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Stadler KA, Ortiz-Joya LJ, Singh Sahrawat A, Buhlheller C, Gruber K, Pavkov-Keller T, O'Hagan TB, Guarné A, Pulido S, Marín-Villa M, Zangger K, Gubensäk N. Structural investigation of Trypanosoma cruzi Akt-like kinase as drug target against Chagas disease. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10039. [PMID: 38693166 PMCID: PMC11063076 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59654-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization, Chagas disease (CD) is the most prevalent poverty-promoting neglected tropical disease. Alarmingly, climate change is accelerating the geographical spreading of CD causative parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, which additionally increases infection rates. Still, CD treatment remains challenging due to a lack of safe and efficient drugs. In this work, we analyze the viability of T. cruzi Akt-like kinase (TcAkt) as drug target against CD including primary structural and functional information about a parasitic Akt protein. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance derived information in combination with Molecular Dynamics simulations offer detailed insights into structural properties of the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of TcAkt and its binding to phosphatidylinositol phosphate ligands (PIP). Experimental data combined with Alpha Fold proposes a model for the mechanism of action of TcAkt involving a PIP-induced disruption of the intramolecular interface between the kinase and the PH domain resulting in an open conformation enabling TcAkt kinase activity. Further docking experiments reveal that TcAkt is recognized by human inhibitors PIT-1 and capivasertib, and TcAkt inhibition by UBMC-4 and UBMC-6 is achieved via binding to TcAkt kinase domain. Our in-depth structural analysis of TcAkt reveals potential sites for drug development against CD, located at activity essential regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina A Stadler
- Institute of Chemistry/Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Lesly J Ortiz-Joya
- Institute of Chemistry/Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Amit Singh Sahrawat
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Karl Gruber
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Innophore GmbH, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Tea Pavkov-Keller
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Alba Guarné
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sergio Pulido
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- LifeFactors ZF SAS, Rionegro, Colombia
| | - Marcel Marín-Villa
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Klaus Zangger
- Institute of Chemistry/Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.
| | - Nina Gubensäk
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
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Francesconi V, Rizzo M, Schenone S, Carbone A, Tonelli M. State-of-the-art Review on the Antiparasitic Activity of Benzimidazolebased Derivatives: Facing Malaria, Leishmaniasis, and Trypanosomiasis. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:1955-1982. [PMID: 37718524 PMCID: PMC11071657 DOI: 10.2174/0929867331666230915093928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Protozoan parasites represent a significant risk for public health worldwide, afflicting particularly people in more vulnerable categories and cause large morbidity and heavy economic impact. Traditional drugs are limited by their toxicity, low efficacy, route of administration, and cost, reflecting their low priority in global health management. Moreover, the drug resistance phenomenon threatens the positive therapy outcome. This scenario claims the need of addressing more adequate therapies. Among the diverse strategies implemented, the medicinal chemistry efforts have also focused their attention on the benzimidazole nucleus as a promising pharmacophore for the generation of new drug candidates. Hence, the present review provides a global insight into recent progress in benzimidazole-based derivatives drug discovery against important protozoan diseases, such as malaria, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis. The more relevant chemical features and structure-activity relationship studies of these molecules are discussed for the purpose of paving the way towards the development of more viable drugs for the treatment of these parasitic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Francesconi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Marco Rizzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Silvia Schenone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Anna Carbone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Michele Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, Genoa, 16132, Italy
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Dutra Barroso Gomes N, Paula Magalhães E, Rodrigues Ribeiro L, Cavalcante JW, Morais Gomes Maia M, Cunha da Silva FR, Ali A, Machado Marinho M, Silva Marinho E, Silva Dos Santos H, Costa Martins AM, Róseo Paula Pessoa Bezerra de Menezes R. Trypanocidal potential of synthetic p-aminochalcones: In silico and in vitro evaluation. Bioorg Chem 2023; 141:106931. [PMID: 37879182 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease of worldwide health concern, caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), endemic in Latin America and present in North America and Europe. The WHO recommended drug for CD, benznidazole has low safety profile and several limitations. Therefore, an entity with better therapeutic potential to treat CD is required. Chalcones are an important class of compounds, which have shown antichagasic potential. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the activity of synthetic p-aminochalcones against T. cruzi. Chalcones 1 and 2 were synthesized by Claisen-Schmidt condensation and characterized by both spectroscopic and theoretical methods. Initially, they were submitted to molecular docking simulations using cruzain and trypanothione reductase (TR) enzymes. It was expected to observe the possible interactions of chalcones with the catalytic site and other important regions of these main pharmacological targets of T. cruzi. Their cytotoxicity within host cells were assessed by MTT reduction assay using LLC-MK2 cells, with CC50 = 85.6 ± 9.2 µM and 1115 ± 381.7 µM for chalcones 1 and 2, respectively. These molecules were also tested against epimastigote and trypomastigote life forms of T. cruzi, causing reduction in the number of viable parasites. For the evaluation of the effect on intracellular amastigotes, infected LLC-MK2 cells were incubated with the chalcones for 24 h, causing reduction in the percentage of infected cells and the number of amastigotes/100 cells. Finally, flow cytometry assays were performed for analyzing cell death mechanisms (7-AAD/AxPE labelling), cytoplasmic ROS accumulation (DCFH-DA assay) and mitochondrial transmembrane potential disruption (Rho123 assay). Both chalcones (1 and 2) caused membrane damage, ROS accumulation and mitochondrial depolarization. In conclusion, the synthetic p-aminochalcones presented trypanocidal effect, causing membrane damage and oxidative stress. Their mechanism of action may be related to cruzain and TR inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emanuel Paula Magalhães
- Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Lyanna Rodrigues Ribeiro
- Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Arif Ali
- Post-Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Márcia Machado Marinho
- Theoretical and Eletrochemical Chemistry Research Group, State University of Ceará, Limoeiro do Norte, CE, Brazil; State University of Vale do Acaraú, Center for Exact Sciences and Technology, Sobral, CE, Brazil
| | - Emmanuel Silva Marinho
- Theoretical and Eletrochemical Chemistry Research Group, State University of Ceará, Limoeiro do Norte, CE, Brazil
| | - Hélcio Silva Dos Santos
- State University of Vale do Acaraú, Center for Exact Sciences and Technology, Sobral, CE, Brazil
| | - Alice Maria Costa Martins
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
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Lobo-Rojas Á, Quintero-Troconis E, Rondón-Mercado R, Pérez-Aguilar. MC, Concepción JL, Cáceres AJ. Consumption of Galactose by Trypanosoma cruzi Epimastigotes Generates Resistance against Oxidative Stress. Pathogens 2022; 11:1174. [PMID: 36297231 PMCID: PMC9611177 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we demonstrate that Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes previously grown in LIT medium supplemented with 20 mM galactose and exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (100 μM) showed two-fold and five-fold viability when compared to epimastigotes grown in LIT medium supplemented with two different glucose concentrations (20 mM and 1.5 mM), respectively. Similar results were obtained when exposing epimastigotes from all treatments to methylene blue 30 μM. Additionally, through differential centrifugation and the selective permeabilization of cellular membranes with digitonin, we found that phosphoglucomutase activity (a key enzyme in galactose metabolism) occurs predominantly within the cytosolic compartment. Furthermore, after partially permeabilizing epimastigotes with digitonin (0.025 mg × mg-1 of protein), intact glycosomes treated with 20 mM galactose released a higher hexose phosphate concentration to the cytosol in the form of glucose-1-phosphate, when compared to intact glycosomes treated with 20 mM glucose, which predominantly released glucose-6-phosphate. These results shine a light on T. cruzi's galactose metabolism and its interplay with mechanisms that enable resistance to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Lobo-Rojas
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Ender Quintero-Troconis
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
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Fatemikia H, Keypour H, Zeynali H, Karamian R, Ranjbar N, Gable RW. The X-ray crystal structures, molecular docking and biological activities of two novel Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with a ligand having a potentially N4O2 donor set and two nitro phenyl rings as pendant arms. J Inorg Biochem 2022; 235:111910. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2022.111910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Jaime LD, Aracely LM, Paulina OM, Dumonteil E, Barnabé C, Waleckx E, Hernández-Giles RG, Ramos-Ligonio A. Molecular Characterization of Four Mexican Isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi and Their Profile Susceptibility to Nifurtimox. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:1584-1593. [PMID: 36029434 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00608-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The objective of this study was to molecularly characterize Mexican isolates of T. cruzi obtained from infected triatomine bugs (the vectors of T. cruzi) and to evaluate their susceptibility to Nifurtimox (NFX). METHODS Three isolates obtained from Triatoma dimidiata (collected in the State of Veracruz) and one isolate obtained from Triatoma bassolsae (collected in the State of Puebla) were molecularly characterized and the expression of genes associated with natural resistance to NFX was analyzed by qPCR. RESULTS Molecular characterization by PCR showed that isolates Zn3, Zn5, and SRB1 belong to the DTU TcI, while isolate Sum3 belongs to TcIV. The latter was also confirmed by sequencing of mitochondrial genes. Isolate Zn5 was the most sensitive to treatment with NFX (IC50, 6.8 μM), isolates SRB1 and Zn3 were partially resistant (IC50, 12.8 μM and 12.7 μM) and isolate Sum3 showed a high degree of resistance to NFX (IC50, 21.4 µM). We also found an association between decreased NTR1 or OYE gene expression with NFX resistance. CONCLUSION Our results also evidenced a high variability in the susceptibility to NFX of these T. cruzi isolates Central and Southeastern Mexico, suggesting the presence of naturally resistant isolates circulating in the country. These results have important implications for defining treatment policies for patients with Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- López-Domínguez Jaime
- LADISER de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Edificio D, Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009, Colonia Rafael Alvarado, C.P. 94340, 86039, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.,Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - López-Monteon Aracely
- LADISER de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Edificio D, Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009, Colonia Rafael Alvarado, C.P. 94340, 86039, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.,Asociacion Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento A.C., Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Ochoa-Martínez Paulina
- LADISER de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Edificio D, Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009, Colonia Rafael Alvarado, C.P. 94340, 86039, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.,Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Christian Barnabé
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Etienne Waleckx
- Asociacion Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento A.C., Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.,Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Rubén Gustavo Hernández-Giles
- LADISER de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Edificio D, Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009, Colonia Rafael Alvarado, C.P. 94340, 86039, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.,Maestría en Ciencias en Procesos Biológicos, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Angel Ramos-Ligonio
- LADISER de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Edificio D, Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009, Colonia Rafael Alvarado, C.P. 94340, 86039, Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico. .,Asociacion Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento A.C., Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.
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Fernando da Silva Santos-Júnior P, Rocha Silva L, José Quintans-Júnior L, Ferreira da Silva-Júnior E. Nitro compounds against trypanosomatidae parasites: Heroes or villains? Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2022; 75:128930. [PMID: 36030001 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease and Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) are caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, T. brucei rhodesiense or T. b. gambiense parasites, respectively; while Leishmania is caused by parasites from the Leishmania genus. In recent years, many efforts have been addressed to develop inhibitors against these parasites, especially nitro-containing derivatives, which can interfere with essential enzymes from the protozoa. In this review, all anti-trypanosomatidae nitrocompounds reported so far are shown herein, highlighting their activities and SAR analyses, providing all the benefits and problems associated with this ambiguous chemical group. Finally, this review paper will be useful for many research teams around the world, which are searching for novel trypanocidal and leishmanicidal agents.
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8
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Almeida-Silva J, Menezes DS, Fernandes JMP, Almeida MC, Vasco-Dos-Santos DR, Saraiva RM, Viçosa AL, Perez SAC, Andrade SG, Suarez-Fontes AM, Vannier-Santos MA. The repositioned drugs disulfiram/diethyldithiocarbamate combined to benznidazole: Searching for Chagas disease selective therapy, preventing toxicity and drug resistance. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:926699. [PMID: 35967878 PMCID: PMC9372510 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.926699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) affects at least 6 million people in 21 South American countries besides several thousand in other nations all over the world. It is estimated that at least 14,000 people die every year of CD. Since vaccines are not available, chemotherapy remains of pivotal relevance. About 30% of the treated patients cannot complete the therapy because of severe adverse reactions. Thus, the search for novel drugs is required. Here we tested the benznidazole (BZ) combination with the repositioned drug disulfiram (DSF) and its derivative diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC) upon Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro and in vivo. DETC-BZ combination was synergistic diminishing epimastigote proliferation and enhancing selective indexes up to over 10-fold. DETC was effective upon amastigotes of the BZ- partially resistant Y and the BZ-resistant Colombiana strains. The combination reduced proliferation even using low concentrations (e.g., 2.5 µM). Scanning electron microscopy revealed membrane discontinuities and cell body volume reduction. Transmission electron microscopy revealed remarkable enlargement of endoplasmic reticulum cisternae besides, dilated mitochondria with decreased electron density and disorganized kinetoplast DNA. At advanced stages, the cytoplasm vacuolation apparently impaired compartmentation. The fluorescent probe H2-DCFDA indicates the increased production of reactive oxygen species associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation in parasites incubated with DETC. The biochemical measurement indicates the downmodulation of thiol expression. DETC inhibited superoxide dismutase activity on parasites was more pronounced than in infected mice. In order to approach the DETC effects on intracellular infection, peritoneal macrophages were infected with Colombiana trypomastigotes. DETC addition diminished parasite numbers and the DETC-BZ combination was effective, despite the low concentrations used. In the murine infection, the combination significantly enhanced animal survival, decreasing parasitemia over BZ. Histopathology revealed that low doses of BZ-treated animals presented myocardial amastigote, not observed in combination-treated animals. The picrosirius collagen staining showed reduced myocardial fibrosis. Aminotransferase de aspartate, Aminotransferase de alanine, Creatine kinase, and urea plasma levels demonstrated that the combination was non-toxic. As DSF and DETC can reduce the toxicity of other drugs and resistance phenotypes, such a combination may be safe and effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Almeida-Silva
- Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Diego Silva Menezes
- Parasite Biology Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Juan Mateus Pereira Fernandes
- Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Márcio Cerqueira Almeida
- Parasite Biology Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Deyvison Rhuan Vasco-Dos-Santos
- Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Roberto Magalhães Saraiva
- Laboratory of Clinical Research on Chagas Disease, Evandro Chagas Infectious Disease Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Lifsitch Viçosa
- Experimental Pharmacotechnics Laboratory, Department of Galenic Innovation, Institute of Drug Technology - Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sandra Aurora Chavez Perez
- Project Management Technical Assistance, Institute of Drug Technology - Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sônia Gumes Andrade
- Experimental Chagas Disease Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Ana Márcia Suarez-Fontes
- Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcos André Vannier-Santos
- Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Ros-Lucas A, Martinez-Peinado N, Bastida J, Gascón J, Alonso-Padilla J. The Use of AlphaFold for In Silico Exploration of Drug Targets in the Parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:944748. [PMID: 35909956 PMCID: PMC9329570 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.944748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a devastating neglected disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects millions of people worldwide. The two anti-parasitic drugs available, nifurtimox and benznidazole, have a good efficacy against the acute stage of the infection. But this is short, usually asymptomatic and often goes undiagnosed. Access to treatment is mostly achieved during the chronic stage, when the cardiac and/or digestive life-threatening symptoms manifest. Then, the efficacy of both drugs is diminished, and their long administration regimens involve frequently associated adverse effects that compromise treatment compliance. Therefore, the discovery of safer and more effective drugs is an urgent need. Despite its advantages over lately used phenotypic screening, target-based identification of new anti-parasitic molecules has been hampered by incomplete annotation and lack of structures of the parasite protein space. Presently, the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database is home to 19,036 protein models from T. cruzi, which could hold the key to not only describe new therapeutic approaches, but also shed light on molecular mechanisms of action for known compounds. In this proof-of-concept study, we screened the AlphaFold T. cruzi set of predicted protein models to find prospective targets for a pre-selected list of compounds with known anti-trypanosomal activity using docking-based inverse virtual screening. The best receptors (targets) for the most promising ligands were analyzed in detail to address molecular interactions and potential drugs’ mode of action. The results provide insight into the mechanisms of action of the compounds and their targets, and pave the way for new strategies to finding novel compounds or optimize already existing ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Ros-Lucas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- *Correspondence: Albert Ros-Lucas, ; Nieves Martinez-Peinado, ; Julio Alonso-Padilla,
| | - Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- *Correspondence: Albert Ros-Lucas, ; Nieves Martinez-Peinado, ; Julio Alonso-Padilla,
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Gascón
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII—CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII—CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Albert Ros-Lucas, ; Nieves Martinez-Peinado, ; Julio Alonso-Padilla,
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10
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Bustamante C, Díez-Mejía AF, Arbeláez N, Soares MJ, Robledo SM, Ochoa R, Varela-M. RE, Marín-Villa M. In Silico, In Vitro, and Pharmacokinetic Studies of UBMC-4, a Potential Novel Compound for Treating against Trypanosoma cruzi. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11060616. [PMID: 35745470 PMCID: PMC9229894 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11060616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of Chagas disease, a neglected disease, drives the discovery of new drugs with trypanocidal activity. Consequently, we conducted in vitro studies using UBMC-4, a potential Trypanosoma cruzi AKT-like pleckstrin homology (PH) domain inhibitory compound found using bioinformatics tools. The half effective concentration (EC50) on intracellular amastigotes was determined at 1.85 ± 1 μM showing low cytotoxicity (LC50) > 40 μM on human cell lines tested. In order to study the lethal effect caused by the compound on epimastigotes, morphological changes were assessed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Progressive alterations such as flagellum inactivation, cell size reduction, nuclear structure alteration, condensation of chromatin towards the nuclear periphery, vacuole formation, and mitochondrial swelling with kinetoplast integrity loss were evidenced. In addition, apoptosis-like markers in T. cruzi were assessed by flow cytometry, demonstrating that the effect of UBMC-4 on T. cruzi AKT-like kinase reduced the tolerance to nutritional stress-triggered, apoptosis-like events, including DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial damage, and loss of plasma membrane integrity. After this, UBMC-4 was formulated for oral administration and pharmacokinetics were analyzed in a mouse model. Finally, upon oral administration of 200 mg/kg in mice, we found that a UBMC-4 plasma concentration remaining in circulation beyond 24 h after administration is well described by the two-compartment model. We conclude that UBMC-4 has an effective trypanocidal activity in vitro at low concentrations and this effect is evident in T. cruzi cell structures. In mice, UBMC-4 was well absorbed and reached plasma concentrations higher than the EC50, showing features that would aid in developing a new drug to treat Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bustamante
- PECET-Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia; (A.F.D.-M.); (N.A.); (S.M.R.)
- Correspondence: (C.B.); (M.M.-V.)
| | - Andrés Felipe Díez-Mejía
- PECET-Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia; (A.F.D.-M.); (N.A.); (S.M.R.)
| | - Natalia Arbeláez
- PECET-Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia; (A.F.D.-M.); (N.A.); (S.M.R.)
| | - Maurilio José Soares
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz, Curitiba 81350-010, Paraná, Brazil;
| | - Sara M. Robledo
- PECET-Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia; (A.F.D.-M.); (N.A.); (S.M.R.)
| | - Rodrigo Ochoa
- Biophysics of Tropical Diseases, Max Planck Tandem Group, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia;
| | - Rubén E. Varela-M.
- Grupo (QUIBIO), School of Basic Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760032, Colombia;
| | - Marcel Marín-Villa
- PECET-Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia; (A.F.D.-M.); (N.A.); (S.M.R.)
- Correspondence: (C.B.); (M.M.-V.)
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11
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Santi AMM, Murta/ SMF. Antioxidant defence system as a rational target for Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis chemotherapy. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210401. [PMID: 35239945 PMCID: PMC8896756 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are neglected tropical diseases caused by the protozoan parasites Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp., respectively. They are among the most important parasitic diseases, affecting millions of people worldwide, being a considerable global challenge. However, there is no human vaccine available against T. cruzi and Leishmania infections, and their control is based mainly on chemotherapy. Treatments for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis have multiple limitations, mainly due to the high toxicity of the available drugs, long-term treatment protocols, and the occurrence of drug-resistant parasite strains. In the case of Chagas disease, there is still the problem of low cure rates in the chronic stage of the disease. Therefore, new therapeutic agents and novel targets for drug development are urgently needed. Antioxidant defence in Trypanosomatidae is a potential target for chemotherapy because the organisms present a unique mechanism for trypanothione-dependent detoxification of peroxides, which differs from that found in vertebrates. Cellular thiol redox homeostasis is maintained by the biosynthesis and reduction of trypanothione, involving different enzymes that act in concert. This study provides an overview of the antioxidant defence focusing on iron superoxide dismutase A, tryparedoxin peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase and how the enzymes play an important role in the defence against oxidative stress and their involvement in drug resistance mechanisms in T. cruzi and Leishmania spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Murta Santi
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta/
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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12
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Beltran-hortelano I, Alcolea V, Font M, Pérez-silanes S. Examination of multiple Trypanosoma cruzi targets in a new drug discovery approach for Chagas disease. Bioorg Med Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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13
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de Obeso Fernandez del Valle A, Scheckhuber CQ. Superoxide Dismutases in Eukaryotic Microorganisms: Four Case Studies. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11020188. [PMID: 35204070 PMCID: PMC8868140 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Various components in the cell are responsible for maintaining physiological levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Several different enzymes exist that can convert or degrade ROS; among them are the superoxide dismutases (SODs). If left unchecked, ROS can cause damage that leads to pathology, can contribute to aging, and may, ultimately, cause death. SODs are responsible for converting superoxide anions to hydrogen peroxide by dismutation. Here we review the role of different SODs on the development and pathogenicity of various eukaryotic microorganisms relevant to human health. These include the fungal aging model, Podospora anserina; various members of the genus Aspergillus that can potentially cause aspergillosis; the agents of diseases such as Chagas and sleeping disease, Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei, respectively; and, finally, pathogenic amoebae, such as Acanthamoeba spp. In these organisms, SODs fulfill essential and often regulatory functions that come into play during processes such as the development, host infection, propagation, and control of gene expression. We explore the contribution of SODs and their related factors in these microorganisms, which have an established role in health and disease.
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14
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Méndez-Arriaga JM, Rubio-Mirallas E, Quirós M, Sánchez-Moreno M. Zinc 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine complexes: synthesis, structural characterization and their effect against Chagas disease. Med Chem 2021; 18:444-451. [PMID: 34387166 DOI: 10.2174/1573406417666210812162500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization catalogues illnesses such as Chagas disease as neglected diseases, due the low investment in new drugs to fight them. The search for novel and non-side effects anti-parasitic compounds is one of the urgent needs of the Third World. The use of triazolopyrimidines and their metal complexes have demonstrated hopeful results in this field. OBJECTIVE This work studies the antiparasitic efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi strains of a series of zinc triazolopyrimidine complexes. METHOD A series of Zn complexes has been synthesized by the reaction between the triazolopyrimidine derivatives 7-amino-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (7atp) and 5,7-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dmtp) with Zn(SO4) • 7H2O, ZnCl2, and Zn(NO3)2 • 6H2O salts. The complexes have been analyzed by spectroscopic and thermal assays and X-ray diffraction methods have been used to dilucidate the crystalline structure of one of them. The antiparasitic efficacy was tested in vitro against Trypanosoma cruzi to compare the trypanocidal effect of different ligands and counteranions to fight Chagas disease. RESULTS The efficacy of these compounds against Trypanosoma cruzi has also been tested to compare the influence of different ligands and counteranions on the trypanocidal effect against Chagas disease. CONCLUSION Antiproliferative tests corroborate the synergistic trypanocidal effect of the triazolopyrimidine coordination complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Méndez-Arriaga
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorganica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, c/Tulipán s/n 28933, Móstoles, Madrid. Spain
| | - Erika Rubio-Mirallas
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada. Spain
| | - Miguel Quirós
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada. Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada. Spain
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15
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García-Huertas P, Cardona-Castro N. Advances in the treatment of Chagas disease: Promising new drugs, plants and targets. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 142:112020. [PMID: 34392087 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is treated with only two drugs; benznidazole and nifurtimox. These drugs have some disadvantages, including their efficacy only in the acute or early infection phases, adverse effects during their use, and the resistance that the parasite has developed to their activity. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new, safe and effective therapeutic alternatives to treat Chagas disease, though governments and the pharmaceutical industry have shown a lack of interest in contributing to this solution. Institutions and research groups on the other hand have worked on some strategies that can help to address the problem. Some of these include the modification of conventional drug dosages, drug repurposing, and combined therapy. Plants and derived compounds with antiparasitic effects have also been studied, taking advantage of traditional medicinal knowledge. Others have studied the parasite to identify essential genes that can be used as therapeutic targets to design new, targeted drugs. Some of these studies have generated promising results, but few reach clinical phase studies. Institutions and research groups should be encouraged to unify efforts and cover all aspects of drug development according to resources and knowledge availability. In the end, this exchange of knowledge would lead to the development of new therapeutic alternatives to treat Chagas disease and benefit the populations it affects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nora Cardona-Castro
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Colombia.
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16
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Chulanetra M, Chaicumpa W. Revisiting the Mechanisms of Immune Evasion Employed by Human Parasites. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:702125. [PMID: 34395313 PMCID: PMC8358743 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.702125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
For the establishment of a successful infection, i.e., long-term parasitism and a complete life cycle, parasites use various diverse mechanisms and factors, which they may be inherently bestowed with, or may acquire from the natural vector biting the host at the infection prelude, or may take over from the infecting host, to outmaneuver, evade, overcome, and/or suppress the host immunity, both innately and adaptively. This narrative review summarizes the up-to-date strategies exploited by a number of representative human parasites (protozoa and helminths) to counteract the target host immune defense. The revisited information should be useful for designing diagnostics and therapeutics as well as vaccines against the respective parasitic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monrat Chulanetra
- Center of Research Excellence on Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wanpen Chaicumpa
- Center of Research Excellence on Therapeutic Proteins and Antibody Engineering, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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17
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Beltran-Hortelano I, Atherton RL, Rubio-Hernández M, Sanz-Serrano J, Alcolea V, Kelly JM, Pérez-Silanes S, Olmo F. Design and synthesis of Mannich base-type derivatives containing imidazole and benzimidazole as lead compounds for drug discovery in Chagas Disease. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 223:113646. [PMID: 34182359 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, the most important parasitic infection in Latin America. The only treatments currently available are nitro-derivative drugs that are characterised by high toxicity and limited efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more effective, less toxic therapeutic agents. We have previously identified the potential for Mannich base derivatives as novel inhibitors of this parasite. To further explore this family of compounds, we synthesised a panel of 69 new analogues, based on multi-parametric structure-activity relationships, which allowed optimization of both anti-parasitic activity, physicochemical parameters and ADME properties. Additionally, we optimized our in vitro screening approaches against all three developmental forms of the parasite, allowing us to discard the least effective and trypanostatic derivatives at an early stage. We ultimately identified derivative 3c, which demonstrated excellent trypanocidal properties, and a synergistic mode of action against trypomastigotes in combination with the reference drug benznidazole. Both its druggability and low-cost production make this derivative a promising candidate for the preclinical, in vivo assays of the Chagas disease drug-discovery pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Beltran-Hortelano
- Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, Pharmacy and Nutrition Faculty, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Richard L Atherton
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Mercedes Rubio-Hernández
- Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, Pharmacy and Nutrition Faculty, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Julen Sanz-Serrano
- Universidad de Navarra, Pharmacy and Nutrition Faculty, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Verónica Alcolea
- Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, Pharmacy and Nutrition Faculty, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain
| | - John M Kelly
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Pérez-Silanes
- Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain; Universidad de Navarra, Pharmacy and Nutrition Faculty, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, Campus Universitario, 31080, Pamplona, Spain.
| | - Francisco Olmo
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1 7HT, United Kingdom.
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Martín-Escolano R, Molina-Carreño D, Plano D, Espuelas S, Rosales MJ, Moreno E, Aydillo C, Sanmartín C, Sánchez-Moreno M, Marín C. Library of Selenocyanate and Diselenide Derivatives as In Vivo Antichagasic Compounds Targeting Trypanosoma cruzi Mitochondrion. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14050419. [PMID: 34062791 PMCID: PMC8147293 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is usually caused by tropical infection with the insect-transmitted protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Currently, Chagas disease is a major public health concern worldwide due to globalization, and there are no treatments neither vaccines because of the long-term nature of the disease and its complex pathology. Current treatments are limited to two obsolete drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, which lead to serious drawbacks. Taking into account the urgent need for strict research efforts to find new therapies, here, we describe the in vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of a library of selected forty-eight selenocyanate and diselenide derivatives that exhibited leishmanicidal properties. The inclusion of selenium, an essential trace element, was due to the well-known extensive pharmacological activities for selenium compounds including parasitic diseases as T. cruzi. Here we present compound 8 as a potential compound that exhibits a better profile than benznidazole both in vitro and in vivo. It shows a fast-acting behaviour that could be attributed to its mode of action: it acts in a mitochondrion-dependent manner, causing cell death by bioenergetic collapse. This finding provides a step forward for the development of a new antichagasic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Laboratory of Molecular & Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
- Correspondence: (R.M.-E.); (C.M.)
| | - Daniel Molina-Carreño
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
| | - Daniel Plano
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Socorro Espuelas
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - María J. Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
| | - Esther Moreno
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carlos Aydillo
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Carmen Sanmartín
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Tecnología y Química Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Navarra, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; (D.P.); (S.E.); (E.M.); (C.A.); (C.S.)
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, Universidad de Navarra, ISTUN, Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (D.M.-C.); (M.J.R.); (M.S.-M.)
- Correspondence: (R.M.-E.); (C.M.)
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Piñeyro MD, Arias D, Parodi-Talice A, Guerrero S, Robello C. Trypanothione Metabolism as Drug Target for Trypanosomatids. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:1834-1846. [PMID: 33308115 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666201211115329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chagas Disease, African sleeping sickness, and leishmaniasis are neglected diseases caused by pathogenic trypanosomatid parasites, which have a considerable impact on morbidity and mortality in poor countries. The available drugs used as treatment have high toxicity, limited access, and can cause parasite drug resistance. Long-term treatments, added to their high toxicity, result in patients that give up therapy. Trypanosomatids presents a unique trypanothione based redox system, which is responsible for maintaining the redox balance. Therefore, inhibition of these essential and exclusive parasite's metabolic pathways, absent from the mammalian host, could lead to the development of more efficient and safe drugs. The system contains different redox cascades, where trypanothione and tryparedoxins play together a central role in transferring reduced power to different enzymes, such as 2-Cys peroxiredoxins, non-selenium glutathione peroxidases, ascorbate peroxidases, glutaredoxins and methionine sulfoxide reductases, through NADPH as a source of electrons. There is sufficient evidence that this complex system is essential for parasite survival and infection. In this review, we explore what is known in terms of essentiality, kinetic and structural data, and the development of inhibitors of enzymes from this trypanothione-based redox system. The recent advances and limitations in the development of lead inhibitory compounds targeting these enzymes have been discussed. The combination of molecular biology, bioinformatics, genomics, and structural biology is fundamental since the knowledge of unique features of the trypanothione-dependent system will provide tools for rational drug design in order to develop better treatments for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diego Arias
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia del Litoral y Facultad de Bioquimica y Ciencias Biologicas, CONICET-UNL, Santa F, Argentina
| | | | - Sergio Guerrero
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia del Litoral y Facultad de Bioquimica y Ciencias Biologicas, CONICET-UNL, Santa F, Argentina
| | - Carlos Robello
- Unidad de Biologia Molecular, Instituto Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
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20
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Saccoliti F, Di Santo R, Costi R. Recent Advancement in the Search of Innovative Antiprotozoal Agents Targeting Trypanothione Metabolism. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:2420-2435. [PMID: 32805075 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites are responsible for the challenging neglected tropical diseases leishmaniases, Chagas disease, and human African trypanosomiasis, which account for up to 40,000 deaths annually mainly in developing countries. Current chemotherapy relies on drugs with significant limitations in efficacy and safety, prompting the urgent need to explore innovative approaches to improve the drug discovery pipeline. The unique trypanothione-based redox pathway, which is absent in human hosts, is vital for all trypanosomatids and offers valuable opportunities to guide the rational development of specific, broad-spectrum and innovative anti-trypanosomatid agents. Major efforts focused on the key metabolic enzymes trypanothione synthetase-amidase and trypanothione reductase, whose inhibition should affect the entire pathway and, finally, parasite survival. Herein, we will report and comment on the most recent studies in the search for enzyme inhibitors, underlining the promising opportunities that have emerged so far to drive the exploration of future successful therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Saccoliti
- D3 PharmaChemistry, Italian Institute of Technology, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Santo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, P. le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
| | - Roberta Costi
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, P. le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy
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Beltran-Hortelano I, Alcolea V, Font M, Pérez-Silanes S. The role of imidazole and benzimidazole heterocycles in Chagas disease: A review. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 206:112692. [PMID: 32818869 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The haemoflagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD), a potentially life-threatening disease. Little by little, remarkable progress has been achieved against CD, although it is still not enough. In the absence of effective chemotherapy, many research groups, organizations and pharmaceutical companies have focused their efforts on the search for compounds that could become viable drugs against CD. Within the wide variety of reported derivatives, this review summarizes and provides a global vision of the situation of those compounds that include broadly studied heterocycles in their structures due to their applications in medicinal chemistry: imidazole and benzimidazole rings. Therefore, the intention of this work is to present a compilation, as much as possible, of all the reported information, regarding these imidazole and benzimidazole derivatives against T. cruzi, as a starting point for future researchers in this field.
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Martín-Escolano R, Martín-Escolano J, Ballesteros-Garrido R, Cirauqui N, Abarca B, Rosales MJ, Sánchez-Moreno M, Ballesteros R, Marín C. Repositioning of leishmanicidal [1,2,3]Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridinium salts for Chagas disease treatment: Trypanosoma cruzi cell death involving mitochondrial membrane depolarisation and Fe-SOD inhibition. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2943-2954. [PMID: 32607710 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06779-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomatidae is a family of unicellular parasites belonging to the phylum Euglenozoa, which are causative agents in high impact human diseases such as Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and African sleeping sickness. The impact on human health and local economies, together with a lack of satisfactory chemotherapeutic treatments and effective vaccines, justifies stringent research efforts to search for new disease therapies. Here, we present in vitro trypanocidal activity data and mode of action data, repositioning leishmanicidal [1,2,3]Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridinium salts against Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease. This disease is one of the most neglected tropical diseases and is a major public health issue in Central and South America. The disease affects approximately 6-7 million people and is widespread due to increased migratory movements. We screened a suite of leishmanicidal [1,2,3]Triazolo[1,5-a]pyridinium salt compounds, of which compounds 13, 20 and 21 were identified as trypanocidal drugs. These compounds caused cell death in a mitochondrion-dependent manner through a bioenergetic collapse. Moreover, compounds 13 and 20 showed a remarkable inhibition of iron superoxide dismutase activity of T. cruzi, a key enzyme in the protection from the damage produced by oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Javier Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Ballesteros-Garrido
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nuria Cirauqui
- Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69367, Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Belén Abarca
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - María José Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Ballesteros
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valencia, Avda. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain.
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Mendonça AAS, Gonçalves-Santos E, Souza-Silva TG, González-Lozano KJ, Caldas IS, Gonçalves RV, Diniz LF, Novaes RD. Could phenothiazine-benznidazole combined chemotherapy be effective in controlling heart parasitism and acute infectious myocarditis? Pharmacol Res 2020; 158:104907. [PMID: 32416214 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Phenothiazines inhibit major antioxidant defense mechanisms in trypanosomatids and exhibit potent cytotoxic effects in vitro. However, the relevance of these drugs in the treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi-induced acute myocarditis is poorly explored, especially in combination with reference trypanocidal drugs. Thus, we compared the antiparasitic and cardioprotective potential of thioridazine (TDZ) and benznidazole (Bz) administered in monotherapy and combined in a murine model of T. cruzi-induced acute myocarditis. Female mice were randomized into six groups: (i) uninfected untreated, (ii) infected untreated, or infected treated with (iii) Bz (100 mg/kg), (iv) TDZ (80 mg/kg), (v) Bz (100 mg/kg) + TDZ (80 mg/kg), or (vi) Bz (50 mg/kg) + TDZ (80 mg/kg). Infected animals were inoculated with 2000 T. cruzi trypomastigotes and treated by gavage for 20 days. Animals that received TDZ alone presented the highest levels of parasitemia, parasitic load and anti-T. cruzi immunoglobulin G titers; cardiac upregulation of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase activity, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde and cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-17); as well as microstructural damage compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). These parameters were reduced in groups receiving Bz monotherapy compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The combination of TDZ and Bz attenuated the response to treatment, worsening parasitological control, oxidative heart damage and myocarditis compared to the group treated with Bz alone (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that when administered alone, TDZ potentiated the pathological outcomes in animals infected with T. cruzi. Moreover, TDZ attenuated the antiparasitic effect of Bz when administered together, impairing parasitological control, potentiating inflammation, molecular oxidation and pathological microstructural remodeling of the heart. Thus, our findings indicate that TDZ acts as a pharmacological risk factor and Bz-based monotherapy remains a better cardioprotective drug against Trypanosoma cruzi-induced acute myocarditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréa A S Mendonça
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elda Gonçalves-Santos
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thaiany G Souza-Silva
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Kelly J González-Lozano
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ivo S Caldas
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Reggiani V Gonçalves
- Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, 36570-000 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lívia F Diniz
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rômulo D Novaes
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil; Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Georgiadis MO, Kourbeli V, Papanastasiou IP, Tsotinis A, Taylor MC, Kelly JM. Synthesis and evaluation of novel 2,4-disubstituted arylthiazoles against T. brucei. RSC Med Chem 2019; 11:72-84. [PMID: 33479605 PMCID: PMC7522794 DOI: 10.1039/c9md00478e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
2-{2-[3-(1-Adamantyl)-4-fluorophenyl]thiazol-4-yl}ethan-1-amine (1a) and 2-{2-[4-(1-adamantyl)phenyl]thiazol-4-yl}ethan-1-amine (2a) exhibit activity against T. brucei in the range of IC50 = 0.42 μM and IC50 = 0.80 μM, respectively.
The design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of the 4-substituted-2-[3-(adamant-1-yl)-4-fluorophenyl]thiazoles 1a–j, the 4-substituted-2-[4-(adamant-1-yl)phenyl]thiazoles 2a–h, the 2-substituted-4-[4-(adamant-1-yl)phenyl]thiazoles 3a–e, the N-substituted 2-phenylthiazol-4-ethylamides 4a, b and the N-substituted 4-phenylthiazol-2-ethylamides 4c, d is described. Compounds 1a and 2a exhibit trypanocidal activity in the range of IC50 = 0.42 μM and IC50 = 0.80 μM, respectively. Both of these derivatives bear a lipophilic end, which consists of a 4-(1-adamantyl) phenyl or a 3-(1-adamantyl)phenyl moiety, a 1,3-thiazole ring and a functional end, which comprises of an alkylamine and can be considered as promising candidates for the treatment of Trypanosoma brucei infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markos-Orestis Georgiadis
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Department of Pharmacy , School of Health Sciences , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Panepistimioupoli-Zografou , 157 84 Athens , Greece .
| | - Violeta Kourbeli
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Department of Pharmacy , School of Health Sciences , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Panepistimioupoli-Zografou , 157 84 Athens , Greece .
| | - Ioannis P Papanastasiou
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Department of Pharmacy , School of Health Sciences , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Panepistimioupoli-Zografou , 157 84 Athens , Greece .
| | - Andrew Tsotinis
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Department of Pharmacy , School of Health Sciences , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens , Panepistimioupoli-Zografou , 157 84 Athens , Greece .
| | - Martin C Taylor
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology , London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel Street , London WC1 E7HT , UK
| | - John M Kelly
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology , London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , Keppel Street , London WC1 E7HT , UK
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Paucar R, Martín-Escolano R, Moreno-Viguri E, Azqueta A, Cirauqui N, Marín C, Sánchez-Moreno M, Pérez-Silanes S. Rational modification of Mannich base-type derivatives as novel antichagasic compounds: Synthesis, in vitro and in vivo evaluation. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:3902-3917. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Paucar R, Martín‐Escolano R, Moreno‐Viguri E, Cirauqui N, Marín C, Sánchez‐Moreno M, Pérez‐Silanes S. Antichagasic profile of a Series of Mannich Base‐Type Derivatives: Design, Synthesis,
in vitro
Evaluation, and Computational Studies Involving Iron Superoxide Dismutase. ChemistrySelect 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201901108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Paucar
- Universidad de NavarraDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and ChemistryInstituto de Salud Tropical Pamplona 31008 Spain
| | - Rubén Martín‐Escolano
- Department of ParasitologyInstituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada)Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, E-18071, Granada Spain
| | - Elsa Moreno‐Viguri
- Universidad de NavarraDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and ChemistryInstituto de Salud Tropical Pamplona 31008 Spain
| | - Nuria Cirauqui
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesFederal University of Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro 21949–900 Brazil
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of ParasitologyInstituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada)Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, E-18071, Granada Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez‐Moreno
- Department of ParasitologyInstituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. Granada)Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, E-18071, Granada Spain
| | - Silvia Pérez‐Silanes
- Universidad de NavarraDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and ChemistryInstituto de Salud Tropical Pamplona 31008 Spain
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González-Chávez Z, Vázquez C, Mejia-Tlachi M, Márquez-Dueñas C, Manning-Cela R, Encalada R, Rodríguez-Enríquez S, Michels PAM, Moreno-Sánchez R, Saavedra E. Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and tryparedoxin 1 exert high control on the antioxidant system in Trypanosoma cruzi contributing to drug resistance and infectivity. Redox Biol 2019; 26:101231. [PMID: 31203195 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2019.101231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanothione (T(SH)2) is the main antioxidant metabolite for peroxide reduction in Trypanosoma cruzi; therefore, its metabolism has attracted attention for therapeutic intervention against Chagas disease. To validate drug targets within the T(SH)2 metabolism, the strategies and methods of Metabolic Control Analysis and kinetic modeling of the metabolic pathway were used here, to identify the steps that mainly control the pathway fluxes and which could be appropriate sites for therapeutic intervention. For that purpose, gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γECS), trypanothione synthetase (TryS), trypanothione reductase (TryR) and the tryparedoxin cytosolic isoform 1 (TXN1) were separately overexpressed to different levels in T. cruzi epimastigotes and their degrees of control on the pathway flux as well as their effect on drug resistance and infectivity determined. Both experimental in vivo as well as in silico analyses indicated that γECS and TryS control T(SH)2 synthesis by 60–74% and 15–31%, respectively. γECS overexpression prompted up to a 3.5-fold increase in T(SH)2 concentration, whereas TryS overexpression did not render an increase in T(SH)2 levels as a consequence of high T(SH)2 degradation. The peroxide reduction flux was controlled for 64–73% by TXN1, 17–20% by TXNPx and 11–16% by TryR. TXN1 and TryR overexpression increased H2O2 resistance, whereas TXN1 overexpression increased resistance to the benznidazole plus buthionine sulfoximine combination. γECS overexpression led to an increase in infectivity capacity whereas that of TXN increased trypomastigote bursting. The present data suggested that inhibition of high controlling enzymes such as γECS and TXN1 in the T(SH)2 antioxidant pathway may compromise the parasite's viability and infectivity. The trypanothione synthesis flux is primarily but not exclusively controlled by γECS. Tryparedoxin exerts high control on the peroxide reduction flux. Kinetic metabolic modeling may reliably predict the in vivo pathway behavior. TXN1 overexpression provides benznidazole resistance. γECS and TXN contribute to parasite infectivity.
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Paucar R, Martín-Escolano R, Moreno-Viguri E, Cirauqui N, Rodrigues CR, Marín C, Sánchez-Moreno M, Pérez-Silanes S, Ravera M, Gabano E. A step towards development of promising trypanocidal agents: Synthesis, characterization and in vitro biological evaluation of ferrocenyl Mannich base-type derivatives. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 163:569-582. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Novaes RD, Teixeira AL, de Miranda AS. Oxidative Stress in Microbial Diseases: Pathogen, Host, and Therapeutics. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2019; 2019:8159562. [PMID: 30774746 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8159562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Mendonça AAS, Coelho CM, Veloso MP, Caldas IS, Gonçalves RV, Teixeira AL, de Miranda AS, Novaes RD. Relevance of Trypanothione Reductase Inhibitors on Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and In Silico Integrated Approach. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018; 2018:8676578. [PMID: 30473742 PMCID: PMC6220389 DOI: 10.1155/2018/8676578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Due to the rudimentary antioxidant defenses in Trypanosoma cruzi, disruptors of redox balance are promising candidates for new antitrypanosomal drugs. We developed an integrated model based on systematic review, meta-analyses, and molecular modeling to evaluate the effect of trypanothione reductase (TR) inhibitors in T. cruzi infections. Our findings indicated that the TR inhibitors analyzed were effective in reducing parasitemia and mortality due to Trypanosoma cruzi infection in animal models. The most investigated drugs (clomipramine and thioridazine) showed no beneficial effects on the occurrence of infection-related electrocardiographic abnormalities or the affinity and density of cardiac β-adrenergic receptors. The affinity between the tested ligands and the active site of TR was confirmed by molecular docking. However, the molecular affinity score was unable to explain TR inhibition and T. cruzi death in vitro or the antiparasitic potential of these drugs when tested in preclinical models of T. cruzi infection. The divergence of in silico, in vitro, and in vivo findings indicated that the anti-T. cruzi effects of the analyzed drugs were not restricted to TR inhibition. As in vivo studies on TR inhibitors are still scarce and exhibit methodological limitations, mechanistic and highly controlled studies are required to improve the quality of evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréa Aparecida Santos Mendonça
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Camila Morais Coelho
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcia Paranho Veloso
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ivo Santana Caldas
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Antônio Lucio Teixeira
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Aline Silva de Miranda
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100 Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100 Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rômulo Dias Novaes
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, 37130-001 Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Vasconcelos CI, Varela MT, Torrecilhas AC, Fernandes JPS. Pyrazinoates as antiparasitic agents against Trypanosoma cruzi. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2018; 351:e1800190. [PMID: 30298951 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.201800190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This work reports a repurposing study of pyrazinoic acid (1) and methyl (2), ethyl (3) and 2-chloroethyl (4) ester derivatives with antimycobacterial activity, in assays against Trypanosoma cruzi. The compounds and benznidazole, the standard antitrypanosoma drug, were evaluated in concentrations ranging from 100 to 6.25 μg/mL. The results showed that compounds 2 and 3 (EC50 = 182 and 447 μM) significantly reduced the infection rate of the parasite into the mammalian cells at 100 μg/mL (p < 0.05) in a similar way to benznidazole. In addition, all the compounds also significantly reduced the number of intracellular parasites (compound 1 at 50 μg/mL, and compounds 2-4 at 100 μg/mL, p < 0.05) in comparison to the control. Compounds 1 and 2 were more effective than benznidazole at 50 μg/mL (p < 0.001). Moreover, compounds 1-4 did not show significant cytotoxicity against THP-1, J774, and HeLa cells (>1000 μM), indicating that they possess considerable selectivity against the parasites. This report represents the first study of such compounds against T. cruzi, indicating the potential of pyrazinoates as antiparasitic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla I Vasconcelos
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, Brazil
| | - Marina T Varela
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, Brazil
| | - Ana C Torrecilhas
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, Brazil
| | - João P S Fernandes
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, Brazil
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Tiwari N, Tanwar N, Munde M. Molecular insights into trypanothione reductase-inhibitor interaction: A structure-based review. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2018; 351:e1700373. [DOI: 10.1002/ardp.201700373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Neha Tiwari
- School of Physical Sciences; Jawaharlal Nehru University; New Delhi India
| | - Neetu Tanwar
- School of Physical Sciences; Jawaharlal Nehru University; New Delhi India
| | - Manoj Munde
- School of Physical Sciences; Jawaharlal Nehru University; New Delhi India
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Cortés-Ruiz EM, Palomino-Hernández O, Rodríguez-Hernández KD, Espinoza B, Medina-Franco JL. Computational Methods to Discover Compounds for the Treatment of Chagas Disease. Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol 2018; 113:119-142. [PMID: 30149904 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Infectious diseases continue to be a major public health. Among these diseases, American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease (CD) is a major cause of morbidity and death for millions of people in Latin America. The two drugs currently available for the treatment of CD have poor efficacy and major side effects. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop safe and effective drugs against this disease. Herein we review the diversity and coverage of chemical space of compounds tested as inhibitors of Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite causing CD. We also review major molecular targets currently pursued to kill the parasite and recent computational approaches to identify inhibitors for such targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bertha Espinoza
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José L Medina-Franco
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
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