patient's immunological status, the clinical manifestation and the endemic region. Moreover, the need for parenteral administration, its side effects and high cost significantly limit its use in developing countries. This review reports the progress achieved thus far toward the understanding of the mechanism responsible for the reduced toxicity of liposomal AmB formulations and the factors that influence their efficacy against leishmaniasis. It also presents the recent advances in the development of more effective liposomal AmB formulations, including topical and oral liposome formulations. The critical role of the AmB aggregation state and release rate in the reduction of drug toxicity and in the drug efficacy by non-invasive routes is emphasized. This paper is expected to guide future research and development of innovative liposomal formulations of AmB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Frézard
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-31-34092940
| | - Marta M. G. Aguiar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Lucas A. M. Ferreira
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Guilherme S. Ramos
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Thais T. Santos
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Gabriel S. M. Borges
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Virgínia M. R. Vallejos
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Helane L. O. De Morais
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
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35
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Omics Approaches in Drug Development against Leishmaniasis: Current Scenario and Future Prospects. Pathogens 2022; 12:pathogens12010039. [PMID: 36678387 PMCID: PMC9866966 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease transmitted in humans by the bite of Leishmania-infected phlebotomine sandflies. Each year approximately 58,500 cases of leishmaniasis are diagnosed across the globe, with a mortality rate of nearly seven percent. There are over 20 parasitic strains of Leishmania which are known to cause distinct types of leishmaniasis and pose an endemic threat to humans worldwide. Therefore, it is crucial to develop potential medications and vaccines to combat leishmaniasis. However, the task of developing therapeutic solutions is challenging due to Leishmania's digenetic lifecycle. The challenge is further intensified by cases of resistance against the available drugs. Owing to these challenges, the conventional drug development regimen is further limited by target discovery and ligand suitability for the targets. On the other hand, as an added advantage, the emergence of omics-based tools, such as high-end proteomics, transcriptomics and genomics, has hastened the pace of target discovery and target-based drug development. It is now becoming apparent that multi-omics convergence and an inter-connected systems approach is less time-consuming and more cost-effective for any drug-development process. This comprehensive review is an attempt to summarize the current knowledge on the muti-omics approach in drug development against leishmaniasis. In particular, it elaborates the potential target identification from secreted proteins in various stages of Leishmania infection and also illustrates the convergence of transcriptomic and genomic data towards the collective goal of drug discovery. This review also provides an understanding of the potential parasite's drug targets and drug resistance characteristics of the parasite, which can be used in designing effective and specific therapeutics.
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Corman HN, Ross JN, Fields FR, Shoue DA, McDowell MA, Lee SW. Rationally Designed Minimal Bioactive Domains of AS-48 Bacteriocin Homologs Possess Potent Antileishmanial Properties. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0265822. [PMID: 36342284 PMCID: PMC9769502 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02658-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, a category I neglected tropical disease, is a group of diseases caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania species with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Current treatment options can be highly toxic and expensive, with drug relapse and the emergence of resistance. Bacteriocins, antimicrobial peptides ribosomally produced by bacteria, are a relatively new avenue for potential antiprotozoal drugs. Particular interest has been focused on enterocin AS-48, with previously proven efficacy against protozoan species, including Leishmania spp. Sequential characterization of enterocin AS-48 has illustrated that antibacterial bioactivity is preserved in linearized, truncated forms; however, minimal domains of AS-48 bacteriocins have not yet been explored against protozoans. Using rational design techniques to improve membrane penetration activity, we designed peptide libraries using the minimal bioactive domain of AS-48 homologs. Stepwise changes to the charge (z), hydrophobicity (H), and hydrophobic dipole moment (μH) were achieved through lysine and tryptophan substitutions and the inversion of residues within the helical wheel, respectively. A total of 480 synthetic peptide variants were assessed for antileishmanial activity against Leishmania donovani. One hundred seventy-two peptide variants exhibited 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values below 20 μM against axenic amastigotes, with 60 peptide variants in the nanomolar range. Nine peptide variants exhibited potent activity against intracellular amastigotes with observed IC50 values of <4 μM and limited in vitro host cell toxicity, making them worthy of further drug development. Our work demonstrates that minimal bioactive domains of naturally existing bacteriocins can be synthetically engineered to increase membrane penetration against Leishmania spp. with minimal host cytotoxicity, holding the promise of novel, potent antileishmanial therapies. IMPORTANCE Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. There are three primary clinical forms, cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral, with visceral leishmaniasis being fatal if left untreated. Current drug treatments are less than ideal, especially in resource-limited areas, due to the difficult administration and treatment regimens as well as the high cost and the emergence of drug resistance. Identifying potent antileishmanial agents is of the utmost importance. We utilized rational design techniques to synthesize enterocin AS-48 and AS-48-like bacteriocin-based peptides and screened these peptides against L. donovani using a fluorescence-based phenotypic assay. Our results suggest that bacteriocins, specifically these rationally designed AS-48-like peptides, are promising leads for further development as antileishmanial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah N. Corman
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- University of Notre Dame, Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Jessica N. Ross
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- University of Notre Dame, Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Douglas A. Shoue
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- University of Notre Dame, Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Mary Ann McDowell
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- University of Notre Dame, Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Shaun W. Lee
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- University of Notre Dame, Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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Periferakis A, Periferakis K, Badarau IA, Petran EM, Popa DC, Caruntu A, Costache RS, Scheau C, Caruntu C, Costache DO. Kaempferol: Antimicrobial Properties, Sources, Clinical, and Traditional Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315054. [PMID: 36499380 PMCID: PMC9740324 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Flavonoids are a category of plant-derived compounds which exhibit a large number of health-related effects. One of the most well-known and studied flavonoids is kaempferol, which can be found in a wide variety of herbs and plant families. Apart from their anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects, kaempferol and its associated compounds also exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal activities. The development of drugs and treatment schemes based on these compounds is becoming increasingly important in the face of emerging resistance of numerous pathogens as well as complex molecular interactions between various drug therapies. In addition, many of the kaempferol-containing plants are used in traditional systems all over the world for centuries to treat numerous conditions. Due to its variety of sources and associated compounds, some molecular mechanisms of kaempferol antimicrobial activity are well known while others are still under analysis. This paper thoroughly documents the vegetal and food sources of kaempferol as well as the most recent and significant studies regarding its antimicrobial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argyrios Periferakis
- Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Akadimia of Ancient Greek and Traditional Chinese Medicine, 16675 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Periferakis
- Akadimia of Ancient Greek and Traditional Chinese Medicine, 16675 Athens, Greece
- Pan-Hellenic Organization of Educational Programs (P.O.E.P), 17236 Athens, Greece
- Orasis Acupuncture Institute, 11526 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioana Anca Badarau
- Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Elena Madalina Petran
- Department of Biochemistry, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Toxicology, Grigore Alexandrescu Emergency Children’s Hospital, 011743 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Delia Codruta Popa
- Department of Biochemistry, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Hematology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, 022328 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (D.C.P.); (C.S.)
| | - Ana Caruntu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, ‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, ‘Titu Maiorescu’ University, 031593 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Raluca Simona Costache
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Clinic, ‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristian Scheau
- Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence: (D.C.P.); (C.S.)
| | - Constantin Caruntu
- Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Dermatology, ‘Prof. N.C. Paulescu’ National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, 011233 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Daniel Octavian Costache
- Department of Dermatology, ‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
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dos Santos DB, Lemos JA, Miranda SEM, Di Filippo LD, Duarte JL, Ferreira LAM, Barros ALB, Oliveira AEMFM. Current Applications of Plant-Based Drug Delivery Nano Systems for Leishmaniasis Treatment. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2339. [PMID: 36365157 PMCID: PMC9695113 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania is a trypanosomatid that causes leishmaniasis. It is transmitted to vertebrate hosts during the blood meal of phlebotomine sandflies. The clinical manifestations of the disease are associated with several factors, such as the Leishmania species, virulence and pathogenicity, the host-parasite relationship, and the host's immune system. Although its causative agents have been known and studied for decades, there have been few advances in the chemotherapy of leishmaniasis. The urgency of more selective and less toxic alternatives for the treatment of leishmaniasis leads to research focused on the study of new pharmaceuticals, improvement of existing drugs, and new routes of drug administration. Natural resources of plant origin are promising sources of bioactive substances, and the use of ethnopharmacology and folk medicine leads to interest in studying new medications from phytocomplexes. However, the intrinsic low water solubility of plant derivatives is an obstacle to developing a therapeutic product. Nanotechnology could help overcome these obstacles by improving the availability of common substances in water. To contribute to this scenario, this article provides a review of nanocarriers developed for delivering plant-extracted compounds to treat clinical forms of leishmaniasis and critically analyzing them and pointing out the future perspectives for their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darline B. dos Santos
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Rodovia Juscelino Kubitisheck, km 02, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
| | - Janaina A. Lemos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Antonio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Sued E. M. Miranda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Antonio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Leonardo D. Di Filippo
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, Sao Paulo State University, Rodovia Araraquara/Jaú, Km 01, Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil
| | - Jonatas L. Duarte
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, Sao Paulo State University, Rodovia Araraquara/Jaú, Km 01, Araraquara 14800-903, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucas A. M. Ferreira
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Antonio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Andre L. B. Barros
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Antonio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Anna E. M. F. M. Oliveira
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Rodovia Juscelino Kubitisheck, km 02, Macapá 68902-280, AP, Brazil
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Gerasimchuk N, Pinks K, Salpadoru T, Cotton K, Michka O, Patrauchan MA, Wozniak KL. Non-Antibiotic Antimony-Based Antimicrobials. Molecules 2022; 27:7171. [PMID: 36363997 PMCID: PMC9654735 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of the eight novel organoantimony(V) cyanoximates of Sb(C6H5)4L composition was synthesized using the high-yield heterogeneous metathesis reaction between solid AgL (or TlL) and Sb(C6H5)4Br in CH3CN at room temperature. Cyanoximes L were specially selected from a large group of 48 known compounds of this subclass of oximes on the basis of their water solubility and history of prior biological activity. The synthesized compounds are well soluble in organic solvents and were studied using a variety of conventional spectroscopic and physical methods. The crystal structures of all reported organometallic compounds were determined and revealed the formation of the distorted trigonal bipyramidal environment of the Sb atom and monodentate axial binding of acido-ligands via the O atom of the oxime group. The compounds are thermally stable in the solid state and in solution molecular compounds. For the first time, this specially designed series of organoantimony(V) compounds is investigated as potential non-antibiotic antimicrobial agents against three bacterial and two fungal human pathogens known for their increasing antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial pathogens included Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Fungal pathogens included Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans. The cyanoximates alone showed no antimicrobial impact, and the incorporation of the SbPh4 group enabled the antimicrobial effect. Overall, the new antimony compounds showed a strong potential as both broad- and narrow-spectrum antimicrobials against selected bacterial and fundal pathogens and provide insights for further synthetic modifications of the compounds to increase their activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Gerasimchuk
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Temple Hall 456, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897, USA
| | - Kevin Pinks
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Temple Hall 456, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO 65897, USA
| | - Tarosha Salpadoru
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Cotton
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Olga Michka
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Marianna A. Patrauchan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Karen L. Wozniak
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
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Awada B, Hamie M, El Hajj R, Derbaj G, Najm R, Makhoul P, Ali DH, Abou Fayad AG, El Hajj H. HAS 1: A natural product from soil-isolated Streptomyces species with potent activity against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1023114. [PMID: 36299890 PMCID: PMC9589300 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1023114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease, classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most unrestrained diseases. The Syrian war and the significant displacement of refugees aggravated the spread of this ailment into several neighboring countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). In Syria, Leishmania tropica is identified as one of the most aggressive and endemic identified species, causing localized or generalized lesions, often chronic or relapsing. Pentavalent antimonial drugs are currently used as first line treatment against CL. Nonetheless, these drugs exhibit several limitations, including the repetitive painful injections, high cost, poor availability, and mainly systemic toxicity. Besides, the emergence of acquired parasitic resistance hinders their potency, stressing the need for new therapies to combat CL. Natural products (NPs) epitomize a valuable source in drug discovery. NPs are secondary metabolites (SMs) produced by plants, sponges, or a wide variety of organisms, including environmental microorganisms. The EMR is characterized by its immense biodiversity, yet it remains a relatively untapped area in drug discovery. NPs of the region were explored over the last 2 decades, but their discoveries lack biogeographical diversity and are limited to the Red Sea. Here, we isolated previously uncultured environmental soil-dwelling Streptomyces sp. HAS1, from Hasbaya region in southeast Lebanon. When fermented in one of our production media named INA, HAS1 produced a crude extract with significant potency against a clinical Leishmania tropica isolate. Using bio-guided fractionation, the bioactive compound was purified and the structure was elucidated by NMR and LC-HRMS. Our findings establish NPs as strong candidates for treating Leishmania tropica and further dwells on the importance of these natural sources to combat microbial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassel Awada
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Drug Discovery, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Maguy Hamie
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Drug Discovery, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rana El Hajj
- Department of Biological Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ghada Derbaj
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Drug Discovery, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Rania Najm
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Perla Makhoul
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Drug Discovery, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Dima Hajj Ali
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Antoine G. Abou Fayad
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Drug Discovery, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- *Correspondence: Antoine G. Abou Fayad, ; Hiba El Hajj,
| | - Hiba El Hajj
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Center for Drug Discovery, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- *Correspondence: Antoine G. Abou Fayad, ; Hiba El Hajj,
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Nanoassemblies from Amphiphilic Sb Complexes Target Infection Sites in Models of Visceral and Cutaneous Leishmaniases. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081743. [PMID: 36015369 PMCID: PMC9412331 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081743] [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: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This work aims to evaluate whether nanoassemblies (NanoSb) made from antimony(V) complexes with octanoyl-N-methylglucamide (SbL8) or decanoyl-N-methylglucamide (SbL10) would effectively target the infection sites in visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases (VL and CL). NanoSb were investigated regarding stability at different pHs, accumulation of Sb in the macrophage host cell and liver, and in vitro and in vivo activities in models of leishmaniasis. The kinetic stability assay showed that NanoSb are stable at neutral pH, but release incorporated lipophilic substance after conformational change in media that mimic the gastric fluid and the parasitophorous vacuole. NanoSb promoted greater accumulation of Sb in macrophages and in the liver of mice after parenteral administration, when compared to conventional antimonial Glucantime®. SbL10 was much more active than Glucantime® against intramacrophage Leishmania amastigotes and less cytotoxic than SbL8 against macrophages. The in vitro SbL10 activity was further enhanced with co-incorporated miltefosine. NanoSb showed high antileishmanial activity in the L. donovani murine VL after parenteral administration and moderate activity in the L. amazonensis murine CL after topical treatment. This study supports the ability of NanoSb to effectively deliver a combination of Sb and co-incorporated drug to host cell and infected tissues, in a better way than Glucantime® does.
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Mazire PH, Saha B, Roy A. Immunotherapy for visceral leishmaniasis: A trapeze of balancing counteractive forces. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 110:108969. [PMID: 35738089 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani, residing and replicating within the cells of the monocyte-macrophage (mono-mac) lineage, causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in humans. While, Leishmania infantum, is the main causative agent for zoonotic VL, where dogs are the main reservoirs of the disease. The chemotherapy is a serious problem because of restricted repertoire of drugs, drug-resistant parasites, drug-toxicity and the requirement for parenteral administration, which is a problem in resource-starved countries. Moreover, immunocompromised individuals, particularly HIV-1 infected are at higher risk of VL due to impairment in T-helper cell and regulatory cell responses. Furthermore, HIV-VL co-infected patients report poor response to conventional chemotherapy. Recent efforts are therefore directed towards devising both prophylactic and therapeutic immunomodulation. As far as prophylaxis is concerned, although canine vaccines for the disease caused by Leishmania infantum or Leishmania chagasi are available, no vaccine is available for use in humans till date. Therefore, anti-leishmanial immunotherapy triggering or manipulating the host's immune response is gaining momentum during the last two decades. Immunomodulators comprised of small molecules, anti-leishmanial peptides, complex ligands for host receptors, cytokines or their agonists and antibodies have been given trials both in experimental models and in humans. However, the success of immunotherapy in humans remains a far-off target. We, therefore, propose that devising a successful immunotherapy is an act of balancing enhanced beneficial Leishmania-specific responses and deleterious immune activation/hyperinflammation just as the swings in a trapeze.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka H Mazire
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India
| | - Bhaskar Saha
- National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India
| | - Amit Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India.
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de Queiroz AC, Barbosa G, de Oliveira VRT, de Mattos Alves H, Alves MA, Carregaro V, Santana da Silva J, Barreiro EJ, Alexandre-Moreira MS, Lima LM. Pre-clinical evaluation of LASSBio-1491: From in vitro pharmacokinetic study to in vivo leishmanicidal activity. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269447. [PMID: 35666748 PMCID: PMC9170106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a public health issue. It is among the top five parasitic illnesses worldwide and is one of the most neglected diseases. The current treatment disease includes limitations of toxicity, variable efficacy, high costs and inconvenient doses and treatment schedules. LASSBio-1736 was described as antileishmanial drug-candidate to cutaneous leishmaniasis, displaying plasma stability and with no preliminary signals of hepatic or renal toxicity. In this paper, we described the in vitro pharmacokinetic study of LASSBio-1491 (a less lipophilic isostere of LASSBio-1736) and it is in vitro and in vivo leishmanicidal activities. Our results demonstrated that LASSBio-1491 has high permeability, satisfactory aqueous solubility, long plasma and microsomal half-lives and low in vitro systemic clearance, suggesting a pharmacokinetic profile suitable for its use in a single daily dose. The antileishmanial effect of LASSBio-1491 was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. It exhibited no cytotoxic effect to mammalian cells and displayed good in –vivo effect against BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major LV39 substrain, being 3 times more efficient than glucantime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Cavalcanti de Queiroz
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Drugs and Medicines (INCT-INOFAR; http://www.inct-inofar.ccs.ufrj.br/), Laboratory for the Evaluation and Synthesis of Bioactive Substances (LASSBio, http://www.lassbio.icb.ufrj.br), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Immunity (LaFI), Sector of Physiology and Pharmacology, ICBS, UFAL, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Center for Medical Sciences, Campus Arapiraca, Federal University of Alagoas, Arapiraca, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Gisele Barbosa
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Drugs and Medicines (INCT-INOFAR; http://www.inct-inofar.ccs.ufrj.br/), Laboratory for the Evaluation and Synthesis of Bioactive Substances (LASSBio, http://www.lassbio.icb.ufrj.br), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Victória Regina Thomaz de Oliveira
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Drugs and Medicines (INCT-INOFAR; http://www.inct-inofar.ccs.ufrj.br/), Laboratory for the Evaluation and Synthesis of Bioactive Substances (LASSBio, http://www.lassbio.icb.ufrj.br), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Hélio de Mattos Alves
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Drugs and Medicines (INCT-INOFAR; http://www.inct-inofar.ccs.ufrj.br/), Laboratory for the Evaluation and Synthesis of Bioactive Substances (LASSBio, http://www.lassbio.icb.ufrj.br), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marina Amaral Alves
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Drugs and Medicines (INCT-INOFAR; http://www.inct-inofar.ccs.ufrj.br/), Laboratory for the Evaluation and Synthesis of Bioactive Substances (LASSBio, http://www.lassbio.icb.ufrj.br), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Carregaro
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João Santana da Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eliezer Jesus Barreiro
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Drugs and Medicines (INCT-INOFAR; http://www.inct-inofar.ccs.ufrj.br/), Laboratory for the Evaluation and Synthesis of Bioactive Substances (LASSBio, http://www.lassbio.icb.ufrj.br), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Magna Suzana Alexandre-Moreira
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Drugs and Medicines (INCT-INOFAR; http://www.inct-inofar.ccs.ufrj.br/), Laboratory for the Evaluation and Synthesis of Bioactive Substances (LASSBio, http://www.lassbio.icb.ufrj.br), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Immunity (LaFI), Sector of Physiology and Pharmacology, ICBS, UFAL, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
- * E-mail: (LML); (MSAM)
| | - Lidia Moreira Lima
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Drugs and Medicines (INCT-INOFAR; http://www.inct-inofar.ccs.ufrj.br/), Laboratory for the Evaluation and Synthesis of Bioactive Substances (LASSBio, http://www.lassbio.icb.ufrj.br), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail: (LML); (MSAM)
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Pedra-Rezende Y, Macedo IS, Midlej V, Mariante RM, Menna-Barreto RFS. Different Drugs, Same End: Ultrastructural Hallmarks of Autophagy in Pathogenic Protozoa. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:856686. [PMID: 35422792 PMCID: PMC9002357 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.856686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Protozoan parasites interact with a wide variety of organisms ranging from bacteria to humans, representing one of the most common causes of parasitic diseases and an important public health problem affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The current treatment for these parasitic diseases remains unsatisfactory and, in some cases, very limited. Treatment limitations together with the increased resistance of the pathogens represent a challenge for the improvement of the patient’s quality of life. The continuous search for alternative preclinical drugs is mandatory, but the mechanisms of action of several of these compounds have not been described. Electron microscopy is a powerful tool for the identification of drug targets in almost all cellular models. Interestingly, ultrastructural analysis showed that several classes of antiparasitic compounds induced similar autophagic phenotypes in trypanosomatids, trichomonadids, and apicomplexan parasites as well as in Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba spp. with the presence of an increased number of autophagosomes as well as remarkable endoplasmic reticulum profiles surrounding different organelles. Autophagy is a physiological process of eukaryotes that maintains homeostasis by the self-digestion of nonfunctional organelles and/or macromolecules, limiting redundant and damaged cellular components. Here, we focus on protozoan autophagy to subvert drug effects, discussing its importance for successful chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Pedra-Rezende
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabela S Macedo
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Victor Midlej
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael M Mariante
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Singh A, Yadagiri G, Negi M, Kushwaha AK, Singh OP, Sundar S, Mudavath SL. Carboxymethyl chitosan modified lipid nanoformulations as a highly efficacious and biocompatible oral anti-leishmanial drug carrier system. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 204:373-385. [PMID: 35149096 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Herein, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) grafted lipid nanoformulations were facilely prepared by thin-film hydration method as a highly efficient biocompatible anti-leishmanial carrier encapsulating amphotericin B (AmB). Nanoformulations were characterized for their physicochemical characteristics wherein TEM analysis confirmed the spherical structure, whereas FTIR analysis revealed the conjugation of CMC onto nanoformulations and confirmed the free state of AmB. Furthermore, the wettability study confirmed the presence of CMC on the surface of nanoformulations attributed to the enhanced hydrophilicity. Surface hydrophilicity additionally contributes towards consistent mucin retention ability for up to 6 h, superior mucoadhesiveness, and hence enhanced bioavailability. The proposed nanoformulations with high encapsulation and drug loading properties displayed controlled drug release in the physiological microenvironment. In vitro, antileishmanial results showed an astounding 97% inhibition in amastigote growth. Additionally, in vivo studies showed that treatment with nanoformulations significantly reduced the liver parasitic burden (93.5%) without causing any toxicity when given orally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aakriti Singh
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector-81, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
| | - Ganesh Yadagiri
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector-81, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
| | - Manorma Negi
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector-81, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
| | - Anurag Kumar Kushwaha
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India
| | - Om Prakash Singh
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India; Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India
| | - Shyam Sundar
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India
| | - Shyam Lal Mudavath
- Infectious Disease Biology Laboratory, Chemical Biology Unit, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Sector-81, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India.
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Tang T, Zhang D, Le L, Xu Z, Lu H, Yin SF, Kambe N, Qiu R. Cu-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Chlorostibine with Terminal Alkynes to Give Sb-alkynyl Stibines and Products Transformation. J Organomet Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jorganchem.2022.122352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Teixeira Bezerra T, Oliveira de Almeida M, Maria de Amorim Lima N, Lúcia de Castro Rodrigues N, Gomes Pereira Ribeiro V, Jania Teixeira M, Carbone L, Mele G, Lomonaco D, Elaine Mazzetto S. In vitro antileishmanial activity of sustainable anacardic acid and cardol based silver nanoparticles on L. braziliensis. Int J Pharm 2022; 619:121698. [PMID: 35337904 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The search for effective and less toxic drugs for the treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is desirable due to the emergence of resistant parasites. The present study shows the preparation, characterization and in vitro antileishmanial activity of green-based silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL, main constituents: anacardic acid (AA) and cardol (CD). The synthesis of silver nanoparticles was achieved by reduction with sodium borohydride in the presence of anacardic acid or cardol under microwave irradiation (400 W, 60 °C, 5 min) resulting in AgAA and AgCD. In vitro assay showed opposite effects for AgAA and AgCD. While AgAA is highly toxic to macrophages (CC50 = 6.910 µg mL-1) and almost non-toxic for L.braziliensis (IC50 = 86.61 µg mL-1), AgCD results very selective toward killing the parasite (CC50 = 195.0 µg mL-1, IC50 = 11.54 µg mL-1). AA's higher polarity and conical shape easily promote cell lysis by increasing cell permeability, while CD has a protective effect: for that reason, AA and AgAA were not further used for tests. CD (EC50 = 2.906 µg mL-1) had higher ability to kill intracellular amastigotes than AgCD (EC50 = 16.00 µg mL-1), however, less intact cells were seen on isolated CD tests. In addition, considering that NO is one of the critical molecular species for the intracellular control of Leishmania, we used Griess colorimetric test to analyze the effect of treatment with AgCD and CD. Overall, the in vitro antileishmanial tests indicate that AgCD should be further explored as a promising non-toxic treatment for CL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thayllan Teixeira Bezerra
- Laboratório de Produtos e Tecnologia em Processos (LPT), Departamento de Química Orgânica e Inorgânica (DQOI), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus do Pici, Fortaleza, Ceará 60455-900, Brazil.
| | - Mayara Oliveira de Almeida
- Laboratório de Produtos e Tecnologia em Processos (LPT), Departamento de Química Orgânica e Inorgânica (DQOI), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus do Pici, Fortaleza, Ceará 60455-900, Brazil
| | - Nayane Maria de Amorim Lima
- Laboratório de Produtos e Tecnologia em Processos (LPT), Departamento de Química Orgânica e Inorgânica (DQOI), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus do Pici, Fortaleza, Ceará 60455-900, Brazil
| | - Naya Lúcia de Castro Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Porangabuçu, Fortaleza, Ceará 60441-750, Brazil
| | - Viviane Gomes Pereira Ribeiro
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza (ICEN), Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira (UNILAB), Redenção, Ceará 62790-000, Brazil
| | - Maria Jania Teixeira
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Porangabuçu, Fortaleza, Ceará 60441-750, Brazil
| | - Luigi Carbone
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology c/o Campus Ecotekne, University of Salento, via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mele
- Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, via Arnesano, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Diego Lomonaco
- Laboratório de Produtos e Tecnologia em Processos (LPT), Departamento de Química Orgânica e Inorgânica (DQOI), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus do Pici, Fortaleza, Ceará 60455-900, Brazil
| | - Selma Elaine Mazzetto
- Laboratório de Produtos e Tecnologia em Processos (LPT), Departamento de Química Orgânica e Inorgânica (DQOI), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Campus do Pici, Fortaleza, Ceará 60455-900, Brazil
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In vitro activity of cinnamaldehyde on Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Exp Parasitol 2022; 236-237:108244. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Guerra RO, do Carmo Neto JR, de Albuquerque Martins T, Farnesi-de-Assunção TS, Junior VR, de Oliveira CJF, Silva ACA, da Silva MV. Metallic Nanoparticles: A New Frontier in the Fight Against Leishmaniasis. Curr Med Chem 2022; 29:4547-4573. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867329666220225111052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract:
Leishmaniasis is a cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the Leishmania genus. According to the World Health Organization, Leishmaniasis causes approximately 20–40 thousand deaths annually, and Brazil, India, and some countries in Africa are the most affected by this neglected disease. In addition to parasite’s ability to evade the host’s immune system, the incidence of vectors, the genetics of different hosts, and the large number of deaths are mainly due to failures in conventional treatments that have high toxicity, low effectiveness, and prolonged therapeutic regimens. Thus, the development of new alternative therapeutics with more effective and safer actions has become one of the main challenges for researchers studying leishmaniasis. Among the many research and tested options, metallic nanoparticles, such as gold, silver, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide, have been shown to be one of the most promising therapeutic tool because they are easily prepared and chemically modified, have a broad spectrum of action, low toxicity, and can generate reactive oxygen species and other immune responses that favor their use against different species of Leishmania. This review explores the progress of the use of metallic nanoparticles as a new tool in the treatment of leishmaniasis, as well as discusses the gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed to consolidate a safe, effective, and definitive therapeutic intervention against these infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhanoica Oliveira Guerra
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences of Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - José Rodrigues do Carmo Neto
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, Goiania, GO, Brazil
| | - Tarcísio de Albuquerque Martins
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences of Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thaís Soares Farnesi-de-Assunção
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences of Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Virmondes Rodrigues Junior
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences of Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Carlo José Freire de Oliveira
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences of Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Anielle Christine Almeida Silva
- Laboratório de Novos Materiais Nanoestruturados e Funcionais (LNMIS), Physics Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Marcos Vinicius da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences of Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Téllez J, Amarillo A, Suarez C, Cardozo C, Guerra D, Ochoa R, Muskus C, Romero I. Prediction of potential cysteine synthase inhibitors of Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania major parasites by computational screening. Acta Trop 2022; 225:106182. [PMID: 34627756 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease considered a public health problem that requires innovative strategies for its chemotherapeutic control. In the present investigation, a molecular docking approach was carried out using the protein cysteine synthase (CS) of Leishmania braziliensis (CSLb) and Leishmania major (CSLm) parasites to identify new compounds as potential candidates for the development of selective leishmaniasis therapy. CS protein sequence similarity, active site, structural modeling, molecular docking, and ADMET properties of compounds were analyzed using bioinformatics tools. Molecular docking analyses identified 1000 ligands with highly promising binding affinity scores for both CS proteins. A total of 182 compounds for CSLb and 173 for CSLm were selected for more detailed characterization based on the binding energy and frequency values and ADMET properties. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and K-means clusterization for both CS proteins, we classified compounds into 5 clusters for CSLb and 7 for CSLm, thus providing an excellent starting point for verification of enzyme inhibition in in vitro studies. We found the ZINC16524774 compound predicted to have a high affinity and stability for both CSLb and CSLm proteins, which was also evaluated through molecular dynamics simulations. Compounds within each of the five clusters also displayed pharmacological and structural properties that make them attractive drug candidates for the development of selective cutaneous leishmaniasis chemotherapy.
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