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Gabaldón-Figueira JC, Martinez-Peinado N, Escabia E, Ros-Lucas A, Chatelain E, Scandale I, Gascon J, Pinazo MJ, Alonso-Padilla J. State-of-the-Art in the Drug Discovery Pathway for Chagas Disease: A Framework for Drug Development and Target Validation. Res Rep Trop Med 2023; 14:1-19. [PMID: 37337597 PMCID: PMC10277022 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s415273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is the most important protozoan infection in the Americas, and constitutes a significant public health concern throughout the world. Development of new medications against its etiologic agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, has been traditionally slow and difficult, lagging in comparison with diseases caused by other kinetoplastid parasites. Among the factors that explain this are the incompletely understood mechanisms of pathogenesis of T. cruzi infection and its complex set of interactions with the host in the chronic stage of the disease. These demand the performance of a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays as part of any drug development effort. In this review, we discuss recent breakthroughs in the understanding of the parasite's life cycle and their implications in the search for new chemotherapeutics. For this, we present a framework to guide drug discovery efforts against Chagas disease, considering state-of-the-art preclinical models and recently developed tools for the identification and validation of molecular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisa Escabia
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Ros-Lucas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Scandale
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - María-Jesús Pinazo
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERINFEC, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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Impact of Laboratory-Adapted Intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi Strains on the Activity Profiles of Compounds with Anti- T. cruzi Activity. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020476. [PMID: 36838441 PMCID: PMC9967867 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020476] [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: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease causes ~12,000 deaths annually and is one of the world's 20 neglected tropical diseases, as defined by the World Health Organisation. The drug discovery pipeline for Chagas disease currently has few new clinical candidates, with high attrition rates an ongoing issue. To determine if the Trypanosoma cruzi strain utilised to assess in vitro compound activity impacts activity, a comparison of laboratory-adapted T. cruzi strains from differing geographical locations was undertaken for a selection of compounds with anti-T. cruzi activity. To minimise the possible effect of differences in experimental methodology, the same host cell and multiplicity of infection were utilised. To determine whether the compound exposure time influenced results, activity was determined following exposure for 48 and 72 h of incubation. To ascertain whether replication rates affected outcomes, comparative rates of replication of the T. cruzi strains were investigated, using the nucleoside analogue, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine. Minimal differences in the in vitro activity of compounds between strains were observed following 48 h incubation, whereas significant differences were observed following 72 h incubation, in particular for the cytochrome P450 inhibitors tested and the cell cycle inhibitor, camptothecin. Thus, the use of panels of laboratory adapted strains in vitro may be dependent on the speed of action that is prioritised. For the identification of fast-acting compounds, an initial shorter duration assay using a single strain may be used. A longer incubation to identify compound activity may alternatively require profiling of compounds against multiple T. cruzi strains.
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Xanthine Analogs Suppress Trypanosoma cruzi Infection In Vitro Using PDEs as Targets. MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/microbiolres13040052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), the causative agent of Chagas disease, has infected 6 million people, putting 70 million people at risk worldwide. Presently, very limited drugs are available, and these have severe side effects. Hence, there is an urgency to delve into other pathways and targets for novel drugs. Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) expresses a number of different cyclic AMP (cAMP)-specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs). cAMP is one of the key regulators of mammalian cell proliferation and differentiation, and it also plays an important role in T. cruzi growth. Very few studies have demonstrated the important role of cyclic nucleotide-specific PDEs in T. cruzi’s survival. T. cruzi phosphodiesterase C (TcrPDEC) has been proposed as a potential new drug target for treating Chagas disease. In the current study, we screen several analogs of xanthine for potency against trypomastigote and amastigote growth in vitro using three different strains of T. cruzi (Tulahuen, Y and CA-1/CL72). One of the potent analogs, GVK14, has been shown to inhibit all three strains of amastigotes in host cells as well as axenic cultures. In conclusion, xanthine analogs that inhibit T. cruzi PDE may provide novel alternative therapeutic options for Chagas disease.
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4
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Bernatchez JA, Kil YS, Barbosa da Silva E, Thomas D, McCall LI, Wendt KL, Souza JM, Ackermann J, McKerrow JH, Cichewicz RH, Siqueira-Neto JL. Identification of Leucinostatins from Ophiocordyceps sp. as Antiparasitic Agents against Trypanosoma cruzi. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:7675-7682. [PMID: 35284725 PMCID: PMC8908367 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c06347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Safe and effective treatments for Chagas disease, a potentially fatal parasitic infection associated with cardiac and gastrointestinal pathology and caused by the kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, have yet to be developed. Benznidazole and nifurtimox, which are currently the only available drugs against T. cruzi, are associated with severe adverse effects and questionable efficacy in the late stage of the disease. Natural products have proven to be a rich source of new chemotypes for other infectious agents. We utilized a microscopy-based high-throughput phenotypic screen to identify inhibitors of T. cruzi from a library of natural product samples obtained from fungi procured through a Citizen Science Soil Collection Program (https://whatsinyourbackyard.org/) and the Great Lakes (USA) benthic environment. We identified five leucinostatins (A, B, F, NPDG C, and NPDG D) as potent inhibitors of the intracellular amastigote form of T. cruzi. Leucinostatin B also showed in vivo suppression of T. cruzi in a mouse model of Chagas disease. Given prior reports that leucinostatins A and B have antiparasitic activity against the related kinetoplastid Trypanosoma brucei, our findings suggest a potential cross-trypanocidal compound class and provide a platform for the further chemical derivatization of a potent chemical scaffold against T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean A. Bernatchez
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Yun-Seo Kil
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United
States
- Natural
Products Discovery Group, University of
Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson
Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
- Institute
for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Elany Barbosa da Silva
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Diane Thomas
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United
States
- Department
of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University
of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson
Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
- Laboratories
of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United
States
| | - Karen L. Wendt
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United
States
- Natural
Products Discovery Group, University of
Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson
Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
- Institute
for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Julia M. Souza
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Research
Group on Natural Products, Center for Research in Sciences and Technology, University of Franca, Avenida Dr. Armando Salles de Oliveira 201, Franca, São Paulo CEP 14404-600, Brazil
| | - Jasmin Ackermann
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Athena
Institute, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, HV Amsterdam 1081, The Netherlands
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Robert H. Cichewicz
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United
States
- Natural
Products Discovery Group, University of
Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson
Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
- Institute
for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Jair L. Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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5
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Dantas RF, Torres-Santos EC, Silva Jr FP. Past and future of trypanosomatids high-throughput phenotypic screening. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210402. [PMID: 35293482 PMCID: PMC8920514 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases caused by trypanosomatid parasites affect millions of people mainly living in developing countries. Novel drugs are highly needed since there are no vaccines and available treatment has several limitations, such as resistance, low efficacy, and high toxicity. The drug discovery process is often analogous to finding a needle in the haystack. In the last decades a so-called rational drug design paradigm, heavily dependent on computational approaches, has promised to deliver new drugs in a more cost-effective way. Paradoxically however, the mainstay of these computational methods is data-driven, meaning they need activity data for new compounds to be generated and available in databases. Therefore, high-throughput screening (HTS) of compounds still is a much-needed exercise in drug discovery to fuel other rational approaches. In trypanosomatids, due to the scarcity of validated molecular targets and biological complexity of these parasites, phenotypic screening has become an essential tool for the discovery of new bioactive compounds. In this article we discuss the perspectives of phenotypic HTS for trypanosomatid drug discovery with emphasis on the role of image-based, high-content methods. We also propose an ideal cascade of assays for the identification of new drug candidates for clinical development using leishmaniasis as an example.
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Mazzeti AL, Capelari-Oliveira P, Bahia MT, Mosqueira VCF. Review on Experimental Treatment Strategies Against Trypanosoma cruzi. J Exp Pharmacol 2021; 13:409-432. [PMID: 33833592 PMCID: PMC8020333 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s267378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Currently, only nitroheterocyclic nifurtimox (NFX) and benznidazole (BNZ) are available for the treatment of Chagas disease, with limitations such as variable efficacy, long treatment regimens and toxicity. Different strategies have been used to discover new active molecules for the treatment of Chagas disease. Target-based and phenotypic screening led to thousands of compounds with anti-T. cruzi activity, notably the nitroheterocyclic compounds, fexinidazole and its metabolites. In addition, drug repurposing, drug combinations, re-dosing regimens and the development of new formulations have been evaluated. The CYP51 antifungal azoles, as posaconazole, ravuconazole and its prodrug fosravuconazole presented promising results in experimental Chagas disease. Drug combinations of nitroheterocyclic and azoles were able to induce cure in murine infection. New treatment schemes using BNZ showed efficacy in the experimental chronic stage, including against dormant forms of T. cruzi. And finally, sesquiterpene lactone formulated in nanocarriers displayed outstanding efficacy against different strains of T. cruzi, susceptible or resistant to BNZ, the reference drug. These pre-clinical results are encouraging and provide interesting evidence to improve the treatment of patients with Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lia Mazzeti
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Galênico e Nanotecnologia, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, Brazil.,Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Escola de Medicina & Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Patricia Capelari-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Galênico e Nanotecnologia, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Maria Terezinha Bahia
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Escola de Medicina & Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Carla Furtado Mosqueira
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento Galênico e Nanotecnologia, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
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7
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Fesser AF, Braissant O, Olmo F, Kelly JM, Mäser P, Kaiser M. Non-invasive monitoring of drug action: A new live in vitro assay design for Chagas' disease drug discovery. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008487. [PMID: 32716934 PMCID: PMC7419005 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
New assay designs are needed to improve the predictive value of the Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro tests used as part of the Chagas' disease drug development pipeline. Here, we employed a green fluorescent protein (eGFP)-expressing parasite line and live high-content imaging to monitor the growth of T. cruzi amastigotes in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. A novel assay design allowed us to follow parasite numbers over 6 days, in four-hour intervals, while occupying the microscope for only 24 hours per biological replicate. Dose-response curves were calculated for each time point after addition of test compounds, revealing how EC50 values first decreased over the time of drug exposure, and then leveled off. However, we observed that parasite numbers could vary, even in the untreated controls, and at different sites in the same well, which caused variability in the EC50 values. To overcome this, we established that fold change in parasite number per hour is a more robust and informative measure of drug activity. This was calculated based on an exponential growth model for every biological sample. The net fold change per hour is the result of parasite replication, differentiation, and death. The calculation of this fold change enabled us to determine the tipping point of drug action, i.e. the time point when the death rate of the parasites exceeded the growth rate and the fold change dropped below 1, depending on the drug concentration and exposure time. This revealed specific pharmacodynamic profiles of the benchmark drugs benznidazole and posaconazole. Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a chronic debilitating infection occurring mostly in Latin America. There is an urgent need for new, well tolerated drugs. However, the latest therapeutic candidates have yielded disappointing outcomes in clinical trials, despite promising preclinical results. This demands new and more predictive in vitro assays. To address this, we have developed an assay design that enables the growth of T. cruzi intracellular forms to be monitored in real time, under drug pressure, for 6 days post-infection. This allowed us to establish the tipping point of drug action, when the death rate of the parasites exceeded the growth rate. The resulting pharmacodynamics profiles can provide robust and informative details on anti-chagasic candidates, as demonstrated for the benchmark drugs benznidazole and posaconazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna F. Fesser
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Braissant
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Francisco Olmo
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - John M. Kelly
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Sternlieb T, Schoijet AC, Alonso GD. Intracellular cyclic AMP levels modulate differential adaptive responses on epimastigotes and cell culture trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Trop 2020; 202:105273. [PMID: 31734265 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Among the many environmental challenges the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi has to overcome to complete its life cycle through different hosts, oxidative stress plays a central role. Different stages of this parasite encounter distinct sources of oxidative stress, such as the oxidative burst of the immune system, or the Heme released from hemoglobin degradation in the triatomine's midgut. Also, the redox status of the surroundings functions as a signal to the parasite, triggering processes coupled to differentiation or proliferation. Intracellular second messengers, like cAMP, are responsible for the transduction of environmental queues and initiating cellular processes accordingly. In trypanosomatids cAMP is involved in a variety of processes, including proliferation, differentiation, osmoregulation and quorum sensing. Trypanosomatid phosphodiesterases (PDE) show atypical pharmacological properties and some have been involved in key processes for the survival of the parasites, which validates them as attractive therapeutic targets. Our work here shows that cAMP modulates different processes according to parasite stage. Epimastigotes become more resistant to oxidative stress when pre-treated with cAMP analogs, while in trypomastigotes an increase in intracellular cAMP doesn't seem to aid in this response, although it does increase the number of amastigotes obtained 48 h after infection, compared to the control group. Also, we show that TcrPDEA1, a functionally enigmatic phosphodiesterase with very high Km, is involved in the epimastigotes response to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Sternlieb
- Laboratorio de señalización y mecanismos adaptativos en tripanosomátidos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Vuelta de Obligado 2490 (C1428ADN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra C Schoijet
- Laboratorio de señalización y mecanismos adaptativos en tripanosomátidos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Vuelta de Obligado 2490 (C1428ADN), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermo D Alonso
- Laboratorio de señalización y mecanismos adaptativos en tripanosomátidos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Vuelta de Obligado 2490 (C1428ADN), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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9
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Application of multiplexed pharmacokinetic immunoassay to quantify in vivo drug forms and coadministered biologics. Bioanalysis 2019; 11:2251-2268. [DOI: 10.4155/bio-2019-0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Meso Scale Discovery U-PLEX® provides an opportunity to develop multiplexed pharmacokinetic (PK) immunoassays. Two case studies demonstrate the utility of multiplexed PK methods. Materials & methods: Development of PK ligand-binding assays quantify of nonclinical plasma concentrations of a biotherapeutic that has degraded due to in vivo biotransformation, and clinical serum concentrations from two biotherapeutics spiked into a single sample. Results: Data from multiplexed U-PLEX PK methods are comparable to results from single-readout streptavidin Meso Scale Discovery gold PK methods. Multiplex measurement of a nonclinical study showed acceptable performance for accuracy, precision and dilutional linearity while a clinical study additionally passed selectivity, specificity and stability. Conclusion: Regulated, validation-ready multiplex PK methods for both nonclinical and clinical studies allow opportunities for high-throughput bioanalysis.
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10
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Franco CH, Alcântara LM, Chatelain E, Freitas-Junior L, Moraes CB. Drug Discovery for Chagas Disease: Impact of Different Host Cell Lines on Assay Performance and Hit Compound Selection. Trop Med Infect Dis 2019; 4:E82. [PMID: 31108888 PMCID: PMC6630705 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed4020082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-based screening has become the major compound interrogation strategy in Chagas disease drug discovery. Several different cell lines have been deployed as host cells in screening assays. However, host cell characteristics and host-parasite interactions may play an important role when assessing anti-T. cruzi compound activity, ultimately impacting on hit discovery. To verify this hypothesis, four distinct mammalian cell lines (U2OS, THP-1, Vero and L6) were used as T. cruzi host cells in High Content Screening assays. Rates of infection varied greatly between different host cells. Susceptibility to benznidazole also varied, depending on the host cell and parasite strain. A library of 1,280 compounds was screened against the four different cell lines infected with T. cruzi, resulting in the selection of a total of 82 distinct compounds as hits. From these, only two hits were common to all four cell lines assays (2.4%) and 51 were exclusively selected from a single assay (62.2%). Infected U2OS cells were the most sensitive assay, as 55 compounds in total were identified as hits; infected THP-1 yielded the lowest hit rates, with only 16 hit compounds. Of the selected hits, compound FPL64176 presented selective anti-T. cruzi activity and could serve as a starting point for the discovery of new anti-chagasic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caio Haddad Franco
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, National Centre for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Laura Maria Alcântara
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, National Centre for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Lucio Freitas-Junior
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, National Centre for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Carolina Borsoi Moraes
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, National Centre for Research in Energy and Materials, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil.
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11
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Chatelain E, Ioset JR. Phenotypic screening approaches for Chagas disease drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2017; 13:141-153. [PMID: 29235363 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2018.1417380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a global public health issue. Current treatments targeting the parasite are limited to two old nitroheterocyclic drugs with serious side effects. The need for new and safer drugs has prompted numerous drug discovery efforts to identify compounds suitable for parasitological cure in the last decade. Areas covered: Target-based drug discovery has been limited by the small number of well-validated targets - the latest example being the failure of azoles, T. cruzi CYP51 inhibitors, in proof-of-concept clinical trials; instead phenotypic-based drug discovery has become the main pillar of Chagas R&D. Rather than focusing on the technical features of these screening assays, the authors describe the different assays developed and available in the field, and provide a critical view on their values and limitations in the screening cascade for Chagas drug development. Expert opinion: The application of technological advances to the field of Chagas disease has led to a variety of phenotypic assays that have not only changed the disease discovery landscape but have also helped us to gain a better understanding of parasite/host interactions. Recent examples of target resolution from phenotypic hits will uncover new opportunities for drug discovery for Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chatelain
- a Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), R&D Department , Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Jean-Robert Ioset
- a Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), R&D Department , Geneva , Switzerland
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Hartmann AP, de Carvalho MR, Bernardes LSC, Moraes MHD, de Melo EB, Lopes CD, Steindel M, da Silva JS, Carvalho I. Synthesis and 2D-QSAR studies of neolignan-based diaryl-tetrahydrofuran and -furan analogues with remarkable activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and assessment of the trypanothione reductase activity. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 140:187-199. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.08.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Brand S, Ko EJ, Viayna E, Thompson S, Spinks D, Thomas M, Sandberg L, Francisco AF, Jayawardhana S, Smith VC, Jansen C, De Rycker M, Thomas J, MacLean L, Osuna-Cabello M, Riley J, Scullion P, Stojanovski L, Simeons FRC, Epemolu O, Shishikura Y, Crouch SD, Bakshi TS, Nixon CJ, Reid IH, Hill AP, Underwood TZ, Hindley SJ, Robinson SA, Kelly JM, Fiandor JM, Wyatt PG, Marco M, Miles TJ, Read KD, Gilbert IH. Discovery and Optimization of 5-Amino-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamide Series against Trypanosoma cruzi. J Med Chem 2017; 60:7284-7299. [PMID: 28844141 PMCID: PMC5601362 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
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Chagas’
disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma
cruzi, is the most common cause of cardiac-related
deaths in endemic regions of Latin America. There is an urgent need
for new safer treatments because current standard therapeutic options,
benznidazole and nifurtimox, have significant side effects and are
only effective in the acute phase of the infection with limited efficacy
in the chronic phase. Phenotypic high content screening against the
intracellular parasite in infected VERO cells was used to identify
a novel hit series of 5-amino-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxamides (ATC).
Optimization of the ATC series gave improvements in potency, aqueous
solubility, and metabolic stability, which combined to give significant
improvements in oral exposure. Mitigation of a potential Ames and hERG liability ultimately led to two promising compounds, one of which demonstrated significant suppression of parasite burden in a mouse model of Chagas’ disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Brand
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Eun Jung Ko
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Elisabet Viayna
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Stephen Thompson
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Daniel Spinks
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Michael Thomas
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Lars Sandberg
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Amanda F Francisco
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, U.K
| | - Shiromani Jayawardhana
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, U.K
| | - Victoria C Smith
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Chimed Jansen
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Manu De Rycker
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - John Thomas
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Lorna MacLean
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Maria Osuna-Cabello
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Jennifer Riley
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Paul Scullion
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Laste Stojanovski
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Frederick R C Simeons
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Ola Epemolu
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Yoko Shishikura
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Sabrinia D Crouch
- Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline , Calle Severo Ochoa 2, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tania S Bakshi
- GlaxoSmithKline , 1250 South Collegeville Road, PO Box 5089, Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426-0989, United States
| | - Christopher J Nixon
- GlaxoSmithKline , 1250 South Collegeville Road, PO Box 5089, Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426-0989, United States
| | - Iain H Reid
- Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline , Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2NY, U.K
| | - Alan P Hill
- Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline , Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2NY, U.K
| | - Tim Z Underwood
- Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline , Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2NY, U.K
| | - Sean J Hindley
- Medicines Research Centre, GlaxoSmithKline , Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2NY, U.K
| | - Sharon A Robinson
- David Jack Centre for R&D, GlaxoSmithKline , Park Road, Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 0DP, United Kingdom
| | - John M Kelly
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, U.K
| | - Jose M Fiandor
- Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline , Calle Severo Ochoa 2, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paul G Wyatt
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Maria Marco
- Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline , Calle Severo Ochoa 2, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Timothy J Miles
- Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline , Calle Severo Ochoa 2, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Kevin D Read
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
| | - Ian H Gilbert
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee , Sir James Black Centre, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K
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De Rycker M, Thomas J, Riley J, Brough SJ, Miles TJ, Gray DW. Identification of Trypanocidal Activity for Known Clinical Compounds Using a New Trypanosoma cruzi Hit-Discovery Screening Cascade. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004584. [PMID: 27082760 PMCID: PMC4833300 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a significant health problem in Latin America and the available treatments have significant issues in terms of toxicity and efficacy. There is thus an urgent need to develop new treatments either via a repurposing strategy or through the development of new chemical entities. A key first step is the identification of compounds with anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity from compound libraries. Here we describe a hit discovery screening cascade designed to specifically identify hits that have the appropriate anti-parasitic properties to warrant further development. The cascade consists of a primary imaging-based assay followed by newly developed and appropriately scaled secondary assays to predict the cidality and rate-of-kill of the compounds. Finally, we incorporated a cytochrome P450 CYP51 biochemical assay to remove compounds that owe their phenotypic response to inhibition of this enzyme. We report the use of the cascade in profiling two small libraries containing clinically tested compounds and identify Clemastine, Azelastine, Ifenprodil, Ziprasidone and Clofibrate as molecules having appropriate profiles. Analysis of clinical derived pharmacokinetic and toxicity data indicates that none of these are appropriate for repurposing but they may represent suitable start points for further optimisation for the treatment of Chagas disease. Chagas disease is an important health problem in Latin America. The disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to people via insects of the Triatomine family. There are currently only two treatments available, Nifurtimox and Benznidazole. These have serious problems including poor efficacy, strain-dependent drug sensitivity, resistance and toxicity to the patients. There is thus a great need to find new drugs for this disease. The first step in a typical drug discovery project is to find compounds that kill the parasite by screening large amounts of compounds in the laboratory. To do this one requires assays in which the effect of the compounds on the parasites can be seen. In this paper we describe two assays that together try to identify compounds that kill T.cruzi parasites. Such compounds are good candidates for further development and may eventually become new drugs. We tested our assays against a library of compounds with known clinical activity and identified several interesting hits. As a great deal of data already exists for these compounds they could potentially be developed into new treatments much faster than completely new compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu De Rycker
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (MDR); (DWG)
| | - John Thomas
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Riley
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen J. Brough
- GlaxoSmithKline, Biological Sciences, Medicines Research Centre, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Tim J. Miles
- GlaxoSmithKline, Diseases of the Developing World, Parque Tecnologico de Madrid, Servero Ochoa, Madrid, Spain
| | - David W. Gray
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (MDR); (DWG)
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease is a chronic infection associated with long-term morbidity. Increased funding and advocacy for drug discovery for neglected diseases have prompted the introduction of several important technological advances, and Chagas disease is among the neglected conditions that has mostly benefited from technological developments. A number of screening campaigns, and the development of new and improved in vitro and in vivo assays, has led to advances in the field of drug discovery. AREAS COVERED This review highlights the major advances in Chagas disease drug screening, and how these are being used not only to discover novel chemical entities and drug candidates, but also increase our knowledge about the disease and the parasite. Different methodologies used for compound screening and prioritization are discussed, as well as novel techniques for the investigation of these targets. The molecular mechanism of action is also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Technological advances have been executed with scientific rigour for the development of new in vitro cell-based assays and in vivo animal models, to bring about novel and better drugs for Chagas disease, as well as to increase our understanding of what are the necessary properties for a compound to be successful in the clinic. The gained knowledge, combined with new exciting approaches toward target deconvolution, will help identifying new targets for Chagas disease chemotherapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina B Moraes
- a Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio) , Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM) , Campinas , Brazil
| | - Caio H Franco
- a Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio) , Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM) , Campinas , Brazil.,b Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology , Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo , Sao Paulo , Brazil
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Bermudez J, Davies C, Simonazzi A, Pablo Real J, Palma S. Current drug therapy and pharmaceutical challenges for Chagas disease. Acta Trop 2016; 156:1-16. [PMID: 26747009 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the most significant health problems in the American continent in terms of human health, and socioeconomic impact is Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Infection was originally transmitted by reduviid insects, congenitally from mother to fetus, and by oral ingestion in sylvatic/rural environments, but blood transfusions, organ transplants, laboratory accidents, and sharing of contaminated syringes also contribute to modern day transmission. Likewise, Chagas disease used to be endemic from Northern Mexico to Argentina, but migrations have earned it global. The parasite has a complex life cycle, infecting different species, and invading a variety of cells - including muscle and nerve cells of the heart and gastrointestinal tract - in the mammalian host. Human infection outcome is a potentially fatal cardiomyopathy, and gastrointestinal tract lesions. In absence of a vaccine, vector control and treatment of patients are the only tools to control the disease. Unfortunately, the only drugs now available for Chagas' disease, Nifurtimox and Benznidazole, are relatively toxic for adult patients, and require prolonged administration. Benznidazole is the first choice for Chagas disease treatment due to its lower side effects than Nifurtimox. However, different strategies are being sought to overcome Benznidazole's toxicity including shorter or intermittent administration schedules-either alone or in combination with other drugs. In addition, a long list of compounds has shown trypanocidal activity, ranging from natural products to specially designed molecules, re-purposing drugs commercialized to treat other maladies, and homeopathy. In the present review, we will briefly summarize the upturns of current treatment of Chagas disease, discuss the increment on research and scientific publications about this topic, and give an overview of the state-of-the-art research aiming to produce an alternative medication to treat T. cruzi infection.
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Pérez-Silanes S, Torres E, Arbillaga L, Varela J, Cerecetto H, González M, Azqueta A, Moreno-Viguri E. Synthesis and biological evaluation of quinoxaline di-N-oxide derivatives with in vitro trypanocidal activity. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2015; 26:903-906. [PMID: 26750255 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.12.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We report the synthesis and in vitro activity against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes of 15 novel quinoxaline derivatives. Ten of the derivatives presented IC50 values lower than the reference drugs Nfx and Bzn; four of them standed out with IC50 values lower than 1.5 μM. Moreover, unspecific cytotoxicity and genotoxicity studies are also reported. Compound 14 showed a SI higher than 24, whereas compound 10 was the only one that was negative in the genotoxicity screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pérez-Silanes
- Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea s/n, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; Institute of Tropical Health, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea s/n, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Enrique Torres
- Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea s/n, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Leire Arbillaga
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea s/n, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Javier Varela
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Hugo Cerecetto
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mercedes González
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Amaya Azqueta
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea s/n, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Recinto de Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra c/Irunlarrea 3, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Elsa Moreno-Viguri
- Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea s/n, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; Institute of Tropical Health, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea s/n, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
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Sykes ML, Avery VM. Development and application of a sensitive, phenotypic, high-throughput image-based assay to identify compound activity against Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2015; 5:215-28. [PMID: 27120069 PMCID: PMC4847003 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a high content 384-well, image-based assay to estimate the effect of compound treatment on Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes in 3T3 fibroblasts. In the same well, the effect of compound activity on host cells can also be determined, as an initial indicator of cytotoxicity. This assay has been used to identify active compounds from an in-house library of compounds with either known biological activity or that are FDA approved, and separately, from the Medicines for Malaria Venture Malaria Box collection. Active compounds were screened against T. cruzi trypomastigotes, utilising an assay developed with the viability dye resazurin. Twelve compounds with reconfirmed solid sample activity, with IC50 values of less than 10 μM and selectivity indices to T. cruzi amastigotes over 3T3 host cells of between >22 and 319 times were identified from these libraries. As 3T3 cells are contact inhibited, with limited proliferation in the assay, selective compounds of interest were profiled in a separate assay to estimate the viability of compound treated, replicating HEK293 cells. Selective compounds that were not previously reported in the literature were further profiled by extending the incubation time against amastigote infected 3T3 cells to determine if there were residual amastigotes post-treatment, important for the consideration of the exposure time required for further biological characterisation. The assay development process and the suitability of identified compounds as hit molecules for Chagas disease research are discussed. Image-based techniques to quantify compound activity against Trypanosoma cruzi. Two fluorophores to accurately identify amastigote infection of host cells. Selective hit compounds with a potential for further development are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Sykes
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
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Martin-Plaza J, Chatelain E. Novel therapeutic approaches for neglected infectious diseases. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 20:3-5. [PMID: 25542923 DOI: 10.1177/1087057114559907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
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20
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Ekins S, Lage de Siqueira-Neto J, McCall LI, Sarker M, Yadav M, Ponder EL, Kallel EA, Kellar D, Chen S, Arkin M, Bunin BA, McKerrow JH, Talcott C. Machine Learning Models and Pathway Genome Data Base for Trypanosoma cruzi Drug Discovery. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003878. [PMID: 26114876 PMCID: PMC4482694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the eukaryotic parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The current clinical and preclinical pipeline for T. cruzi is extremely sparse and lacks drug target diversity. Methodology/Principal Findings In the present study we developed a computational approach that utilized data from several public whole-cell, phenotypic high throughput screens that have been completed for T. cruzi by the Broad Institute, including a single screen of over 300,000 molecules in the search for chemical probes as part of the NIH Molecular Libraries program. We have also compiled and curated relevant biological and chemical compound screening data including (i) compounds and biological activity data from the literature, (ii) high throughput screening datasets, and (iii) predicted metabolites of T. cruzi metabolic pathways. This information was used to help us identify compounds and their potential targets. We have constructed a Pathway Genome Data Base for T. cruzi. In addition, we have developed Bayesian machine learning models that were used to virtually screen libraries of compounds. Ninety-seven compounds were selected for in vitro testing, and 11 of these were found to have EC50 < 10μM. We progressed five compounds to an in vivo mouse efficacy model of Chagas disease and validated that the machine learning model could identify in vitro active compounds not in the training set, as well as known positive controls. The antimalarial pyronaridine possessed 85.2% efficacy in the acute Chagas mouse model. We have also proposed potential targets (for future verification) for this compound based on structural similarity to known compounds with targets in T. cruzi. Conclusions/ Significance We have demonstrated how combining chemoinformatics and bioinformatics for T. cruzi drug discovery can bring interesting in vivo active molecules to light that may have been overlooked. The approach we have taken is broadly applicable to other NTDs. Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the eukaryotic parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease is endemic to Latin America but is increasingly found in North America and Europe, primarily through immigration, and the spread of this disease is bringing new attention to the need for novel, safe, and effective therapeutics to treat T. cruzi infection. We have used data from a phenotypic screen to build Bayesian models to predict anti-parasitic activity against T. cruzi in vitro. These models were used to score various small libraries of molecules. We selected less than 100 compounds for testing and found in vitro actives, some of which were tested in an in vivo efficacy model. We identified the antimalarial pyronaridine as having in vivo efficacy and provides us with a new starting point for further investigation and optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Ekins
- Collaborative Drug Discovery, Burlingame, California, United States of America
- Collaborations in Chemistry, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jair Lage de Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Malabika Sarker
- SRI International, Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | - Maneesh Yadav
- SRI International, Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth L. Ponder
- Chemistry, Engineering & Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - E. Adam Kallel
- Collaborative Drug Discovery, Burlingame, California, United States of America
| | - Danielle Kellar
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Steven Chen
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michelle Arkin
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Barry A. Bunin
- Collaborative Drug Discovery, Burlingame, California, United States of America
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Carolyn Talcott
- SRI International, Menlo Park, California, United States of America
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21
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Alonso-Padilla J, Cotillo I, Presa JL, Cantizani J, Peña I, Bardera AI, Martín JJ, Rodriguez A. Automated high-content assay for compounds selectively toxic to Trypanosoma cruzi in a myoblastic cell line. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003493. [PMID: 25615687 PMCID: PMC4304841 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, represents a very important public health problem in Latin America where it is endemic. Although mostly asymptomatic at its initial stage, after the disease becomes chronic, about a third of the infected patients progress to a potentially fatal outcome due to severe damage of heart and gut tissues. There is an urgent need for new drugs against Chagas disease since there are only two drugs available, benznidazole and nifurtimox, and both show toxic side effects and variable efficacy against the chronic stage of the disease. Methodology/Principal Findings Genetically engineered parasitic strains are used for high throughput screening (HTS) of large chemical collections in the search for new anti-parasitic compounds. These assays, although successful, are limited to reporter transgenic parasites and do not cover the wide T. cruzi genetic background. With the aim to contribute to the early drug discovery process against Chagas disease we have developed an automated image-based 384-well plate HTS assay for T. cruzi amastigote replication in a rat myoblast host cell line. An image analysis script was designed to inform on three outputs: total number of host cells, ratio of T. cruzi amastigotes per cell and percentage of infected cells, which respectively provides one host cell toxicity and two T. cruzi toxicity readouts. The assay was statistically robust (Z´ values >0.6) and was validated against a series of known anti-trypanosomatid drugs. Conclusions/Significance We have established a highly reproducible, high content HTS assay for screening of chemical compounds against T. cruzi infection of myoblasts that is amenable for use with any T. cruzi strain capable of in vitro infection. Our visual assay informs on both anti-parasitic and host cell toxicity readouts in a single experiment, allowing the direct identification of compounds selectively targeted to the parasite. Chagas disease is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Endemic to Central and South America, it affects over 10 million people and many more live in risk transmission areas. Although mostly asymptomatic at its initial acute stage in humans, damages can occur over the years in many tissues such as T. cruzi-hosting heart and digestive track. For over 40 years the chemotherapy of Chagas disease has relied on the use of two drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, though both are known to lead to severe side effects which often prompt to the discontinuation of the treatments. Despite having good efficacy against the acute stage of infection, its efficacy against the chronic stage is under question. Therefore, there is an urgent unmet need of new anti-T. cruzi drugs. Several efforts have been made in the last years to establish reliable high throughput cell based in vitro assays to be used for drug discovery against Chagas. With the aim to contribute to this field here we describe the development of a new automated image-based assay to identify new compounds against T. cruzi that has been set up using the myoblastic rat cell line H9c2 as cell-cycling amastigotes hosting cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Parasitology Division, Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ignacio Cotillo
- Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús L. Presa
- Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Cantizani
- Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Imanol Peña
- Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana I. Bardera
- Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose J. Martín
- Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Parasitology Division, Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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