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Rao K, Abdullah M, Ahmed U, Wehelie HI, Shah MR, Siddiqui R, Khan NA, Alawfi BS, Anwar A. Self-assembled micelles loaded with itraconazole as anti-Acanthamoeba nano-formulation. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:134. [PMID: 38433145 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-03854-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba castellanii are opportunistic pathogens known to cause infection of the central nervous system termed: granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, that mostly effects immunocompromised individuals, and a sight threatening keratitis, known as Acanthamoeba keratitis, which mostly affects contact lens wearers. The current treatment available is problematic, and is toxic. Herein, an amphiphilic star polymer with AB2 miktoarms [A = hydrophobic poly(ℇ-Caprolacton) and B = hydrophilic poly (ethylene glycol)] was synthesized by ring opening polymerization and CuI catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. Characterization by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography and fluorescence spectroscopy was accomplished. The hydrophobic drug itraconazole (ITZ) was incorporated in self-assembled micellar structure of AB2 miktoarms through co-solvent evaporation. The properties of ITZ loaded (ITZ-PCL-PEG2) and blank micelles (PCL-PEG2) were investigated through zeta sizer, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Itraconazole alone (ITZ), polymer (DPB-PCL), empty polymeric micelles (PCL-PEG2) alone, and itraconazole loaded in polymeric micelles (ITZ-PCL-PEG2) were tested for anti-amoebic potential against Acanthamoeba, and the cytotoxicity on human cells were determined. The polymer was able to self-assemble in aqueous conditions and exhibited low value for critical micelle concentration (CMC) 0.05-0.06 µg/mL. The maximum entrapment efficiency of ITZ was 68%. Of note, ITZ, DPB, PCL-PEG2 and ITZ-PCL-PEG2 inhibited amoebae trophozoites by 37.34%, 36.30%, 35.77%, and 68.24%, respectively, as compared to controls. Moreover, ITZ-PCL-PEG2 revealed limited cytotoxicity against human keratinocyte cells. These results are indicative that ITZ-PCL-PEG2 micelle show significantly better anti-amoebic effects as compared to ITZ alone and thus should be investigated further in vivo to determine its clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Rao
- International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Abdullah
- International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Usman Ahmed
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hashi Isse Wehelie
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Raza Shah
- International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK
- Microbiota Research Center, Istinye University, 34010, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Naveed A Khan
- Microbiota Research Center, Istinye University, 34010, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Bader S Alawfi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, 42353, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayaz Anwar
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
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2
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Akbar N, Siddiqui R, El-Gamal MI, Zaraei SO, Saeed BQ, Alawfi BS, Khan NA. Potential anti-amoebic activity of sulfonate- and sulfamate-containing carboxamide derivatives against pathogenic Acanthamoeba castellanii belonging to the genotype T4. Parasitol Int 2024; 98:102814. [PMID: 37806551 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2023.102814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba are ubiquitously distributed in the environment and can cause infection of the central nervous system as well a sight-threatening eye infection. Herein, the potential anti-amoebic activity of a series of sulfonate/sulfamate derivatives against pathogenic A. castellanii was evaluated. These compounds were tested using several assays namely amoebicidal, adhesion, excystation, cytotoxic, and cytopathogenicity. Amoebicidal assays revealed that the selected compounds reduced amoebae viability significantly (P < 0.05), and exhibited IC50 values at two-digit micromolar concentrations. Sulfamate derivatives 1j & 1k inhibited 50% of amoebae at 30.65 μM and 27.21 μM, respectively. The tested compounds blocked amoebae binding to host cells as well as inhibited amoebae excystation. Notably, the selected derivatives exhibited minimal human cell cytotoxicity but reduced parasite-mediated host cell damage. Overall, our study showed that sulfamate derivatives 1j & 1k have anti-amoebic potential and offer a promising avenue in the development of potential anti-amoebic drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Akbar
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- Microbiota Research Center, Istinye University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey; College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah 26666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed I El-Gamal
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
| | - Seyed-Omar Zaraei
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Balsam Qubais Saeed
- Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bader Saleem Alawfi
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Microbiota Research Center, Istinye University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.
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Spottiswoode N, Haston JC, Hanners NW, Gruenberg K, Kim A, DeRisi JL, Wilson MR. Challenges and advances in the medical treatment of granulomatous amebic encephalitis. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2024; 11:20499361241228340. [PMID: 38312848 PMCID: PMC10838035 DOI: 10.1177/20499361241228340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Granulomatous amebic encephalitis, caused by the free-living amebae Balamuthia mandrillaris or Acanthamoeba species, is a rare and deadly infectious syndrome with a current mortality rate of >90%. Much work remains to define the optimal treatment for these infections. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the supporting evidence behind antimicrobials currently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with updated statistics on survival rates and medication usage from the CDC Free-Living Ameba Database. We also discuss promising treatments, especially the emerging therapeutic agent nitroxoline, and provide recommendations for the next steps in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Spottiswoode
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Julia C. Haston
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Natasha W. Hanners
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Katherine Gruenberg
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Annie Kim
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Zuckerberg San Francisco General, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joseph L. DeRisi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub SF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael R. Wilson
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Milanes JE, Kwain S, Drawdy A, Dodson L, Monaghan MT, Rice CA, Dominy BN, Whitehead DC, Morris JC. Glucose metabolism in the pathogenic free-living amoebae: Tempting targets for treatment development. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14377. [PMID: 37864277 PMCID: PMC10843269 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic free-living amoebae (pFLA) are single-celled eukaryotes responsible for causing intractable infections with high morbidity and mortality in humans and animals. Current therapeutic approaches include cocktails of antibiotic, antifungal, and antimicrobial compounds. Unfortunately, the efficacy of these can be limited, driving the need for the discovery of new treatments. Pan anti-amebic agents would be ideal; however, identifying these agents has been a challenge, likely due to the limited evolutionary relatedness of the different pFLA. Here, we discuss the potential of targeting amoebae glucose metabolic pathways as the differences between pFLA and humans suggest specific inhibitors could be developed as leads for new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian E. Milanes
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Samuel Kwain
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson SC 29634
| | - Allyson Drawdy
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Laura Dodson
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Matthew T. Monaghan
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
| | - Christopher A. Rice
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery (PIDD), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease (PI4D), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Brian N. Dominy
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson SC 29634
| | - Daniel C. Whitehead
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson SC 29634
| | - James C. Morris
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634
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Russell AC, Bush P, Grigorean G, Kyle DE. Characterization of the extracellular vesicles, ultrastructural morphology, and intercellular interactions of multiple clinical isolates of the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1264348. [PMID: 37808283 PMCID: PMC10558758 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1264348] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction As global temperatures rise to unprecedented historic levels, so too do the latitudes of habitable niches for the pathogenic free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. This opportunistic parasite causes a rare, but >97% fatal, neurological infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. Despite its lethality, this parasite remains one of the most neglected and understudied parasitic protozoans. Methods To better understand amoeboid intercellular communication, we elucidate the structure, proteome, and potential secretion mechanisms of amoeba-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are membrane-bound communication apparatuses that relay messages and can be used as biomarkers for diagnostics in various diseases. Results and Discussion Herein we propose that N. fowleri secretes EVs in clusters from the plasma membrane, from multivesicular bodies, and via beading of thin filaments extruding from the membrane. Uptake assays demonstrate that EVs are taken up by other amoebae and mammalian cells, and we observed a real-time increase in metabolic activity for mammalian cells exposed to EVs from amoebae. Proteomic analysis revealed >2,000 proteins within the N. fowleri-secreted EVs, providing targets for the development of diagnostics or therapeutics. Our work expands the knowledge of intercellular interactions among these amoebae and subsequently deepens the understanding of the mechanistic basis of PAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Cassiopeia Russell
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Peter Bush
- School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Gabriela Grigorean
- Proteomics Core Facility, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Dennis E. Kyle
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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6
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Che X, He Z, Tung TH, Xia H, Lu Z. Diagnosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis by metagenomic next-generation sequencing: A case report. Open Life Sci 2023; 18:20220579. [PMID: 37250842 PMCID: PMC10224627 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0579] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by Naegleria fowleri is a fatal infection with a mortality rate of more than 95%, despite advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy and supportive care. Initial manifestations of PAM are indistinguishable from bacterial meningitis. Prompt diagnosis and antifungal treatment may help decline the overall mortality. Here we present a case of a 38-year-old man transferred to our hospital due to mild headache, which deteriorated quickly. Severe increased intracranial pressure was found. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was yellowish with significantly increased leukocyte and protein. Smear and culture were negative. The patient was first diagnosed with pyogenic meningoencephalitis. However, the symptoms deteriorated. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of CSF was applied and finally confirmed N. fowleri as the protist pathogen within 24 h. However, due to the time cost of sampling and transportation (2 days), the diagnosis came too late, and the patient passed away 1 day before. In summary, mNGS is a rapid and accurate diagnostic method for clinical practices, especially for rare central nervous system infections. It should be used as quickly as possible for acute infections, such as PAM. All aspects of patient interrogation and prompt identification should be paramount to ensure appropriate treatment and decline the overall mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujuan Che
- Department of Neurology, Neurointensive Care Unit, The Maoming People’s Hospital, Maoming 525000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhiyi He
- Department of Neurology, Neurointensive Care Unit, The Maoming People’s Hospital, Maoming 525000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Tao-Hsin Tung
- Department of Medical Research and Education, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, China
| | - Han Xia
- Department of Scientific Affairs, Hugobiotech Co., Ltd, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Zhibao Lu
- Department of Neurology, Neurointensive Care Unit, The Maoming People’s Hospital, Maoming 525000, Guangdong Province, China
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7
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Ferrins L, Buskes MJ, Kapteyn MM, Engels HN, Enos SE, Lu C, Klug DM, Singh B, Quotadamo A, Bachovchin K, Tear WF, Spaulding AE, Forbes KC, Bag S, Rivers M, LeBlanc C, Burchfield E, Armand JR, Diaz-Gonzalez R, Ceballos-Perez G, García-Hernández R, Pérez-Moreno G, Bosch-Navarrete C, Gómez-Liñán C, Ruiz-Pérez LM, Gamarro F, González-Pacanowska D, Navarro M, Mensa-Wilmot K, Pollastri MP, Kyle DE, Rice CA. Identification of novel anti-amoebic pharmacophores from kinase inhibitor chemotypes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1149145. [PMID: 37234530 PMCID: PMC10206040 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1149145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoeba species, Naegleria fowleri, and Balamuthia mandrillaris are opportunistic pathogens that cause a range of brain, skin, eye, and disseminated diseases in humans and animals. These pathogenic free-living amoebae (pFLA) are commonly misdiagnosed and have sub-optimal treatment regimens which contribute to the extremely high mortality rates (>90%) when they infect the central nervous system. To address the unmet medical need for effective therapeutics, we screened kinase inhibitor chemotypes against three pFLA using phenotypic drug assays involving CellTiter-Glo 2.0. Herein, we report the activity of the compounds against the trophozoite stage of each of the three amoebae, ranging from nanomolar to low micromolar potency. The most potent compounds that were identified from this screening effort were: 2d (A. castellanii EC50: 0.92 ± 0.3 μM; and N. fowleri EC50: 0.43 ± 0.13 μM), 1c and 2b (N. fowleri EC50s: <0.63 μM, and 0.3 ± 0.21 μM), and 4b and 7b (B. mandrillaris EC50s: 1.0 ± 0.12 μM, and 1.4 ± 0.17 μM, respectively). With several of these pharmacophores already possessing blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability properties, or are predicted to penetrate the BBB, these hits present novel starting points for optimization as future treatments for pFLA-caused diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori Ferrins
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Melissa J. Buskes
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Madison M. Kapteyn
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Hannah N. Engels
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Suzanne E. Enos
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Chenyang Lu
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Dana M. Klug
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Baljinder Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Antonio Quotadamo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Kelly Bachovchin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Westley F. Tear
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Andrew E. Spaulding
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Katherine C. Forbes
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Seema Bag
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mitch Rivers
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Catherine LeBlanc
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Erin Burchfield
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jeremy R. Armand
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rosario Diaz-Gonzalez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Gloria Ceballos-Perez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Raquel García-Hernández
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Guiomar Pérez-Moreno
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Cristina Bosch-Navarrete
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Claudia Gómez-Liñán
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel Ruiz-Pérez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Gamarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Dolores González-Pacanowska
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Navarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra” Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Kojo Mensa-Wilmot
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, United States
| | - Michael P. Pollastri
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dennis E. Kyle
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Christopher A. Rice
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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Siddiqui R, Boghossian A, Alqassim SS, Kawish M, Gul J, Jabri T, Shah MR, Khan NA. Anti-Balamuthia mandrillaris and anti-Naegleria fowleri effects of drugs conjugated with various nanostructures. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:170. [PMID: 37017767 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03518-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Balamuthia mandrillaris and Naegleria fowleri are protist pathogens that can cause fatal infections. Despite mortality rate of > 90%, there is no effective therapy. Treatment remains problematic involving repurposed drugs, e.g., azoles, amphotericin B and miltefosine but requires early diagnosis. In addition to drug discovery, modifying existing drugs using nanotechnology offers promise in the development of therapeutic interventions against these parasitic infections. Herein, various drugs conjugated with nanoparticles were developed and evaluated for their antiprotozoal activities. Characterizations of the drugs' formulations were accomplished utilizing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, efficiency of drug entrapment, polydispersity index, zeta potential, size, and surface morphology. The nanoconjugates were tested against human cells to determine their toxicity in vitro. The majority of drug nanoconjugates exhibited amoebicidal effects against B. mandrillaris and N. fowleri. Amphotericin B-, Sulfamethoxazole-, Metronidazole-based nanoconjugates are of interest since they exhibited significant amoebicidal effects against both parasites (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Sulfamethoxazole and Naproxen significantly diminished host cell death caused by B. mandrillaris by up to 70% (p < 0.05), while Amphotericin B-, Sulfamethoxazole-, Metronidazole-based drug nanoconjugates showed the highest reduction in host cell death caused by N. fowleri by up to 80%. When tested alone, all of the drug nanoconjugates tested in this study showed limited toxic effects against human cells in vitro (less than 20%). Although these are promising findings, prospective work is warranted to comprehend the mechanistic details of nanoconjugates versus amoebae as well as their in vivo testing, to develop antimicrobials against the devastating infections caused by these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul, 34010, Turkey
| | - Anania Boghossian
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saif S Alqassim
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 505055, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Muhammad Kawish
- International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Jasra Gul
- International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Tooba Jabri
- International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Raza Shah
- International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul, 34010, Turkey.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, University City, 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
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9
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Chen XT, Zhang Q, Wen SY, Chen FF, Zhou CQ. Pathogenic free-living amoebic encephalitis from 48 cases in China: A systematic review. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1100785. [PMID: 36846140 PMCID: PMC9947844 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1100785] [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: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Free-living amoebae (FLA) including Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba spp., and Balamuthia mandrillaris can become pathogenic and cause severe cerebral infections, named primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE), and balamuthia amoebic encephalitis (BAE), respectively. FLA encephalitis has been reported across China, but the clinical data descriptions and analytical results of these different reports vary widely. Currently, no consensus treatment has been established. We conduct a systematic review to evaluate the exposure location, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of three FLA encephalitis and aim to reveal the differences between three FLA encephalitis in China. Methods We used MEDLINE (PubMed interface), EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, and China Biology Medicine disc (CBMdisc) databases for literatures published and manually retrieve the hospital records of our hospital. The search time was up to August 30, 2022, with no language restrictions. Results After excluding possible duplicate cases, a total of 48 patients of three FLA encephalitis were collected. One from the medical records of our hospital and 47 patients from 31 different studies. There were 11 patients of PAM, 10 patients of GAE, and 27 patients of BAE. The onset of PAM is mostly acute or subacute, and the clinical symptoms are acute and fulminant hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis. Most patients with GAE and BAE have an insidious onset and a chronic course. A total of 21 BAE patients (77.8%) had skin lesions before onset of symptoms. Additionally, 37 cases (77.1%) were diagnosed with FLA encephalitis before death. And there were 4 of PAM, 2 of GAE, and 10 of BAE diagnosed using next generation sequencing. No single agent can be proposed as the ideal therapy by itself. Only 6 cases were successfully treated. Conclusions This review provides an overview of the available data and studies of FLA encephalitis in China and identify some potential differences. FLA encephalitis is a rare but pathogenic infection, and physicians should early identify this encephalitis to improve survival.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Chang-Qing Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Bishan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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10
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Fan X, Chen T, Yang H, Gao Y, Chen Y. Encephalomyelomeningitis Caused by Balamuthia mandrillaris: A Case Report and Literature Review. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:727-733. [PMID: 36756612 PMCID: PMC9901442 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s400692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system infection by Balamuthia mandrillaris is a rare and severe condition, which has a fatality rate of approximately 95% and often evades timely diagnosis due to its rarity and non-specific clinical manifestations. Here, we report a case of encephalomyelomeningitis caused by B. mandrillaris in a male who presented with transient coma, nausea, and vomiting when working in a garbage dump. Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed normal signals. Despite receiving steroids as well as antibacterial and antiviral treatment, he developed urinary and fecal dysfunction, inability to walk, and deterioration of consciousness. Both brain and spinal cord MRI revealed abnormal findings, and next-generation sequencing of the cerebrospinal fluid showed the presence of B. mandrillaris. A combination of fluconazole and albendazole was administered; however, the patient deteriorated gradually and died 30 days after the onset. We suggest the unbiased metagenomic sequencing of the affected tissues/CSF in patients with CNS infections that are difficult to diagnose or treat, and multiple tests at different stages of the disease may be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- XueMei Fan
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - TianWen Chen
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Gao
- Department of General Practice, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China,Yue Gao, Tel +86 13706511908; +86 531-56006851, Email
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Yan Chen, Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 261, Huan Sha Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 15397086693; +86 531-56006952, Email
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11
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Siddiqui R, El-Gamal MI, Boghossian A, Saeed BQ, Oh CH, Abdel-Maksoud MS, Alharbi AM, Alfahemi H, Khan NA. Imidazothiazole Derivatives Exhibited Potent Effects against Brain-Eating Amoebae. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1515. [PMID: 36358170 PMCID: PMC9686523 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri) is a free-living, unicellular, opportunistic protist responsible for the fatal central nervous system infection, primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Given the increase in temperatures due to global warming and climate change, it is estimated that the cases of PAM are on the rise. However, there is a current lack of awareness and effective drugs, meaning there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic drugs. In this study, the target compounds were synthesized and tested for their anti-amoebic properties against N. fowleri. Most compounds exhibited significant amoebicidal effects against N. fowleri; for example, 1h, 1j, and 1q reduced N. fowleri's viability to 15.14%, 17.45% and 28.78%, respectively. Furthermore, the majority of the compounds showed reductions in amoeba-mediated host death. Of interest are the compounds 1f, 1k, and 1v, as they were capable of reducing the amoeba-mediated host cell death to 52.3%, 51%, and 56.9% from 100%, respectively. Additionally, these compounds exhibit amoebicidal properties as well; they were found to decrease N. fowleri's viability to 26.41%, 27.39%, and 24.13% from 100%, respectively. Moreover, the MIC50 values for 1e, 1f, and 1h were determined to be 48.45 µM, 60.87 µM, and 50.96 µM, respectively. Additionally, the majority of compounds were found to exhibit limited cytotoxicity, except for 1l, 1o, 1p, 1m, 1c, 1b, 1zb, 1z, 1y, and 1x, which exhibited negligible toxicity. It is anticipated that these compounds may be developed further as effective treatments against these devastating infections due to brain-eating amoebae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah 26666, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey
| | - Mohammed I. El-Gamal
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Anania Boghossian
- College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah 26666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Balsam Qubais Saeed
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
| | - Chang-Hyun Oh
- Center of Biomaterials, Korea Institute of Science & Technology (KIST School), Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Korea
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Science & Technology (UST), Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Mohammed S. Abdel-Maksoud
- Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Division, National Research Centre (NRC), Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Ahmad M. Alharbi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hasan Alfahemi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha 65799, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istinye University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
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12
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Alcohol Abuse Drug Disulfiram Is Effective against Cyst Stages of Entamoeba histolytica Parasite. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0083222. [PMID: 36255253 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00832-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
New anti-Entamoeba histolytica multistage drugs are needed because only one drug class, nitroimidazoles, is available for treating invasive disease, and it does not effectively eradicate the infective cyst stage. Zinc ditiocarb (ZnDTC), a main metabolite of the FDA-approved drug disulfiram, was recently shown to be highly effective against the invasive trophozoite stage. In this brief report, we show that ZnDTC is active against cysts, with similar potency to first-line cysticidal drug paromomycin.
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13
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Zinc Oxide Nanoconjugates against Brain-Eating Amoebae. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11101281. [DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11101281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri and Balamuthia mandrillaris are opportunistic protists, responsible for fatal central nervous system infections such as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) with mortality rates higher than 90%. Threatening a rise in cases is the increase in temperature due to global warming. No effective treatment is currently available. Herein, nanotechnology was used to conjugate Zinc oxide with Ampicillin, Ceftrixon, Naringin, Amphotericin B, and Quericitin, and the amoebicidal activity and host cell cytotoxicity of these resulting compounds were investigated. The compounds ZnO-CD-AMPi, ZnO-CD-CFT, ZnO-CD-Nar, ZnO-CD-AMB, and ZnO-CD-QT were found to reduce N. fowleri viability to 35.5%, 39.6%, 52.0%, 50.8%, 35.9%, and 69.9%, respectively, and B. mandrillaris viability to 40.9%, 48.2%, 51.6%, 43.8%, and 62.4%, respectively, when compared with their corresponding controls. Furthermore, the compounds reduced N. fowleri-mediated and B. mandrillaris-mediated host cell death significantly. Additionally, the compounds showed limited cytotoxicity against human cells; cell toxicity was 35.5%, 36.4%, 30.9%, 36.6%, and 35.6%, respectively, for the compounds ZnO-CD-AMPi, ZnO-CD-CFT, ZnO-CD-Nar, ZnO-CD-AMB, and ZnO-CD-QT. Furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentrations to inhibit amoeba growth by 50% were determined for N. fowleri and B. mandrillaris. The MIC50 for N. fowleri were determined to be 69.52 µg/mL, 82.05 µg/mL, 88.16 µg/mL, 95.61 µg/mL, and 85.69 µg/mL, respectively; the MIC50 of the compounds for B. mandrillaris were determined to be 113.9 µg/mL, 102.3 µg/mL, 106.9 µg/mL, 146.4 µg/mL, and 129.6 µg/mL, respectively. Translational research to further develop therapies based on these compounds is urgently warranted, given the lack of effective therapies currently available against these devastating infections.
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14
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Abraham J, Chauhan N, Ray S. Virtual Screening of Alkaloid and Terpenoid Inhibitors of SMT Expressed in Naegleria sp. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175727. [PMID: 36080504 PMCID: PMC9457665 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic form of thermophilic Naegleria sp. i.e., Naegleria fowleri, also known as brain eating amoeba, causes primary amoebic encephalitis (PAM) with a >97% fatality rate. To date, there are no specific drugs identified to treat this disease specifically. The present antimicrobial combinatorial chemotherapy is hard on many patients, especially children. Interestingly, Naegleria fowleri has complex lipid biosynthesis pathways like other protists and also has a strong preference to utilize absorbed host lipids for generating energy. The ergosterol biosynthesis pathway provides a unique drug target opportunity, as some of the key enzymes involved in this pathway are absent in humans. Sterol 24-C Methyltransferase (SMT) is one such enzyme that is not found in humans. To select novel inhibitors for this enzyme, alkaloids and terpenoids inhibitors were screened and tested against two isozymes of SMT identified in N. gruberi (non-pathogenic) as well as its homolog found in yeast, i.e., ERG6. Five natural product derived inhibitors i.e., Cyclopamine, Chelerythrine, Berberine, Tanshinone 2A, and Catharanthine have been identified as potential drug candidates based on multiple criteria including binding affinity, ADME scores, absorption, and, most importantly, its ability to cross the blood brain barrier. This study provides multiple leads for future drug exploration against Naegleria fowleri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Abraham
- Department of Natural Sciences, Bowie State University, 14000 Jericho Park Rd., Bowie, MD 20715, USA
| | - Neha Chauhan
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Texas El Paso, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Supriyo Ray
- Department of Natural Sciences, Bowie State University, 14000 Jericho Park Rd., Bowie, MD 20715, USA
- Correspondence:
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15
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Antiamoebic Activity of Imidazothiazole Derivatives against Opportunistic Pathogen Acanthamoeba castellanii. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11091183. [PMID: 36139962 PMCID: PMC9494960 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11091183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the antiamoebic effect of several imidazothiazole derivatives on Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype. Trypan blue exclusion assays and haemocytometer counting were used to determine the reduction in A. castellanii trophozoite proliferation, in response to treatment with these compounds. To determine the effects of these compounds on host cells, lactate dehydrogenase assay was performed using HeLa cell lines. Amoebicidal assays revealed that the tested compounds at concentrations of 50 µM significantly inhibited amoebae trophozoites compared to controls. Compounds 1m and 1zb showed the highest amoebicidal effects eradicating 70% and 67% of A. castellanii, respectively. The compounds blocked both the encystation and excystation process in A. castellanii. Compounds 1m and 1zb blocked 61% and 55%, respectively, of amoeba binding to human cells. Moreover, the compounds showed minimal cytotoxic effects against host cells and considerably reduced amoeba-mediated host cell death. Overall, our study revealed that compounds 1m and 1zb have excellent antiamoebic potential, and should be considered in the development of curative antiamoebic medications in future studies. Further work is critical to determine the translational value of these findings.
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16
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Pengsart W, Kulkeaw K. An Optical and Chemiluminescence Assay for Assessing the Cytotoxicity of Balamuthia mandrillaris against Human Neurospheroids. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9070330. [PMID: 35877381 PMCID: PMC9312303 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9070330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A spheroid is a cell aggregate in a three-dimensional context; thereby, it recapitulates the cellular architecture in human tissue. However, the utility of spheroids as an assay for host–parasite interactions remains unexplored. This study demonstrates the potential use of neurospheroids for assessing the cytotoxicity of the life-threatening pathogenic amoeba Balamuthia mandrillaris. The neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells formed a spheroid in a hanging drop of culture medium. Cellular damage caused by B. mandrillaris trophozoites on human neuronal spheroids was observed using microscopic imaging and ATP detection. B. mandrillaris trophozoites rapidly caused a decrease in ATP production in the spheroid, leading to loss of neurospheroid integrity. Moreover, 3D confocal microscopy imaging revealed interactions between the trophozoites and SH-SY5Y neuronal cells in the outer layer of the neurospheroid. In conclusion, the neurospheroid allows the assessment of host cell damage in a simple and quantitative manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Worakamol Pengsart
- Graduate Study School, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand;
| | - Kasem Kulkeaw
- Siriraj Integrative Center for Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-800-517-673
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17
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Cank KB, Shepherd RA, Knowles SL, Rangel-Grimaldo M, Raja HA, Bunch ZL, Cech NB, Rice CA, Kyle DE, Falkinham JO, Burdette JE, Oberlies NH. Polychlorinated cyclopentenes from a marine derived Periconia sp. (strain G1144). PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2022; 199:113200. [PMID: 35421431 PMCID: PMC9173697 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Studies on an organic extract of a marine fungus, Periconia sp. (strain G1144), led to the isolation of three halogenated cyclopentenes along with the known and recently reported rhytidhyester D; a series of spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques were used to elucidate these structures. Interestingly, two of these compounds represent tri-halogenated cyclopentene derivatives, which have been observed only rarely from Nature. The relative and absolute configurations of the compounds were established via mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Mosher's esters method, optical rotation and GIAO NMR calculations, including correlation coefficient calculations and the use of both DP4+ and dJ DP4 analyses. Several of the isolated compounds were tested for activity in anti-parasitic, antimicrobial, quorum sensing inhibition, and cytotoxicity assays and were shown to be inactive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristóf B Cank
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 435 Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Robert A Shepherd
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 435 Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Sonja L Knowles
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 435 Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Manuel Rangel-Grimaldo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 435 Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Huzefa A Raja
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 435 Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Zoie L Bunch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 435 Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Nadja B Cech
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 435 Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Christopher A Rice
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, 724 Biological Sciences Building, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602-2607, USA; Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 335 Coverdell Center 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA, 30602-7399, USA.
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 335 Coverdell Center 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA, 30602-7399, USA.
| | - Joseph O Falkinham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery, Derring Hall Room 2125, 926 West Campus Drive, Mail Code 0406, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| | - Joanna E Burdette
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street, 333 PHARM, MC 781, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
| | - Nicholas H Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 435 Patricia A. Sullivan Science Building, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA.
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Antiamoebic Properties of Laboratory and Clinically Used Drugs against Naegleria fowleri and Balamuthia mandrillaris. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11060749. [PMID: 35740156 PMCID: PMC9220410 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11060749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri and Balamuthia mandrillaris are pathogenic free-living amoebae that infect the central nervous system with over 95% mortality rates. Although several compounds have shown promise in vitro but associated side effects and/or prolonged approval processes for clinical applications have led to limited success. To overcome this, drug repurposing of marketed compounds with known mechanism of action is considered a viable approach that has potential to expedite discovery and application of anti-amoebic compounds. In fact, many of the drugs currently employed in the treatment of N. fowleri and B. mandrillaris, such as amphotericin B, fluconazole, rifampin and miltefosine, are repurposed drugs. Here, we evaluated a range of clinical and laboratory compounds including metformin, quinclorac, indaziflam, inositol, nateglinide, 2,6-DNBT, trans-cinnamic acid, terbuthylazine, acarbose, glimepiride, vildagliptin, cellulase, thaxtomin A, repaglinide and dimethyl peptidase (IV) inhibitor against N. fowleri and B. mandrillaris. Anti-amoebic assays revealed that indaziflam, nateglinide, 2,6-DNBT, terbuthylazine, acarbose and glimepiride exhibited potent amoebicidal properties against both N. fowleri and B. mandrillaris. Notably, all compounds tested showed minimal human (HaCaT) cell cytotoxicity as determined by lactate dehydrogenase release. Prospective research using animal models is warranted to determine the potential of these repurposed compounds, as well as the need for investigating the intranasal route of delivery to treat these devastating infections.
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Siddiqui R, Yehia Abouleish M, Khamis M, Ibrahim T, Khan NA. Current medicines hold promise in the treatment of orphan infections due to brain-eating amoebae. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2021.2050368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Taleb Ibrahim
- College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah
| | - Naveed Ahmed Khan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates., University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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20
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Differential Growth Rates and In Vitro Drug Susceptibility to Currently Used Drugs for Multiple Isolates of Naegleria fowleri. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0189921. [PMID: 35138140 PMCID: PMC8826828 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01899-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri, which typically dwells within warm, freshwater environments, can opportunistically cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a disease with a mortality rate of >97%. The lack of positive treatment outcomes for PAM has prompted the discovery and development of more effective therapeutics, yet most studies utilize only one or two clinical isolates. The inability to assess possible heterogenic responses to drugs among isolates from various geographical regions hinders progress in the discovery of more effective drugs. Here, we conducted drug efficacy and growth rate determinations for 11 different clinical isolates by applying a previously developed CellTiter-Glo 2.0 screening technique and flow cytometry. We found significant differences in the susceptibilities of these isolates to 7 of 8 drugs tested, all of which make up the cocktail that is recommended to physicians by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We also discovered significant variances in growth rates among isolates, which draws attention to the differences among the amoeba isolates collected from different patients. Our results demonstrate the need for additional clinical isolates of various genotypes in drug assays and highlight the necessity for more targeted therapeutics with universal efficacy across N. fowleri isolates. Our data establish a needed baseline for drug susceptibility among clinical isolates and provide a segue for future combination therapy studies as well as research related to phenotypic or genetic differences that could shed light on mechanisms of action or predispositions to specific drugs. IMPORTANCENaegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba, is ubiquitous in warm freshwater and is an opportunistic pathogen that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. Although few cases are described each year, the disease has a case fatality rate of >97%. In most laboratory studies of this organism, only one or two well-adapted lab strains are used; therefore, there is a lack of data to discern if there are major differences in potency of currently used drugs for multiple strains and genotypes of the amoeba. In this study, we found significant differences in the susceptibilities of 11 N. fowleri isolates to 7 of the 8 drugs currently used to treat the disease. The data from this study provide a baseline of drug susceptibility among clinical isolates and suggest that new drugs should be tested on a larger number of isolates in the future.
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21
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Ponatinib, Lestaurtinib and mTOR/PI3K inhibitors are promising repurposing candidates against Entamoeba histolytica. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 66:e0120721. [PMID: 34871094 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01207-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysentery caused by Entamoeba histolytica affects millions of people annually. Current treatment regimens are based on metronidazole to treat invasive parasites combined with paromomycin for luminal parasites. Issues with treatment include significant side effects, inability to easily treat breastfeeding and pregnant women, the use of two sequential agents, and concern that all therapy is based on nitroimidazole agents with no alternatives if clinical resistance emerges. Thus, the need for new drugs against amebiasis is urgent. To identify new therapeutic candidates, we screened the ReFRAME library (11,948 compounds assembled for Repurposing, Focused Rescue, and Accelerated Medchem) against E. histolytica trophozoites. We identified 159 hits in the primary screen at 10 μM and 46 compounds were confirmed in secondary assays. Overall, 26 were selected as priority molecules for further investigation including 6 FDA approved, 5 orphan designation, and 15 which are currently in clinical trials (3 phase III, 7 phase II and 5 phase I). We found that all 26 compounds are active against metronidazole resistant E. histolytica and 24 are able to block parasite recrudescence after drug removal. Additionally, 14 are able to inhibit encystation and 2 (lestaurtinib and LY-2874455) are active against mature cysts. Two classes of compounds are most interesting for further investigations: the Bcr-Abl TK inhibitors, with the ponatinib (EC50 0.39) as most potent and mTOR or PI3K inhibitors with 8 compounds in clinical development, of which 4 have nanomolar potency. Overall, these are promising candidates and represent a significant advance for drug development against E. histolytica.
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22
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Phan IQ, Rice CA, Craig J, Noorai RE, McDonald JR, Subramanian S, Tillery L, Barrett LK, Shankar V, Morris JC, Van Voorhis WC, Kyle DE, Myler PJ. The transcriptome of Balamuthia mandrillaris trophozoites for structure-guided drug design. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21664. [PMID: 34737367 PMCID: PMC8569187 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99903-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Balamuthia mandrillaris, a pathogenic free-living amoeba, causes cutaneous skin lesions as well as granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, a 'brain-eating' disease. As with the other known pathogenic free-living amoebas (Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba species), drug discovery efforts to combat Balamuthia infections of the central nervous system are sparse; few targets have been validated or characterized at the molecular level, and little is known about the biochemical pathways necessary for parasite survival. Current treatments of encephalitis due to B. mandrillaris lack efficacy, leading to case fatality rates above 90%. Using our recently published methodology to discover potential drugs against pathogenic amoebas, we screened a collection of 85 compounds with known antiparasitic activity and identified 59 compounds that impacted the growth of Balamuthia trophozoites at concentrations below 220 µM. Since there is no fully annotated genome or proteome of B. mandrillaris, we sequenced and assembled its transcriptome from a high-throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) experiment and located the coding sequences of the genes potentially targeted by the growth inhibitors from our compound screens. We determined the sequence of 17 of these target genes and obtained expression clones for 15 that we validated by direct sequencing. These will be used in the future in combination with the identified hits in structure guided drug discovery campaigns to develop new approaches for the treatment of Balamuthia infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Q Phan
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA.
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Christopher A Rice
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Justin Craig
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rooksana E Noorai
- Clemson University Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Jacquelyn R McDonald
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sandhya Subramanian
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Logan Tillery
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lynn K Barrett
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Vijay Shankar
- Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - James C Morris
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Wesley C Van Voorhis
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Peter J Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA.
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Abstract
Host-directed therapy (HDT) is gaining traction as a strategy to combat infectious diseases caused by viruses and intracellular bacteria, but its implementation in the context of parasitic diseases has received less attention. Here, we provide a brief overview of this field and advocate HDT as a promising strategy for antimalarial intervention based on untapped targets. HDT provides a basis from which repurposed drugs could be rapidly deployed and is likely to strongly limit the emergence of resistance. This strategy can be applied to any intracellular pathogen and is particularly well placed in situations in which rapid identification of treatments is needed, such as emerging infections and pandemics, as starkly illustrated by the current COVID-19 crisis.
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Güémez A, García E. Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis by Naegleria fowleri: Pathogenesis and Treatments. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11091320. [PMID: 34572533 PMCID: PMC8469197 DOI: 10.3390/biom11091320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba (FLA) that is commonly known as the "brain-eating amoeba." This parasite can invade the central nervous system (CNS), causing an acute and fulminating infection known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Even though PAM is characterized by low morbidity, it has shown a mortality rate of 98%, usually causing death in less than two weeks after the initial exposure. This review summarizes the most recent information about N. fowleri, its pathogenic molecular mechanisms, and the neuropathological processes implicated. Additionally, this review includes the main therapeutic strategies described in case reports and preclinical studies, including the possible use of immunomodulatory agents to decrease neurological damage.
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Amoebae as Targets for Toxins or Effectors Secreted by Mammalian Pathogens. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13080526. [PMID: 34437397 PMCID: PMC8402458 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13080526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous microorganisms, pathogenic for mammals, come from the environment where they encounter predators such as free-living amoebae (FLA). The selective pressure due to this interaction could have generated virulence traits that are deleterious for amoebae and represents a weapon against mammals. Toxins are one of these powerful tools that are essential for bacteria or fungi to survive. Which amoebae are used as a model to study the effects of toxins? What amoeba functions have been reported to be disrupted by toxins and bacterial secreted factors? Do bacteria and fungi effectors affect eukaryotic cells similarly? Here, we review some studies allowing to answer these questions, highlighting the necessity to extend investigations of microbial pathogenicity, from mammals to the environmental reservoir that are amoebae.
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26
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Successful management of post-COVID-19 acanthamoebic encephalitis. Int J Infect Dis 2021; 110:226-228. [PMID: 34302963 PMCID: PMC8295052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoebic encephalitis is a rare and highly fatal disease that has no standard management protocol. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes immune dysfunction and may predispose patients to this infection. The present study describes successful management of acanthamoebic encephalitis in a young male who recently recovered from COVID-19 using a combination of medical and surgical approaches. A combination of miltefosine with other agents with trophicidal and cysticidal activities should be used in the regimen. Surgical excision of the abscess should be undertaken whenever feasible.
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27
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EdU Incorporation To Assess Cell Proliferation and Drug Susceptibility in Naegleria fowleri. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0001721. [PMID: 33846135 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00017-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri is a pathogenic free-living amoeba that is commonly found in warm freshwater and can cause a rapidly fulminant disease known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). New drugs are urgently needed to treat PAM, as the fatality rate is >97%. Until recently, few advances have been made in the discovery of new drugs for N. fowleri, and one drawback is the lack of validated tools and methods to enhance drug discovery and diagnostics research. In this study, we aimed to validate alternative methods to assess cell proliferation that are commonly used for other cell types and develop a novel drug screening assay to evaluate drug efficacy on N. fowleri replication. EdU (5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine) is a pyrimidine analog of thymidine that can be used as a quantitative endpoint for cell proliferation. EdU incorporation is detected via a copper catalyzed click reaction with an Alexa Fluor-linked azide. EdU incorporation in replicating N. fowleri was validated using fluorescence microscopy, and quantitative methods for assessing EdU incorporation were developed by using an imaging flow cytometer. Currently used PAM therapeutics inhibited N. fowleri replication and EdU incorporation in vitro. EdA (7-deaza-2'-deoxy-7-ethynyladenosine), an adenine analog, also was incorporated by N. fowleri but was more cytotoxic than EdU. In summary, EdU incorporation could be used as a complimentary method for drug discovery for these neglected pathogens.
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28
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Wang L, Cheng W, Li B, Jian Z, Qi X, Sun D, Gao J, Lu X, Yang Y, Lin K, Lu C, Chen J, Li C, Wang G, Gao T. Balamuthia mandrillaris infection in China: a retrospective report of 28 cases. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 9:2348-2357. [PMID: 33048025 PMCID: PMC7599003 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1835447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Balamuthia mandrillaris infection is a rare and fatal disease. We have recorded 28 cases of Balamuthia mandrillaris infection during the past 20 years. Eighteen patients (64%) were male and 10 (36%) were female. Patient age ranged from 3 to 74 (mean, 27) years. Patient locations were distributed among 12 Provinces in China. Twenty-seven (96%) patients lived in rural areas, and 17 (61%) patients reported a history of trauma before the appearance of skin lesions. All cases presented with skin lesions as the primary symptom, and 16 (57%) cases developed encephalitis. Histopathology of skin lesions revealed granulomatous changes with histiocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma cells infiltration. Amebas were identified in all cases with immunohistochemical staining. Follow-up information was available in 27 (96%) cases. Fifteen (56%) patients died due to encephalitis and 12 (44%) were free of disease after treatment. Our results show that the clinical characteristics of Balamuthia mandrillaris infection in China are very different from those in the US. Infection of traumatized skin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease in China. Encephalitis usually develops 3–4 years after skin lesions in Chinese cases. Patients with only skin lesions have a higher cure rate than patients with encephalitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjing Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhe Jian
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianlong Qi
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongjie Sun
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Gao
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuetao Lu
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Lin
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanlong Lu
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxi Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunying Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianwen Gao
- Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, People's Republic of China
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29
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Naegleria fowleri: Protein structures to facilitate drug discovery for the deadly, pathogenic free-living amoeba. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0241738. [PMID: 33760815 PMCID: PMC7990177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri is a pathogenic, thermophilic, free-living amoeba which causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Penetrating the olfactory mucosa, the brain-eating amoeba travels along the olfactory nerves, burrowing through the cribriform plate to its destination: the brain’s frontal lobes. The amoeba thrives in warm, freshwater environments, with peak infection rates in the summer months and has a mortality rate of approximately 97%. A major contributor to the pathogen’s high mortality is the lack of sensitivity of N. fowleri to current drug therapies, even in the face of combination-drug therapy. To enable rational drug discovery and design efforts we have pursued protein production and crystallography-based structure determination efforts for likely drug targets from N. fowleri. The genes were selected if they had homology to drug targets listed in Drug Bank or were nominated by primary investigators engaged in N. fowleri research. In 2017, 178 N. fowleri protein targets were queued to the Seattle Structural Genomics Center of Infectious Disease (SSGCID) pipeline, and to date 89 soluble recombinant proteins and 19 unique target structures have been produced. Many of the new protein structures are potential drug targets and contain structural differences compared to their human homologs, which could allow for the development of pathogen-specific inhibitors. Five of the structures were analyzed in more detail, and four of five show promise that selective inhibitors of the active site could be found. The 19 solved crystal structures build a foundation for future work in combating this devastating disease by encouraging further investigation to stimulate drug discovery for this neglected pathogen.
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30
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The type 2 statins, cerivastatin, rosuvastatin and pitavastatin eliminate Naegleria fowleri at low concentrations and by induction of programmed cell death (PCD). Bioorg Chem 2021; 110:104784. [PMID: 33684715 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Primary Amoebic Encephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri species is a fatal infection of the Central Nervous System mostly affecting children and young adults. Infections often occur after performance of risk activities in aquatic habitats such as swimming and splashing. PAḾs therapy remain a key issue to be solved which needs an urgent development. Recently, statins have been highlighted as possible novel compounds to treat PAM. Furthermore, type 2 statins due to improved pharmacological properties and lower toxicity could be use in the future. In the present work, three type 2 statins were checked for their activity against two type strains of N. fowleri. In addition, the effects at the cellular level triggered in treated amoebae were checked in order to evaluate if programmed cell death was induced. The obtained results showed that the tested statins, rosuvastatin, pitavastatin and cerivastatin were able to eliminate N. fowleri trophozoites and also induced PCD. Therefore, type 2 statins could be used in the near future for the treatment of PAM.
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31
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Tanoli Z, Vähä-Koskela M, Aittokallio T. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and drug repurposing in cancer. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2021; 16:977-989. [PMID: 33543671 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2021.1883585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Drug repurposing provides a cost-effective strategy to re-use approved drugs for new medical indications. Several machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches have been developed for systematic identification of drug repurposing leads based on big data resources, hence further accelerating and de-risking the drug development process by computational means.Areas covered: The authors focus on supervised ML and AI methods that make use of publicly available databases and information resources. While most of the example applications are in the field of anticancer drug therapies, the methods and resources reviewed are widely applicable also to other indications including COVID-19 treatment. A particular emphasis is placed on the use of comprehensive target activity profiles that enable a systematic repurposing process by extending the target profile of drugs to include potent off-targets with therapeutic potential for a new indication.Expert opinion: The scarcity of clinical patient data and the current focus on genetic aberrations as primary drug targets may limit the performance of anticancer drug repurposing approaches that rely solely on genomics-based information. Functional testing of cancer patient cells exposed to a large number of targeted therapies and their combinations provides an additional source of repurposing information for tissue-aware AI approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziaurrehman Tanoli
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLife, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markus Vähä-Koskela
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLife, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tero Aittokallio
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLife, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Cancer Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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32
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Angelici MC, Walochnik J, Calderaro A, Saxinger L, Dacks JB. Free-living amoebae and other neglected protistan pathogens: Health emergency signals? Eur J Protistol 2020; 77:125760. [PMID: 33340850 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Protistan parasites have an undisputed global health impact. However, outside of a few key exceptions, e.g. the agent of malaria, most of these infectious agents are neglected as important health threats. The Symposium entitled "Free-living amoebae and neglected pathogenic protozoa: health emergency signals?" held at the European Congress of Protistology in Rome, July 2019, brought together researchers addressing scientific and clinical questions about some of these fascinating organisms. Topics presented included the molecular basis of pathogenicity in Acanthamoeba; genomics of Naegleria fowleri; and epidemiology of poorly diagnosed enteric protistan species, including Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis, Dientamoeba. The Symposium aim was to excite the audience about the opportunities and challenges of research in these underexplored organisms and to underline the public health implications of currently under-appreciated protistan infections. The major take home message is that any knowledge that we gain about these organisms will allow us to better address them, in terms of monitoring and treatment, as sources of future health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Adriana Calderaro
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Lynora Saxinger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joel B Dacks
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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