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Taylor MJ, von Geldern TW, Ford L, Hübner MP, Marsh K, Johnston KL, Sjoberg HT, Specht S, Pionnier N, Tyrer HE, Clare RH, Cook DAN, Murphy E, Steven A, Archer J, Bloemker D, Lenz F, Koschel M, Ehrens A, Metuge HM, Chunda VC, Ndongmo Chounna PW, Njouendou AJ, Fombad FF, Carr R, Morton HE, Aljayyoussi G, Hoerauf A, Wanji S, Kempf DJ, Turner JD, Ward SA. Preclinical development of an oral anti- Wolbachia macrolide drug for the treatment of lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/483/eaau2086. [PMID: 30867321 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aau2086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent global need for a safe macrofilaricide drug to accelerate elimination of the neglected tropical diseases onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. From an anti-infective compound library, the macrolide veterinary antibiotic, tylosin A, was identified as a hit against Wolbachia This bacterial endosymbiont is required for filarial worm viability and fertility and is a validated target for macrofilaricidal drugs. Medicinal chemistry was undertaken to develop tylosin A analogs with improved oral bioavailability. Two analogs, A-1535469 and A-1574083, were selected. Their efficacy was tested against the gold-standard second-generation tetracycline antibiotics, doxycycline and minocycline, in mouse and gerbil infection models of lymphatic filariasis (Brugia malayi and Litomosoides sigmodontis) and onchocerciasis (Onchocerca ochengi). A 1- or 2-week course of oral A-1535469 or A-1574083 provided >90% Wolbachia depletion from nematodes in infected animals, resulting in a block in embryogenesis and depletion of microfilarial worm loads. The two analogs delivered comparative or superior efficacy compared to a 3- to 4-week course of doxycycline or minocycline. A-1574083 (now called ABBV-4083) was selected for further preclinical testing. Cardiovascular studies in dogs and toxicology studies in rats and dogs revealed no adverse effects at doses (50 mg/kg) that achieved plasma concentrations >10-fold above the efficacious concentration. A-1574083 (ABBV-4083) shows potential as an anti-Wolbachia macrolide with an efficacy, pharmacology, and safety profile that is compatible with a short-term oral drug course for treating lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Taylor
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Thomas W von Geldern
- Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, AbbVie, North Chicago, IL, USA.,Franciscan Institute for World Health, Franciscan University, Steubenville, OH, USA
| | - Louise Ford
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Marc P Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kennan Marsh
- Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, AbbVie, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kelly L Johnston
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Hanna T Sjoberg
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Sabine Specht
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nicolas Pionnier
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Hayley E Tyrer
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Rachel H Clare
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Darren A N Cook
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Emma Murphy
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Andrew Steven
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - John Archer
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Dominique Bloemker
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Franziska Lenz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marianne Koschel
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Ehrens
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Haelly M Metuge
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon.,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Valerinne C Chunda
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon.,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Patrick W Ndongmo Chounna
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon.,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Abdel J Njouendou
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon.,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Fanny F Fombad
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon.,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Robert Carr
- Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, AbbVie, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Howard E Morton
- Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, AbbVie, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ghaith Aljayyoussi
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon.,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Dale J Kempf
- Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, AbbVie, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joseph D Turner
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Stephen A Ward
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK.
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2
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Bhutta MF, Lambie J, Hobson L, Williams D, Tyrer HE, Nicholson G, Brown SDM, Brown H, Piccinelli C, Devailly G, Ramsden J, Cheeseman MT. Transcript Analysis Reveals a Hypoxic Inflammatory Environment in Human Chronic Otitis Media With Effusion. Front Genet 2020; 10:1327. [PMID: 32153623 PMCID: PMC7047850 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) is the most common cause of childhood hearing loss in the developed world. Underlying pathophysiology is not well understood, and in particular the factors that lead to the transition from acute to chronic inflammation. Here we present the first genome-wide transcript analysis of white blood cells in the effusion of children with COME. Analysis of microarray data for enriched pathways reveals upregulation of hypoxia pathways, which is confirmed using real-time PCR and determining VEGF protein titres. Other pathways upregulated in both mucoid and serous effusions include Toll-like receptor signaling, complement, and RANK-RANKL. Cytology reveals neutrophils and macrophages predominated in both serous and mucoid effusions, however, serous samples had higher lymphocyte and eosinophil differential counts, while mucoid samples had higher neutrophil differential counts. Transcript analysis indicates serous fluids have CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte, and NK cell signatures. Overall, our findings suggest that inflammation and hypoxia pathways are important in the pathology of COME, and targets for potential therapeutic intervention, and that mucoid and serous COME may represent different immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood F Bhutta
- Department of ENT, Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Lambie
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lindsey Hobson
- Department of ENT, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Debbie Williams
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell, United Kingdom
| | - Hayley E Tyrer
- Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Lancashire, Preston, United Kingdom
| | - George Nicholson
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Steve D M Brown
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Brown
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara Piccinelli
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | | | - James Ramsden
- Department of ENT, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michael T Cheeseman
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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3
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Aljayyoussi G, Tyrer HE, Ford L, Sjoberg H, Pionnier N, Waterhouse D, Davies J, Gamble J, Metuge H, Cook DAN, Steven A, Sharma R, Guimaraes AF, Clare RH, Cassidy A, Johnston KL, Myhill L, Hayward L, Wanji S, Turner JD, Taylor MJ, Ward SA. Author Correction: Short-Course, High-Dose Rifampicin Achieves Wolbachia Depletion Predictive of Curative Outcomes in Preclinical Models of Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1384. [PMID: 29348597 PMCID: PMC5773522 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19723-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghaith Aljayyoussi
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Hayley E Tyrer
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Louise Ford
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Hanna Sjoberg
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Nicolas Pionnier
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - David Waterhouse
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Jill Davies
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Joanne Gamble
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Haelly Metuge
- Research Foundation in Tropical Medicine and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Darren A N Cook
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Andrew Steven
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Raman Sharma
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Ana F Guimaraes
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Rachel H Clare
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Andrew Cassidy
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Kelly L Johnston
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Laura Myhill
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Laura Hayward
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Research Foundation in Tropical Medicine and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Joseph D Turner
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Mark J Taylor
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Stephen A Ward
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
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Sharma R, Aljayyoussi G, Tyrer HE, Gamble J, Hayward L, Guimaraes AF, Davies J, Waterhouse D, Cook DAN, Myhill LJ, Clare RH, Cassidy A, Steven A, Johnston KL, Ford L, Turner JD, Ward SA, Taylor MJ. Corrigendum: Minocycline as a re-purposed anti-Wolbachia macrofilaricide: superiority compared with doxycycline regimens in a murine infection model of human lymphatic filariasis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:46934. [PMID: 29308790 PMCID: PMC5757190 DOI: 10.1038/srep46934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/srep23458.
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5
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Aljayyoussi G, Tyrer HE, Ford L, Sjoberg H, Pionnier N, Waterhouse D, Davies J, Gamble J, Metuge H, Cook DAN, Steven A, Sharma R, Guimaraes AF, Clare RH, Cassidy A, Johnston KL, Myhill L, Hayward L, Wanji S, Turner JD, Taylor MJ, Ward SA. Short-Course, High-Dose Rifampicin Achieves Wolbachia Depletion Predictive of Curative Outcomes in Preclinical Models of Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:210. [PMID: 28303006 PMCID: PMC5428297 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00322-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis are priority neglected tropical diseases targeted for elimination. The only safe drug treatment with substantial curative activity against the filarial nematodes responsible for LF (Brugia malayi, Wuchereria bancrofti) or onchocerciasis (Onchocerca volvulus) is doxycycline. The target of doxycycline is the essential endosymbiont, Wolbachia. Four to six weeks doxycycline therapy achieves >90% depletion of Wolbachia in worm tissues leading to blockade of embryogenesis, adult sterility and premature death 18-24 months post-treatment. Long treatment length and contraindications in children and pregnancy are obstacles to implementing doxycycline as a public health strategy. Here we determine, via preclinical infection models of Brugia malayi or Onchocerca ochengi that elevated exposures of orally-administered rifampicin can lead to Wolbachia depletions from filariae more rapidly than those achieved by doxycycline. Dose escalation of rifampicin achieves >90% Wolbachia depletion in time periods of 7 days in B. malayi and 14 days in O. ochengi. Using pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling and mouse-human bridging analysis, we conclude that clinically relevant dose elevations of rifampicin, which have recently been determined as safe in humans, could be administered as short courses to filariasis target populations with potential to reduce anti-Wolbachia curative therapy times to between one and two weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghaith Aljayyoussi
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Hayley E Tyrer
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Louise Ford
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Hanna Sjoberg
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Nicolas Pionnier
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - David Waterhouse
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Jill Davies
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Joanne Gamble
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Haelly Metuge
- Research Foundation in Tropical Medicine and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Darren A N Cook
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Andrew Steven
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Raman Sharma
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Ana F Guimaraes
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Rachel H Clare
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Andrew Cassidy
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Kelly L Johnston
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Laura Myhill
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Laura Hayward
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Research Foundation in Tropical Medicine and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Joseph D Turner
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Mark J Taylor
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Stephen A Ward
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
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Sharma R, Al Jayoussi G, Tyrer HE, Gamble J, Hayward L, Guimaraes AF, Davies J, Waterhouse D, Cook DAN, Myhill LJ, Clare RH, Cassidy A, Steven A, Johnston KL, Ford L, Turner JD, Ward SA, Taylor MJ. Minocycline as a re-purposed anti-Wolbachia macrofilaricide: superiority compared with doxycycline regimens in a murine infection model of human lymphatic filariasis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23458. [PMID: 26996237 PMCID: PMC4800446 DOI: 10.1038/srep23458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis are parasitic helminth diseases, which cause severe morbidities such as elephantiasis, skin disease and blindness, presenting a major public health burden in endemic communities. The anti-Wolbachia consortium (A·WOL: http://www.a-wol.com/) has identified a number of registered antibiotics that target the endosymbiotic bacterium, Wolbachia, delivering macrofilaricidal activity. Here we use pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) analysis to rationally develop an anti-Wolbachia chemotherapy by linking drug exposure to pharmacological effect. We compare the pharmacokinetics and anti-Wolbachia efficacy in a murine Brugia malayi model of minocycline versus doxycycline. Doxycycline exhibits superior PK in comparison to minocycline resulting in a 3-fold greater exposure in SCID mice. Monte-Carlo simulations confirmed that a bi-daily 25–40 mg/Kg regimen is bioequivalent to a clinically effective 100–200 mg/day dose for these tetracyclines. Pharmacodynamic studies showed that minocycline depletes Wolbachia more effectively than doxycycline (99.51% vs. 90.35%) after 28 day 25 mg/Kg bid regimens with a more potent block in microfilarial production. PK/PD analysis predicts that minocycline would be expected to be 1.7 fold more effective than doxycycline in man despite lower exposure in our infection models. Our findings warrant onward clinical investigations to examine the clinical efficacy of minocycline treatment regimens against lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raman Sharma
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Ghaith Al Jayoussi
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Hayley E Tyrer
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Joanne Gamble
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Laura Hayward
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Ana F Guimaraes
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Jill Davies
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - David Waterhouse
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Darren A N Cook
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Laura J Myhill
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Rachel H Clare
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Andrew Cassidy
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Andrew Steven
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Kelly L Johnston
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Louise Ford
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Joseph D Turner
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Stephen A Ward
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Mark J Taylor
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
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7
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Halliday A, Guimaraes AF, Tyrer HE, Metuge HM, Patrick CNW, Arnaud KOJ, Kwenti TDB, Forsbrook G, Steven A, Cook D, Enyong P, Wanji S, Taylor MJ, Turner JD. A murine macrofilaricide pre-clinical screening model for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:472. [PMID: 25338621 PMCID: PMC4212127 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0472-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/02/2014] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background New drugs effective against adult filariae (macrofilaricides) would accelerate the elimination of lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. Anti-Onchocerca drug development is hampered by the lack of a facile model. We postulated that SCID mice could be developed as a fmacrofilaricide screening model. Methods The filaricides: albendazole (ABZ), diethylcarbamazine (DEC), flubendazole (FBZ), ivermectin (IVM) and the anti-Wolbachia macrofilaricide, minocycline (MIN) were tested in Brugia malayi (Bm)-parasitized BALB/c SCID mice vs vehicle control (VC). Responses were compared to BALB/c wild type (WT). Onchocerca ochengi male worms or onchocercomata were surgically implanted into BALB/c SCID, CB.17 SCID, BALB/c WT mice or Meriones gerbils. Survival was evaluated at 7–15 days. BALB/c SCID were tested to evaluate the responsiveness of pre-clinical macrofilaricides FBZ and rifapentine (RIFAP) against male Onchocerca. Results WT and SCID responded with >95% efficacy following ABZ or DEC treatments against Bm larvae (P < 0.0001). IVM was partially filaricidal against Bm larvae in WT and SCID (WT; 39.8%, P = 0.0356 and SCID; 56.7%, P = 0.026). SCID responded similarly to WT following IVM treatment of microfilaraemias (WT; 79%, P = 0.0194. SCID; 76%, P = 0.0473). FBZ induced a total macrofilaricidal response against adult Bm in WT and SCID (WT; P = 0.0067, SCID; P = 0.0071). MIN induced a >90% reduction in Bm Wolbachia burdens (P < 0.0001) and a blockade of microfilarial release (P = 0.0215) in SCID. Male Onchocerca survival was significantly higher in SCID vs WT mice, but not gerbils, after +15 days (60% vs 22% vs 39% P = 0.0475). Onchocercoma implants had engrafted into host tissues, with evidence of neovascularisation, after +7 days and yielded viable macro/microfilariae ex vivo. FBZ induced a macrofilaricidal effect in Onchocerca male implanted SCID at +5 weeks (FBZ; 1.67% vs VC; 43.81%, P = 0.0089). Wolbachia loads within male Onchocerca were reduced by 99% in implanted SCID receiving RIFAP for +2 weeks. Conclusions We have developed a ‘pan-filarial’ small animal research model that is sufficiently robust, with adequate capacity and throughput, to screen existing and future pre-clinical candidate macrofilaricides. Pilot data suggests a murine onchocercoma xenograft model is achievable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Halliday
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Ana F Guimaraes
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Hayley E Tyrer
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | | | - Chounna Ndongmo Winston Patrick
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon. .,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Parasite and Vector Research Unit, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
| | - Kengne-Ouafo Jonas Arnaud
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon. .,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Parasite and Vector Research Unit, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
| | - Tayong Dizzle Bita Kwenti
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon. .,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Parasite and Vector Research Unit, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
| | - George Forsbrook
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Andrew Steven
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Darren Cook
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Peter Enyong
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon.
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment, Buea, Cameroon. .,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Parasite and Vector Research Unit, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
| | - Mark J Taylor
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Joseph D Turner
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
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Cheeseman MT, Vowell K, Hough TA, Jones L, Pathak P, Tyrer HE, Kelly M, Cox R, Warren MV, Peters J. A mouse model for osseous heteroplasia. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51835. [PMID: 23284784 PMCID: PMC3526487 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 11/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
GNAS/Gnas encodes Gsα that is mainly biallelically expressed but shows imprinted expression in some tissues. In Albright Hereditary Osteodystrophy (AHO) heterozygous loss of function mutations of GNAS can result in ectopic ossification that tends to be superficial and attributable to haploinsufficiency of biallelically expressed Gsα. Oed-Sml is a point missense mutation in exon 6 of the orthologous mouse locus Gnas. We report here both the late onset ossification and occurrence of benign cutaneous fibroepithelial polyps in Oed-Sml. These phenotypes are seen on both maternal and paternal inheritance of the mutant allele and are therefore due to an effect on biallelically expressed Gsα. The ossification is confined to subcutaneous tissues and so resembles the ossification observed with AHO. Our mouse model is the first with both subcutaneous ossification and fibroepithelial polyps related to Gsα deficiency. It is also the first mouse model described with a clinically relevant phenotype associated with a point mutation in Gsα and may be useful in investigations of the mechanisms of heterotopic bone formation. Together with earlier results, our findings indicate that Gsα signalling pathways play a vital role in repressing ectopic bone formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Cheeseman
- Medical Research Council Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK.
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Cheeseman MT, Tyrer HE, Williams D, Hough TA, Pathak P, Romero MR, Hilton H, Bali S, Parker A, Vizor L, Purnell T, Vowell K, Wells S, Bhutta MF, Potter PK, Brown SDM. HIF-VEGF pathways are critical for chronic otitis media in Junbo and Jeff mouse mutants. PLoS Genet 2011; 7:e1002336. [PMID: 22028672 PMCID: PMC3197687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2010] [Accepted: 08/26/2011] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Otitis media with effusion (OME) is the commonest cause of hearing loss in children, yet the underlying genetic pathways and mechanisms involved are incompletely understood. Ventilation of the middle ear with tympanostomy tubes is the commonest surgical procedure in children and the best treatment for chronic OME, but the mechanism by which they work remains uncertain. As hypoxia is a common feature of inflamed microenvironments, moderation of hypoxia may be a significant contributory mechanism. We have investigated the occurrence of hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) mediated responses in Junbo and Jeff mouse mutant models, which develop spontaneous chronic otitis media. We found that Jeff and Junbo mice labeled in vivo with pimonidazole showed cellular hypoxia in inflammatory cells in the bulla lumen, and in Junbo the middle ear mucosa was also hypoxic. The bulla fluid inflammatory cell numbers were greater and the upregulation of inflammatory gene networks were more pronounced in Junbo than Jeff. Hif-1α gene expression was elevated in bulla fluid inflammatory cells, and there was upregulation of its target genes including Vegfa in Junbo and Jeff. We therefore investigated the effects in Junbo of small-molecule inhibitors of VEGFR signaling (PTK787, SU-11248, and BAY 43-9006) and destabilizing HIF by inhibiting its chaperone HSP90 with 17-DMAG. We found that both classes of inhibitor significantly reduced hearing loss and the occurrence of bulla fluid and that VEGFR inhibitors moderated angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the inflamed middle ear mucosa. The effectiveness of HSP90 and VEGFR signaling inhibitors in suppressing OM in the Junbo model implicates HIF–mediated VEGF as playing a pivotal role in OM pathogenesis. Our analysis of the Junbo and Jeff mutants highlights the role of hypoxia and HIF–mediated pathways, and we conclude that targeting molecules in HIF–VEGF signaling pathways has therapeutic potential in the treatment of chronic OM. Otitis media with effusion (OME) is the commonest cause of hearing loss in children, and treatment using grommets remains the commonest surgical procedure in children. Chronic forms of OM are known from human population studies to have a significant genetic component, but little is known of the underlying genes or pathways involved. We have analyzed two chronic OM mouse models, the Junbo and Jeff mutants, and have found that both demonstrate hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) mediated responses. There is upregulation of inflammatory pathways in the mutant middle ears and in Junbo elevation of cytokines that modulate Hif-1α. Hif-1α levels are raised in the middle ear as well as downstream targets of HIF such as Vegfa. We explored the effects of small-molecule inhibitors of HSP90 and VEGF receptor signaling in the Junbo mutant and found significant reductions in hearing loss, the occurrence of bulla fluid, and moderation of vascular changes in the inflamed middle ear mucosa with the VEGF receptor inhibitors. The study of the Junbo and Jeff mutants demonstrates the role of hypoxia and HIF mediated pathways in OM pathogenesis, and it indicates that targeting the HIF–VEGF pathway may represent a novel approach to therapeutic intervention in chronic OM.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Blister/metabolism
- Blister/pathology
- Body Fluids/metabolism
- Cell Hypoxia/genetics
- Disease Models, Animal
- Ear, Middle/drug effects
- Ear, Middle/metabolism
- Ear, Middle/pathology
- Gene Expression Regulation
- HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics
- HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism
- Hearing Loss/etiology
- Hearing Loss/genetics
- Humans
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism
- Indoles/pharmacology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C3H
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Mutant Strains/genetics
- Nitroimidazoles/analysis
- Otitis Media with Effusion/complications
- Otitis Media with Effusion/genetics
- Phthalazines/pharmacology
- Pyridines/pharmacology
- Pyrroles/pharmacology
- Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/genetics
- Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Sunitinib
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism
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