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Corfu AI, Santarem N, Luelmo S, Mazza G, Greco A, Altomare A, Ferrario G, Nasta G, Keminer O, Aldini G, Tamborini L, Basilico N, Parapini S, Gul S, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Conti P, Borsari C. Discovery of 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Derivatives as Broad-Spectrum Antiparasitic Agents. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:2222-2238. [PMID: 38717116 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs) pose a significant threat to public health on a global scale. Collectively, Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), Leishmaniasis, and Malaria threaten millions of people, particularly in developing countries. Climate change might alter the transmission and spread of VBPDs, leading to a global burden of these diseases. Thus, novel agents are urgently needed to expand therapeutic options and limit the spread of drug-resistant parasites. Herein, we report the development of broad-spectrum antiparasitic agents by screening a known library of antileishmanial and antimalarial compounds toward Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei) and identifying a 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivative (19) as anti-T. brucei hit with predicted blood-brain barrier permeability. Subsequently, extensive structure-activity-relationship studies around the lipophilic tail of 19 led to a potent antitrypanosomal and antimalarial compound (27), with moderate potency also toward Leishmania infantum (L. infantum) and Leishmania tropica. In addition, we discovered a pan-active antiparasitic molecule (24), showing low-micromolar IC50s toward T. brucei and Leishmania spp. promastigotes and amastigotes, and nanomolar IC50 against Plasmodium falciparum, together with high selectivity for the parasites over mammalian cells (THP-1). Early ADME-toxicity assays were used to assess the safety profile of the compounds. Overall, we characterized 24 and 27, bearing the 1,3,4-oxadiazole privileged scaffold, as broad-spectrum low-toxicity agents for the treatment of VBPDs. An alkyne-substituted chemical probe (30) was synthesized and will be utilized in proteomics experiments aimed at deconvoluting the mechanism of action in the T. brucei parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Ioana Corfu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Nuno Santarem
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Luelmo
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Gaia Mazza
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Greco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Altomare
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Ferrario
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Nasta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Oliver Keminer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Giancarlo Aldini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Tamborini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Basilico
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Parapini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Sheraz Gul
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paola Conti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Borsari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Roussaki M, Magoulas GE, Fotopoulou T, Santarem N, Barrias E, Pöhner I, Luelmo S, Afroudakis P, Georgikopoulou K, Nevado PT, Eick J, Bifeld E, Corral MJ, Jiménez-Antón MD, Ellinger B, Kuzikov M, Fragiadaki I, Scoulica E, Gul S, Clos J, Prousis KC, Torrado JJ, Alunda JM, Wade RC, de Souza W, Cordeiro da Silva A, Calogeropoulou T. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of antiparasitic dinitroaniline-ether phospholipid hybrids. Bioorg Chem 2023; 138:106615. [PMID: 37244229 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A series of nine novel ether phospholipid-dinitroaniline hybrids were synthesized in an effort to deliver more potent antiparasitic agents with improved safety profile compared to miltefosine. The compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antiparasitic activity against L. infantum, L.donovani, L. amazonensis, L. major and L. tropica promastigotes, L. infantum and L. donovani intracellular amastigotes, Trypanosoma brucei brucei and against different developmental stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. The nature of the oligomethylene spacer between the dinitroaniline moiety and the phosphate group, the length of the side chain substituent on the dinitroaniline and the choline or homocholine head group were found to affect both the activity and toxicity of the hybrids. The early ADMET profile of the derivatives did not reveal major liabilities. Hybrid 3, bearing an 11-carbon oligomethylene spacer, a butyl side chain and a choline head group, was the most potent analogue of the series. It exhibited a broad spectrum antiparasitic profile against the promastigotes of New and Old World Leishmania spp., against intracellular amastigotes of two L. infantum strains and L. donovani, against T. brucei and against T. cruzi Y strain epimastigotes, intracellular amastigotes and trypomastigotes. The early toxicity studies revealed that hybrid 3 showed a safe toxicological profile while its cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) against THP-1 macrophages being >100 μM. Computational analysis of binding sites and docking indicated that the interaction of hybrid 3 with trypanosomatid α-tubulin may contribute to its mechanism of action. Furthermore, compound 3 was found to interfere with the cell cycle in T. cruzi epimastigotes, while ultrastructural studies using SEM and TEM in T. cruzi showed that compound 3 affects cellular processes that result in changes in the Golgi complex, the mitochondria and the parasite's plasma membrane. The snapshot pharmacokinetic studies showed low levels of 3 after 24 h following oral administration of 100 mg/Kg, while, its homocholine congener compound 9 presented a better pharmacokinetic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Roussaki
- National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Chemical Biology, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece.
| | - George E Magoulas
- National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Chemical Biology, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece.
| | - Theano Fotopoulou
- National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Chemical Biology, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece.
| | - Nuno Santarem
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Emile Barrias
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho s/n, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Ina Pöhner
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Sara Luelmo
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Pantelis Afroudakis
- National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Chemical Biology, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece.
| | - Kalliopi Georgikopoulou
- National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Chemical Biology, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece.
| | - Paloma Tejera Nevado
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Leishmania Genetics Group, Bernhard Nocht St 74, D-20359 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Julia Eick
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Leishmania Genetics Group, Bernhard Nocht St 74, D-20359 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Eugenia Bifeld
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Leishmania Genetics Group, Bernhard Nocht St 74, D-20359 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - María J Corral
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - María Dolores Jiménez-Antón
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Bernhard Ellinger
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Hamburg, Germany; Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Maria Kuzikov
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Hamburg, Germany; Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Irini Fragiadaki
- University of Crete, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Voutes University Campus, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
| | - Effie Scoulica
- University of Crete, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Voutes University Campus, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
| | - Sheraz Gul
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Hamburg, Germany; Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Joachim Clos
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Leishmania Genetics Group, Bernhard Nocht St 74, D-20359 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Kyriakos C Prousis
- National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Chemical Biology, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece.
| | - Juan J Torrado
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28240 Madrid, Spain.
| | - José María Alunda
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rebecca C Wade
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), D-69118 Heidelberg, Germany; Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, and Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho s/n, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Anabela Cordeiro da Silva
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Porto, Portugal; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Departmento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Theodora Calogeropoulou
- National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Chemical Biology, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece.
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Nunes Lemes LF, Magoulas GE, Souza de Oliveira A, Barrias E, de Camargo Nascente L, Granado R, Teixeira de Macedo Silva S, Assimomytis N, de Souza W, Bolognesi ML, Romeiro LAS, Calogeropoulou T. Valorizing Constituents of Cashew Nut Shell Liquid toward the Sustainable Development of New Drugs against Chagas Disease. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1334-1345. [PMID: 37307287 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Six new ether phospholipid analogues encompassing constituents from cashew nut shell liquid as the lipid portion were synthesized in an effort to valorize byproducts of the cashew industry toward the generation of potent compounds against Chagas disease. Anacardic acids, cardanols, and cardols were used as the lipid portions and choline as the polar headgroup. The compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antiparasitic activity against different developmental stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. Compounds 16 and 17 were found to be the most potent against T. cruzi epimastigotes, trypomastigotes, and intracellular amastigotes exhibiting selectivity indices against the latter 32-fold and 7-fold higher than current drug benznidazole, respectively. Hence, four out of six analogues can be considered as hit-compounds toward the sustainable development of new treatments for Chagas disease, based on inexpensive agro-waste material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís Flávia Nunes Lemes
- Tropical Medicine Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70910-900 Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
- Catholic University of Brasilia, QS 07, Lote 01, EPCT, Águas Claras, 71966-700 Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - George E Magoulas
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece
| | - Andressa Souza de Oliveira
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70910-900 Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Emile Barrias
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho s/n, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho s/n, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana de Camargo Nascente
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70910-900 Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Renato Granado
- Laboratory of Metrology Applied to Life Sciences, National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology - Inmetro, Rua Santa Alexandrina, 416, Rio Comprido, 20261-232 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sara Teixeira de Macedo Silva
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho s/n, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Nikos Assimomytis
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho s/n, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Carlos Chagas Filho s/n, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Laura Bolognesi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luiz Antonio Soares Romeiro
- Tropical Medicine Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70910-900 Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70910-900 Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Theodora Calogeropoulou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vassileos Constantinou Avenue, 11635 Athens, Greece
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Benchimol M, Gadelha AP, de Souza W. Unusual Cell Structures and Organelles in Giardia intestinalis and Trichomonas vaginalis Are Potential Drug Targets. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2176. [PMID: 36363768 PMCID: PMC9698047 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This review presents the main cell organelles and structures of two important protist parasites, Giardia intestinalis, and Trichomonas vaginalis; many are unusual and are not found in other eukaryotic cells, thus could be good candidates for new drug targets aimed at improvement of the chemotherapy of diseases caused by these eukaryotic protists. For example, in Giardia, the ventral disc is a specific structure to this parasite and is fundamental for the adhesion and pathogenicity to the host. In Trichomonas, the hydrogenosome, a double membrane-bounded organelle that produces ATP, also can be a good target. Other structures include mitosomes, ribosomes, and proteasomes. Metronidazole is the most frequent compound used to kill many anaerobic organisms, including Giardia and Trichomonas. It enters the cell by passive diffusion and needs to find a highly reductive environment to be reduced to the nitro radicals to be active. However, it provokes several side effects, and some strains present metronidazole resistance. Therefore, to improve the quality of the chemotherapy against parasitic protozoa is important to invest in the development of highly specific compounds that interfere with key steps of essential metabolic pathways or in the functional macromolecular complexes which are most often associated with cell structures and organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Benchimol
- Laboratorio de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Ciêcias da Saúde, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitaria, Rio de Janeiro 96200-000, Brazil
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens e Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Gadelha
- Diretoria de Metrologia Aplicada as Ciências da Vida, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMETRO), Rio de Janeiro 25250-020, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens e Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
- CMABio, Escola Superior de Saúde, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas-UEA, Manaus 69850-000, Brazil
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