1
|
Manful EE, Dofuor AK, Gwira TM. The role of tryptophan derivatives as anti-kinetoplastid agents. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23895. [PMID: 38187297 PMCID: PMC10770616 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23895] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastids are the causative agents for a spectrum of vector-borne diseases including Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and Trypanosomiasis that affect millions of people worldwide. In the absence of safe and effective vaccines, chemotherapy, in conjunction with vector control, remain the most significant control approach for kinetoplastid diseases. However, commercially available treatment for these neglected tropical diseases frequently ends up with toxic side effects and increasing resistance. To meet the rising need for innovative medications, alternative chemotherapeutic agents are required. Moreover, insights into target-based mode of action of chemotherapeutic agents are required if novel drugs that may outwit resistance to commercially available drugs are to be developed. Tryptophan has been implicated in a variety of diseases and disorders due to its fundamental role as a precursor to several bioactive metabolites, as well as its importance in the improvement of health and nutrition, diagnostics, and therapeutics. The regulation of tryptophan metabolism plays a fundamental role in the growth of kinetoplastids. Moreover, the levels of tryptophan may serve as a biomarker to distinguish between the stages of kinetoplastids making it an important amino acid to explore for drug targets. The main aim of this review is thus to provide a comprehensive literature synthesis of tryptophan derivatives to explore as potential anti-kinetoplastids. Here we highlight the role of tryptophan derivatives as chemotherapeutic agents against kinetoplastids. The reviewed compounds provide insights into potential new drug interventions that may combat the increasing problem of anti-kinetoplastid resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewura-Esi Manful
- Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
| | - Aboagye Kwarteng Dofuor
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana
| | - Theresa Manful Gwira
- West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yoon KW, Chu KB, Eom GD, Mao J, Kim MJ, Lee H, No JH, Quan FS. Protective Humoral Immune Response Induced by Recombinant Virus-like Particle Vaccine Expressing Leishmania donovani Surface Antigen. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:2583-2592. [PMID: 38014824 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
To date, Leishmania spp. vaccine studies have mainly focused on cellular immunity induction, which plays a crucial role in host protection. In contrast, vaccine-induced humoral immunity is largely neglected. Virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines generated using the baculovirus expression system are well-known inducers of humoral immunity and would serve as a suitable platform for evaluating humoral immunity-mediated protection against visceral Leishmaniasis. In this study, we investigated the humoral immunity evoked through VLPs expressing the L. donovani promastigote surface antigen (PSA-VLPs) and assessed their contribution to protection in mice. PSA-VLPs vaccines were generated using the baculovirus expression system and used for mouse immunizations. Mice were intramuscularly immunized twice with PSA-VLPs and challenged with L. donovani to confirm vaccine-induced protective immunity. PSA-VLP immunization elicited parasite-specific antibody responses in the sera of mice, which were induced in a dose-dependent manner. B cell, germinal center B cell, and memory B cell responses in the spleen were found to be higher in vaccinated mice compared to unimmunized controls. PSA-VLP immunization diminished the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-6 in the liver. Overall, the PSA-VLPs conferred protection against L. donovani challenge infection by reducing the total parasite burden within the internal organs. These results suggest that PSA-VLPs induced protective immunity against the L. donovani challenge infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Back Chu
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, Core Research Institute (CRI), Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi-Deok Eom
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jie Mao
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeryon Lee
- Host-Parasite Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo Hwan No
- Host-Parasite Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, Core Research Institute (CRI), Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Corman HN, McNamara CW, Bakowski MA. Drug Discovery for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A Review of Developments in the Past 15 Years. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2845. [PMID: 38137989 PMCID: PMC10745741 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11122845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a group of vector-borne, parasitic diseases caused by over 20 species of the protozoan Leishmania spp. The three major disease classifications, cutaneous, visceral, and mucocutaneous, have a range of clinical manifestations from self-healing skin lesions to hepatosplenomegaly and mucosal membrane damage to fatality. As a neglected tropical disease, leishmaniasis represents a major international health challenge, with nearly 350 million people living at risk of infection a year. The current chemotherapeutics used to treat leishmaniasis have harsh side effects, prolonged and costly treatment regimens, as well as emerging drug resistance, and are predominantly used for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. There is an undeniable need for the identification and development of novel chemotherapeutics targeting cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), largely ignored by concerted drug development efforts. CL is mostly non-lethal and the most common presentation of this disease, with nearly 1 million new cases reported annually. Recognizing this unaddressed need, substantial yet fragmented progress in early drug discovery efforts for CL has occurred in the past 15 years and was outlined in this review. However, further work needs to be carried out to advance early discovery candidates towards the clinic. Importantly, there is a paucity of investment in the translation and development of therapies for CL, limiting the emergence of viable solutions to deal with this serious and complex international health problem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah N. Corman
- Calibr at Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (C.W.M.); (M.A.B.)
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bosch-Navarrete C, Pérez-Moreno G, Annang F, Diaz-Gonzalez R, García-Hernández R, Rocha H, Gamarro F, Cordón-Obras C, Navarro M, Rodriguez A, Genilloud O, Reyes F, Vicente F, Ruiz-Pérez LM, González-Pacanowska D. Strasseriolides display in vitro and in vivo activity against trypanosomal parasites and cause morphological and size defects in Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011592. [PMID: 37713416 PMCID: PMC10529594 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neglected diseases caused by kinetoplastid parasites are a health burden in tropical and subtropical countries. The need to create safe and effective medicines to improve treatment remains a priority. Microbial natural products are a source of chemical diversity that provides a valuable approach for identifying new drug candidates. We recently reported the discovery and bioassay-guided isolation of a novel family of macrolides with antiplasmodial activity. The novel family of four potent antimalarial macrolides, strasseriolides A-D, was isolated from cultures of Strasseria geniculata CF-247251, a fungal strain obtained from plant tissues. In the present study, we analyze these strasseriolides for activity against kinetoplastid protozoan parasites, namely, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma cruzi. Compounds exhibited mostly low activities against T. b. brucei, yet notable growth inhibition and selectivity were observed for strasseriolides C and D in the clinically relevant intracellular T. cruzi and L. donovani amastigotes with EC50 values in the low micromolar range. Compound C is fast-acting and active against both intracellular and trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi. While cell cycle defects were not identified, prominent morphological changes were visualized by differential interference contrast microscopy and smaller and rounded parasites were visualized upon exposure to strasseriolide C. Moreover, compound C lowers parasitaemia in vivo in acute models of infection of Chagas disease. Hence, strasseriolide C is a novel natural product active against different forms of T. cruzi in vitro and in vivo. The study provides an avenue for blocking infection of new cells, a strategy that could additionally contribute to avoid treatment failure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Bosch-Navarrete
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Guiomar Pérez-Moreno
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Frederick Annang
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Rosario Diaz-Gonzalez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Raquel García-Hernández
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Hedy Rocha
- Department of Microbiology, Core Anti-infectives, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Francisco Gamarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Carlos Cordón-Obras
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Navarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, Core Anti-infectives, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Olga Genilloud
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Fernando Reyes
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisca Vicente
- Fundación MEDINA, Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Luis M. Ruiz-Pérez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Dolores González-Pacanowska
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Teh-Poot CF, Dzul-Huchim VM, Mercado JM, Villanueva-Lizama LE, Bottazzi ME, Jones KM, Tsai FTF, Cruz-Chan JV. A short-term method to evaluate anti-leishmania drugs by inhibition of stage differentiation in Leishmania mexicana using flow cytometry. Exp Parasitol 2023; 249:108519. [PMID: 37004860 PMCID: PMC10231665 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108519] [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: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease caused by the Leishmania spp. Parasite. The disease is transmitted to humans and animals by the bite of infected female sandflies during the ingestion of bloodmeal. Because current drug treatments induce toxicity and parasite resistance, there is an urgent need to evaluate new drugs. Most therapeutics target the differentiation of promastigotes to amastigotes, which is necessary to maintain Leishmania infection. However, in vitro assays are laborious, time-consuming, and depend on the experience of the technician. In this study, we aimed to establish a short-term method to assess the differentiation status of Leishmania mexicana (L. mexicana) using flow cytometry. Here, we showed that flow cytometry provides a rapid means to quantify parasite differentiation in cell culture as reliably as light microscopy. Interestingly, we found using flow cytometry that miltefosine reduced promastigote-to-amastigote differentiation of L. mexicana. We conclude that flow cytometry provides a means to rapidly assay the efficacy of small molecules or natural compounds as potential anti-leishmanials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Florian Teh-Poot
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Victor Manuel Dzul-Huchim
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Jonathan M Mercado
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Liliana Estefanía Villanueva-Lizama
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kathryn M Jones
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Francis T F Tsai
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Julio Vladimir Cruz-Chan
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang Q, Chen D, Wang Y, Dong C, Liu J, Chen K, Song F, Wang C, Yuan J, Davis RA, Kuek V, Jin H, Xu J. Thiaplakortone B attenuates RANKL-induced NF-κB and MAPK signaling and dampens OVX-induced bone loss in mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 154:113622. [PMID: 36081291 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113622] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoclasts play an important role in maintaining the relative stability of bone mass. Abnormal number and function of osteoclasts are closely related to osteoporosis and osteolytic diseases. Thiaplakortone B (TPB), a natural compound derived from the Great Barrier Reef sponge Plakortis lita, has been reported to inhibit the growth of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, but its effect on osteoclastogenesis has not been previously investigated. In our study, we found that TPB suppresses the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast formation and resorption activity by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAcP) staining, immunofluorescence staining of F-actin belts and hydroxyapatite resorption assay. Furthermore, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting analysis, we discovered that TPB inhibits osteoclast-specific genes and proteins expression. Mechanistically, TPB blocks multiple upstream pathways including calcium oscillation, NF-κB, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor of activated T cells 1(NFATc1) signaling pathways. In vivo, TPB could dampen bone loss in an ovariectomy (OVX) mouse model by micro-CT assessment and histological staining. Therefore, TPB may serve as a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of osteoporosis and osteolysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Delong Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Yining Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Chenlin Dong
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Jian Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Kai Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Fangming Song
- Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, 530021, China
| | - Chao Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jinbo Yuan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Vincent Kuek
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
| | - Haiming Jin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia; The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China.
| | - Jiake Xu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kumari D, Mahajan S, Kour P, Singh K. Virulence factors of Leishmania parasite: Their paramount importance in unraveling novel vaccine candidates and therapeutic targets. Life Sci 2022; 306:120829. [PMID: 35872004 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease and remains a global concern for healthcare. It is caused by an opportunistic protozoan parasite belonging to the genus Leishmania and affects millions worldwide. This disease is mainly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and is associated with a high risk of public morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Transmission of this deadly disease is aggravated by the bite of female sand-fly vectors (Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia). With time, significant advancement in leishmaniasis-related research has been carried out to cope with the disease burden. Still, the Leishmania parasite has also co-evolved with its host and adapted successfully within the host's lethal milieu/environment. Thus, understanding and knowledge of various leishmanial virulence factors responsible for the parasitic infection are essential for exploring drug targets and vaccine candidates. The present review elucidates the importance of virulence factors in pathogenesis and summarizes the major leishmanial virulence molecules contributing to the parasitic infection during host-pathogen interaction. Furthermore, we have also elaborated on the potential contribution of leishmanial virulence proteins in developing vaccine candidates and exploring novel therapeutics against this parasitic disease. We aim to represent a clearer picture of parasite pathogenesis within the human host that can further aid in unraveling new strategies to fight against the deadly infection of leishmaniasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diksha Kumari
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Shavi Mahajan
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Parampreet Kour
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Kuljit Singh
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Alves Cunha EL, Vieira da Silva Torchelsen FK, da Silva Fonseca K, Dutra Sousa LR, Abreu Vieira PM, Carneiro CM, Mauro de Castro Pinto K, Torres RM, de Lana M. Benznidazole, itraconazole, and their combination for the treatment of chronic experimental Chagas disease in dogs. Exp Parasitol 2022; 238:108266. [PMID: 35490799 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Treatment for Chagas disease has limited efficacy in the chronic phase. We evaluated benznidazole (BZ) and itraconazole (ITZ) individually and in association in dogs 16 months after infection with a BZ-resistant Trypanosoma cruzi strain. Four study groups (20 animals) were evaluated and treated for 60 days with BZ, ITZ, or BZ + ITZ, and maintained in parallel to control group infected and not treated (INT). All dogs were evaluated in the first, sixth, 12th, 18th and 24th months of study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was negative in 2 of 3 animals in the BZ + ITZ group, 2 of 5 in the BZ group, and 4 of 5 in the ITZ group. Hemoculture performed in the 24th month was negative in all groups. Enzyme-linked immunoassay remained reactive in all treated animals. Echocardiography differentiated treated animals from control animals. Quantitative PCR analysis of cardiac tissue was negative in the BZ + ITZ and BZ groups, positive in 2 of 5 dogs in the ITZ group and in 2 of 3 dogs in the control group, but negative in colon tissue in all groups. Inflammation was significantly reduced in the right atrium and left ventricle of dogs treated with BZ + ITZ and BZ compared with those receiving ITZ alone. Fibrosis was absent in most dogs treated with BZ + ITZ, mild in those treated with BZ or ITZ alone, and intense in the control group. Parasitological and histopathological evaluations showed that BZ + ITZ treatment improved or stabilized the clinical condition of the dogs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Lima Alves Cunha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
| | | | - Kátia da Silva Fonseca
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
| | - Lucas Resende Dutra Sousa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
| | - Paula Melo Abreu Vieira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
| | - Cláudia Martins Carneiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
| | | | - Rosália Morais Torres
- Faculdade de Medicina, Departmento de Clínica Médica, Universidade de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Alfredo Balena, 900, CEP: 30130-100, Funcionários, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Marta de Lana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), CEP: 35400-000, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Screening of diverse marine invertebrate extracts identified Lissoclinotoxin F, Discodermin B, and other anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis active compounds. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2022; 75:213-225. [DOI: 10.1038/s41429-022-00507-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
10
|
Dantas RF, Torres-Santos EC, Silva Jr FP. Past and future of trypanosomatids high-throughput phenotypic screening. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210402. [PMID: 35293482 PMCID: PMC8920514 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases caused by trypanosomatid parasites affect millions of people mainly living in developing countries. Novel drugs are highly needed since there are no vaccines and available treatment has several limitations, such as resistance, low efficacy, and high toxicity. The drug discovery process is often analogous to finding a needle in the haystack. In the last decades a so-called rational drug design paradigm, heavily dependent on computational approaches, has promised to deliver new drugs in a more cost-effective way. Paradoxically however, the mainstay of these computational methods is data-driven, meaning they need activity data for new compounds to be generated and available in databases. Therefore, high-throughput screening (HTS) of compounds still is a much-needed exercise in drug discovery to fuel other rational approaches. In trypanosomatids, due to the scarcity of validated molecular targets and biological complexity of these parasites, phenotypic screening has become an essential tool for the discovery of new bioactive compounds. In this article we discuss the perspectives of phenotypic HTS for trypanosomatid drug discovery with emphasis on the role of image-based, high-content methods. We also propose an ideal cascade of assays for the identification of new drug candidates for clinical development using leishmaniasis as an example.
Collapse
|
11
|
Tempone AG, Pieper P, Borborema SET, Thevenard F, Lago JHG, Croft SL, Anderson EA. Marine alkaloids as bioactive agents against protozoal neglected tropical diseases and malaria. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:2214-2235. [PMID: 34913053 PMCID: PMC8672869 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00078g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2000 up to 2021Natural products are an important resource in drug discovery, directly or indirectly delivering numerous small molecules for potential development as human medicines. Among the many classes of natural products, alkaloids have a rich history of therapeutic applications. The extensive chemodiversity of alkaloids found in the marine environment has attracted considerable attention for such uses, while the scarcity of these natural materials has stimulated efforts towards their total synthesis. This review focuses on the biological activity of marine alkaloids (covering 2000 to up to 2021) towards Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) caused by protozoan parasites, and malaria. Chemotherapy represents the only form of treatment for Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis and malaria, but there is currently a restricted arsenal of drugs, which often elicit severe adverse effects, show variable efficacy or resistance, or are costly. Natural product scaffolds have re-emerged as a focus of academic drug discovery programmes, offering a different resource to discover new chemical entities with new modes of action. In this review, the potential of a range of marine alkaloids is analyzed, accompanied by coverage of synthetic efforts that enable further studies of key antiprotozoal natural product scaffolds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andre G Tempone
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, 01246-000, Brazil.
| | - Pauline Pieper
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK.
| | - Samanta E T Borborema
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, 01246-000, Brazil.
| | - Fernanda Thevenard
- Centre of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, Sao Paulo, 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Joao Henrique G Lago
- Centre of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, Sao Paulo, 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Simon L Croft
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Edward A Anderson
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sakyi PO, Amewu RK, Devine RNOA, Bienibuor AK, Miller WA, Kwofie SK. Unravelling the myth surrounding sterol biosynthesis as plausible target for drug design against leishmaniasis. J Parasit Dis 2021; 45:1152-1171. [PMID: 34790000 PMCID: PMC8556451 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-021-01390-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mortality rate of leishmaniasis is increasing at an alarming rate and is currently second to malaria amongst the other neglected tropical diseases. Unfortunately, many governments and key stakeholders are not investing enough in the development of new therapeutic interventions. The available treatment options targeting different pathways of the parasite have seen inefficiencies, drug resistance, and toxic side effects coupled with longer treatment durations. Numerous studies to understand the biochemistry of leishmaniasis and its pathogenesis have identified druggable targets including ornithine decarboxylase, trypanothione reductase, and pteridine reductase, which are relevant for the survival and growth of the parasites. Another plausible target is the sterol biosynthetic pathway; however, this has not been fully investigated. Sterol biosynthesis is essential for the survival of the Leishmania species because its inhibition could lead to the death of the parasites. This review seeks to evaluate how critical the enzymes involved in sterol biosynthetic pathway are to the survival of the leishmania parasite. The review also highlights both synthetic and natural product compounds with their IC50 values against selected enzymes. Finally, recent advancements in drug design strategies targeting the sterol biosynthesis pathway of Leishmania are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick O. Sakyi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, PMB LG 56, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Richard K. Amewu
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, PMB LG 56, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Robert N. O. A. Devine
- Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Alfred K. Bienibuor
- Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Whelton A. Miller
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153 USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, IL 19104 USA
| | - Samuel K. Kwofie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, College of Basic & Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, PMB LG 77, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zulfiqar B, Avery VM. Assay development in leishmaniasis drug discovery: a comprehensive review. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2021; 17:151-166. [PMID: 34818139 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2002843] [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: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cutaneous, muco-cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis occur due to an infection with the protozoan parasite Leishmania. The current therapeutic options are limited mainly due to extensive toxicity, emerging resistance and variation in efficacy based on species and strain of the Leishmania parasite. There exists a high unmet medical need to identify new chemical starting points for drug discovery to tackle the disease. AREAS COVERED The authors have highlighted the recent progress, limitations and successes achieved in assay development for leishmaniasis drug discovery. EXPERT OPINION It is true that sophisticated and robust phenotypic in vitro assays have been developed during the last decade, however limitations and challenges remain with respect to variation in activity reported between different research groups and success in translating in vitro outcomes in vivo. The variability is not only due to strain and species differences but also a lack of well-defined criteria and assay conditions, e.g. culture media, host cell type, assay formats, parasite form used, multiplicity of infection and incubation periods. Thus, there is an urgent need for more physiologically relevant assays that encompass multi-species phenotypic approaches to identify new chemical starting points for leishmaniasis drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Zulfiqar
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.,Discovery Biology, Griffith University Drug Discovery Programme for Cancer Therapeutics, Brisbane, Australia.,School of Environment and Sciences, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Tietjen I, Cassel J, Register ET, Zhou XY, Messick TE, Keeney F, Lu LD, Beattie KD, Rali T, Tebas P, Ertl HCJ, Salvino JM, Davis RA, Montaner LJ. The Natural Stilbenoid (-)-Hopeaphenol Inhibits Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020, B.1.1.7, and B.1.351 Variants. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0077221. [PMID: 34543092 PMCID: PMC8597786 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00772-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antivirals are urgently needed to combat the global SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic, supplement existing vaccine efforts, and target emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Small molecules that interfere with binding of the viral spike receptor binding domain (RBD) to the host angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) receptor may be effective inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. Here, we screened 512 pure compounds derived from natural products using a high-throughput RBD/ACE2 binding assay and identified (-)-hopeaphenol, a resveratrol tetramer, in addition to vatalbinoside A and vaticanol B, as potent and selective inhibitors of RBD/ACE2 binding and viral entry. For example, (-)-hopeaphenol disrupted RBD/ACE2 binding with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.11 μM, in contrast to an IC50 of 28.3 μM against the unrelated host ligand/receptor binding pair PD-1/PD-L1 (selectivity index, 257.3). When assessed against the USA-WA1/2020 variant, (-)-hopeaphenol also inhibited entry of a VSVΔG-GFP reporter pseudovirus expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike into ACE2-expressing Vero-E6 cells and in vitro replication of infectious virus in cytopathic effect and yield reduction assays (50% effective concentrations [EC50s], 10.2 to 23.4 μM) without cytotoxicity and approaching the activities of the control antiviral remdesivir (EC50s, 1.0 to 7.3 μM). Notably, (-)-hopeaphenol also inhibited two emerging variants of concern, B.1.1.7/Alpha and B.1.351/Beta in both viral and spike-containing pseudovirus assays with similar or improved activities over the USA-WA1/2020 variant. These results identify (-)-hopeaphenol and related stilbenoid analogues as potent and selective inhibitors of viral entry across multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Tietjen
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joel Cassel
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Lily D. Lu
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Karren D. Beattie
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Topul Rali
- School of Natural and Physical Sciences, The University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
| | - Pablo Tebas
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Rohan A. Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Escrivani DO, Charlton RL, Caruso MB, Burle-Caldas GA, Borsodi MPG, Zingali RB, Arruda-Costa N, Palmeira-Mello MV, de Jesus JB, Souza AMT, Abrahim-Vieira B, Freitag-Pohl S, Pohl E, Denny PW, Rossi-Bergmann B, Steel PG. Chalcones identify cTXNPx as a potential antileishmanial drug target. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009951. [PMID: 34780470 PMCID: PMC8664226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
With current drug treatments failing due to toxicity, low efficacy and resistance; leishmaniasis is a major global health challenge that desperately needs new validated drug targets. Inspired by activity of the natural chalcone 2’,6’-dihydroxy-4’-methoxychalcone (DMC), the nitro-analogue, 3-nitro-2’,4’,6’- trimethoxychalcone (NAT22, 1c) was identified as potent broad spectrum antileishmanial drug lead. Structural modification provided an alkyne containing chemical probe that labelled a protein within the parasite that was confirmed as cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase (cTXNPx). Crucially, labelling is observed in both promastigote and intramacrophage amastigote life forms, with no evidence of host macrophage toxicity. Incubation of the chalcone in the parasite leads to ROS accumulation and parasite death. Deletion of cTXNPx, by CRISPR-Cas9, dramatically impacts upon the parasite phenotype and reduces the antileishmanial activity of the chalcone analogue. Molecular docking studies with a homology model of in-silico cTXNPx suggest that the chalcone is able to bind in the putative active site hindering access to the crucial cysteine residue. Collectively, this work identifies cTXNPx as an important target for antileishmanial chalcones. Leishmaniasis is an insect vector-borne parasitic disease. With >350 million people world wide considered at risk, 12 million people currently infected and an economic cost that can be estimated in terms of >3.3 million working life years lost, leishmaniasis is a major global health challenge. The disease is of particular importance in Brazil. Current treatment of leishmaniasis is difficult requiring a long, costly course of drug treatment using old drugs with poor safety indications requiring close medical supervision. Moreover, resistance to current antileishmanials is growing, emphasising a major need for new drug targets. In earlier work we had identified a naturally inspired chalcone which had promising antileishmanial activity but with no known mode of action. In this work we use an analogue of this molecule as an activity based probe to identify a protein target of the chalcone. This protein, cTXNPx, has a major role in protecting the parasite against attack by reactive oxygen species in the host cell. By inhibiting this protein the parasite can no longer survive in the host. Collectively this work validates cTXNPx as a drug target with the chalcone as a lead structure for future drug discovery programmes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas O. Escrivani
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca L. Charlton
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Marjolly B. Caruso
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis (IBqM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela A. Burle-Caldas
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Paula G. Borsodi
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Russolina B. Zingali
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis (IBqM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Natalia Arruda-Costa
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Jéssica B. de Jesus
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Stefanie Freitag-Pohl
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Ehmke Pohl
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, United Kingdom
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul W. Denny
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Bartira Rossi-Bergmann
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail: (BR-B); (PGS)
| | - Patrick G. Steel
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (BR-B); (PGS)
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hawula ZJ, Davis RA, Wallace DF, Rishi G, Subramaniam VN. In vitro identification and characterisation of iron chelating catechol-containing natural products and derivatives. Biometals 2021; 34:855-866. [PMID: 33913062 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-021-00312-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Iron is an essential component for multiple biological processes. Its regulation within the body is thus tightly controlled. Dysregulation of iron levels within the body can result in several disorders associated with either excess iron accumulation, including haemochromatosis and thalassaemia, or iron deficiency. In cases of excess body iron, therapy involves depleting body iron levels either by venesection, typically for haemochromatosis, or using iron chelators for thalassemia. However, the current chelation options for people with iron overload are limited, with only three iron chelators approved for clinical use. This presents an opportunity for improved therapeutics to be identified and developed. The aim of this study was to examine multiple compounds from within the Davis open access natural product-based library (512 compounds) for their ability to chelate iron. In silico analysis of this library initially identified nine catechol-containing compounds and two closely related compounds. These compounds were subsequently screened using an in vitro DNA breakage assay and their ability to chelate biological iron was also examined in an iron-loaded hepatocyte cellular assay. Toxicity was assessed in hepatocyte and breast cancer cell lines. One compound, RAD362 [N-(3-aminopropyl)-3,4-dihydroxybenzamide] was able to protect against DNA damage, likely through the prevention of free radicals generated via the Fenton reaction; RAD362 treatment resulted in decreased ferritin protein levels in iron-loaded hepatocytes. Lastly, RAD362 resulted in significantly less cell death than the commonly used iron chelator deferoxamine. This is the first study to identify compound RAD362 as an iron chelator and potential therapeutic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J Hawula
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Daniel F Wallace
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Gautam Rishi
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia.
| | - V Nathan Subramaniam
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chan-Bacab MJ, Reyes-Estebanez MM, Camacho-Chab JC, Ortega-Morales BO. Microorganisms as a Potential Source of Molecules to Control Trypanosomatid Diseases. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26051388. [PMID: 33806654 PMCID: PMC7962016 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26051388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are the causative agents of leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis, which affect about 20 million people in the world’s poorest countries, leading to 95,000 deaths per year. They are often associated with malnutrition, weak immune systems, low quality housing, and population migration. They are generally recognized as neglected tropical diseases. New drugs against these parasitic protozoa are urgently needed to counteract drug resistance, toxicity, and the high cost of commercially available drugs. Microbial bioprospecting for new molecules may play a crucial role in developing a new generation of antiparasitic drugs. This article reviews the current state of the available literature on chemically defined metabolites of microbial origin that have demonstrated antitrypanosomatid activity. In this review, bacterial and fungal metabolites are presented; they originate from a range of microorganisms, including cyanobacteria, heterotrophic bacteria, and filamentous fungi. We hope to provide a useful overview for future research to identify hits that may become the lead compounds needed to accelerate the discovery of new drugs against trypanosomatids.
Collapse
|
18
|
Huxley C, Wibowo M, Lum KY, Gordon S, D'Hyon S, Guan H, Wang X, Chen Y, Si M, Wang M, White JM, Wahi K, Wang Q, Holst J, Davis RA. Synthesis of bilocularin A carbamate derivatives and their evaluation as leucine transport inhibitors in prostate cancer cells. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2020; 179:112478. [PMID: 32805621 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale extraction of the leaves of the Australian rainforest tree Maytenus bilocularis followed by extensive purification studies afforded the targeted and abundant dihydro-β-agarofuran, bilocularin A, in sufficient quantities (>500 mg) for detailed semi-synthetic chemistry. Eight bilocularin A carbamate analogues were synthesised using a series of commercially available isocyanate reagents in high purity (>95%) and variable yields (9-91%). All previously undescribed analogues were spectroscopically characterised using NMR, UV, IR and MS data. One compound afforded crystalline material and subsequent single crystal X-ray analysis (Cu-Kα) confirmed the chemical structure along with the absolute configuration. All compounds were evaluated for anti-proliferative activity against the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP; none of the compounds showed significant (>50%) growth inhibition at 20 μM. Compounds were also tested for their ability to inhibit leucine transport in LNCaP cells, and two analogues showed moderate activity with IC50 values of 8.9 and 8.5 μM. This is the first reported synthesis of dihydro-β-agarofuran carbamate derivatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cohan Huxley
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Mario Wibowo
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Kah Yean Lum
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Shelly Gordon
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Sebastian D'Hyon
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Hanyu Guan
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Xueyi Wang
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Yuxi Chen
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Mingran Si
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Mengchao Wang
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Jonathan M White
- School of Chemistry and Bio 21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Kanu Wahi
- Translational Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences and Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Qian Wang
- Translational Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences and Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Jeff Holst
- Translational Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences and Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Zeouk I, Sifaoui I, López-Arencibia A, Reyes-Batlle M, Bethencourt-Estrella CJ, Bazzocchi IL, Bekhti K, Lorenzo-Morales J, Jiménez IA, Piñero JE. Sesquiterpenoids and flavonoids from Inula viscosa induce programmed cell death in kinetoplastids. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 130:110518. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
|
20
|
Hou X, Sun M, Bao T, Xie X, Wei F, Wang S. Recent advances in screening active components from natural products based on bioaffinity techniques. Acta Pharm Sin B 2020; 10:1800-1813. [PMID: 33163336 PMCID: PMC7606101 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2020.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products have provided numerous lead compounds for drug discovery. However, the traditional analytical methods cannot detect most of these active components, especially at their usual low concentrations, from complex natural products. Herein, we reviewed the recent technological advances (2015–2019) related to the separation and screening bioactive components from natural resources, especially the emerging screening methods based on the bioaffinity techniques, including biological chromatography, affinity electrophoresis, affinity mass spectroscopy, and the latest magnetic and optical methods. These screening methods are uniquely advanced compared to other traditional methods, and they can fish out the active components from complex natural products because of the affinity between target and components, without tedious separation works. Therefore, these new tools can reduce the time and cost of the drug discovery process and accelerate the development of more effective and better-targeted therapeutic agents.
Collapse
Key Words
- AAs, amaryllidaceous alkaloids
- ABCA1, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1
- ACE, affinity capillary electrophoresis
- APTES, 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane
- ASMS, affinity selection mass spectrometry
- Active components
- Bioaffinity techniques
- CMC, Cell membrane chromatography
- CMMCNTs, Cell membrane magnetic carbon nanotube
- CMSP, Cell membrane stationary phase
- CNT, carbon nanotubes
- ChE, cholesterol efflux
- EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor
- FP, fluorescence polarization
- Fe3O4–NH2, aminated magnetic nanoparticles
- HCS, high content screen
- HTS, high throughout screen
- HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cells
- IMER, immobilized enzyme microreactor
- MAO-B, monoamine oxidases B
- MNP, immobilized on nanoparticles
- MPTS, 3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane
- MS, mass spectrometry
- MSPE, magnetic solid-phase extraction
- Natural products
- PD, Parkinson's disease
- PMG, physcion-8-O-β-d-monoglucoside
- RGD, arginine-glycine-aspartic acid
- SPR, surface plasmon resonance
- STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3
- Screening
- TCMs, traditional Chinese medicines
- TYR, tyrosinase
- TYR-MNPs, tyrosinase-immobilized magnetic nanoparticles
- Topo I, topoisomerase I
- UF, affinity ultrafiltration
- XOD, xanthine oxidase
- α1A-AR, α1A-adrenergic receptor
Collapse
|
21
|
Kumar R, Bidgood CL, Levrier C, Gunter JH, Nelson CC, Sadowski MC, Davis RA. Synthesis of a Unique Psammaplysin F Library and Functional Evaluation in Prostate Cancer Cells by Multiparametric Quantitative Single Cell Imaging. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 83:2357-2366. [PMID: 32691595 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The spirooxepinisoxazoline alkaloid psammaplysin F (1) was selected as a scaffold for the generation of a unique screening library for both drug discovery and chemical biology research. Large-scale extraction and isolation chemistry was performed on a marine sponge (Hyattella sp.) collected from the Great Barrier Reef in order to acquire >200 mg of the desired bromotyrosine-derived alkaloidal scaffold. Parallel solution-phase semisynthesis was employed to generate a series of psammaplysin-based urea (2-9) and amide analogues (10-11) in low to moderate yields. The chemical structures of all analogues were characterized using NMR and MS data. The absolute configuration of psammaplysin F and all semisynthetic analogues was determined as 6R, 7R by comparison of ECD data with literature values. All compounds (1-11) were evaluated for their effect on cell cycle distribution and changes to cancer metabolism in LNCaP prostate cancer cells using a multiparametric quantitative single-cell imaging approach. These investigations identified that in LNCaP cells psammaplysin F and some urea analogues caused loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, fragmentation of the mitochondrial tubular network, chromosome misalignment, and cell cycle arrest in mitosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rohitesh Kumar
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Charles L Bidgood
- Queensland University of Technology, Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Claire Levrier
- Queensland University of Technology, Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Jennifer H Gunter
- Queensland University of Technology, Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Colleen C Nelson
- Queensland University of Technology, Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Martin C Sadowski
- Queensland University of Technology, Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Wang Q, Chen D, Jin H, Ye Z, Wang C, Chen K, Kuek V, Xu K, Qiu H, Chen P, Song D, Zhao J, Liu Q, Davis RA, Song F, Xu J. Hymenialdisine: A Marine Natural Product That Acts on Both Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts and Prevents Estrogen-Dependent Bone Loss in Mice. J Bone Miner Res 2020; 35:1582-1596. [PMID: 32286705 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Excessive osteoclast (OC) activity together with relatively weak osteoblast (OB) function are strongly connected to osteolytic diseases, including osteoporosis, tumor-induced osteolysis, and inflammatory bone erosion. Very few natural products or compounds have been shown to exert therapeutic effects on both OCs and OBs, limiting the potential development of natural compounds for clinical application. Hymenialdisine (HMD) is a marine sponge-derived natural inhibitor of protein kinases with previously reported anti-osteoarthritis and anti-cancer properties. However, the roles of HMD in OCs, OBs, and osteoporosis have not yet been well established. Here, we found that HMD not only suppressed osteoclastogenesis but also promoted OB differentiation. HMD exerted dose-dependent inhibitory effects on RANKL-induced OC formation, bone resorption, and OC-specific gene expression. These strong inhibitory effects were achieved by blocking the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, and NFATc1 expression. In addition, HMD potentially stimulated OB differentiation by activating alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and enhancing OB matrix mineralization. We found that HMD can activate the glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β)/β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF)/lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF) signaling pathway to upregulate Runx-2 expression, the main transcription factor in this pathway. Increased expression of Runx-2 was also correlated with expression of the OB-specific genes Col1a1 and osteocalcin (Ocn). Furthermore, we also evaluated the therapeutic potential of HMD in a female C57BL/6j mouse model of ovariectomy (OVX)-induced systematic bone loss. HMD showed a remarkable ability to prevent decreases in bone volume (BV/TV) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th). In summary, HMD exerts notable effects in inhibiting OC-related osteolysis and enhancing OB-induced ossification, suggesting the potential application of HMD in osteoporosis treatment. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Delong Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Clifford Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haiming Jin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Zhen Ye
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chao Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Kai Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Vincent Kuek
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ke Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Heng Qiu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Clifford Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dezhi Song
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jinmin Zhao
- Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Qian Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Fangming Song
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiake Xu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ribeiro JM, Bandeira CC, de Faria BG, Alves MLR, Vieira FO, Giunchetti RC, Uzonna JE, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Peruhype-Magalhães V, Souza-Fagundes EM. An ex vivo multiparametric flow cytometry assay using human whole blood to simultaneously measure cytotoxicity and leishmanicidal activities. Exp Parasitol 2020; 216:107940. [PMID: 32562606 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic options for the treatment of leishmaniasis are insufficient and need improvements owing to their low efficiency and high toxicity as well as the emergence of resistant strains. The limited number of new drugs for neglected diseases and lack of innovation in your development are still challenges. In this context, the process of discovery and development of biological assays play a pivotal role for the identification of bioactive compounds. The assays currently used for screening of drugs with cytotoxic activity against Leishmania parasites, include different processes that utilize intact parasite (free or intracellular) or specific enzymes of metabolism as a target cell. These assays allow the screening of large numbers of samples followed by more detailed secondary confirmatory assays to confirm the observed activity and assess their toxicity. In the present study, we described the development of a new functional and more complete assay that enables simultaneous assessment of potential anti-Leishmania compounds through evaluation of internalization of fluorescein-labeled L. braziliensis promastigotes by human peripheral blood monocytes and their cytotoxicity by flow cytometry. We standardized the conditions for parasite labeling to achieve better phagocytosis analysis by setting the ratio of number of parasites per cell as 1 to 2, at incubation time of 6h. The cytotoxicity assessment was performed by the quantification of cells undergoing early/late apoptosis and necrosis using a double labelling platform employing 7AAD for late apoptosis and necrosis analysis and Annexin-V for early apoptosis evaluation. Hemolysis analysis was an additional parameter to test cytotoxicity. Two drugs used on clinic (Amphotericin B and Glucantime®) were used to validate the proposed methodology, and the assay was able to detect their known leishmanicidal activity and immunotoxicity properties. This new predictive assay will contribute to the development of translational medicine strategies in drug discovery for neglected diseases such as leishmaniasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliana M Ribeiro
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cristiano C Bandeira
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bruno G de Faria
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marina L R Alves
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Francisco O Vieira
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo C Giunchetti
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jude E Uzonna
- Department of Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, R3T 0T5, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Andréa Teixeira-Carvalho
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Peruhype-Magalhães
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elaine M Souza-Fagundes
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Martinez-Peinado N, Cortes-Serra N, Torras-Claveria L, Pinazo MJ, Gascon J, Bastida J, Alonso-Padilla J. Amaryllidaceae alkaloids with anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:299. [PMID: 32522289 PMCID: PMC7288428 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04171-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected disease that affects ~7 million people worldwide. Development of new drugs to treat the infection remains a priority since those currently available have frequent side effects and limited efficacy at the chronic stage. Natural products provide a pool of diversity structures to lead the chemical synthesis of novel molecules for this purpose. Herein we analyzed the anti-T. cruzi activity of nine alkaloids derived from plants of the family Amaryllidaceae. Methods The activity of each alkaloid was assessed by means of an anti-T. cruzi phenotypic assay. We further evaluated the compounds that inhibited parasite growth on two distinct cytotoxicity assays to discard those that were toxic to host cells and assure parasite selectivity. Results We identified a single compound (hippeastrine) that was selectively active against the parasite yielding selectivity indexes of 12.7 and 35.2 against Vero and HepG2 cells, respectively. Moreover, it showed specific activity against the amastigote stage (IC50 = 3.31 μM). Conclusions Results reported here suggest that natural products are an interesting source of new compounds for the development of drugs against Chagas disease.![]()
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Cortes-Serra
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Torras-Claveria
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria-Jesus Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic - University of Barcelona, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Mahmoud AB, Mäser P, Kaiser M, Hamburger M, Khalid S. Mining Sudanese Medicinal Plants for Antiprotozoal Agents. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:865. [PMID: 32581814 PMCID: PMC7295952 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases are major health hazards in developing countries. Annually, up to 30 million people are affected by either Chagas disease, African trypansomiasis or leishmaniasis, and more than 200 million by malaria. Most of the currently available drugs have drawbacks in terms of toxicity, limited oral availability, development of resistance, or non-affordability. Tropical plants of the arid zones are a treasure chest for the discovery of bioactive secondary metabolites. This study aims to compile Sudanese medicinal plants, validate their antiprotozoal activities, and identify active molecules. We have performed a survey of medicinal plants of Sudan and selected 62 that are being used in Sudanese traditional medicine. From these, we collected materials such as leaves, stem, bark, or fruit. The plant materials were extracted in 70% ethanol and further fractionated by liquid-liquid partitioning using solvents of increasing polarity. This resulted in a library of 235 fractions. The library was tested in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum (erythrocytic stages), Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (bloodstream forms), Trypanosoma cruzi (intracellular amastigotes), and Leishmania donovani (axenic amastigotes). Active fractions were also tested for cytotoxicity. Of the 235 fractions, 125 showed growth inhibitory activity >80% at 10 μg/ml, and >50% at 2 μg/ml against at least one of the protozoan parasites. Plasmodium falciparum was the most sensitive of the parasites, followed by T. b. rhodesiense and L. donovani. Only few hits were identified for T. cruzi, and these were not selective. Contrary to expectation based on phylogeny, but in agreement with previous results, a large number of extracts displayed mutual activity against T. brucei and P. falciparum. HPLC-based activity profiling for selected active extracts was performed to identify the bioactive principles. Active compounds identified by dereplication were guieranone A from Guiera senegalensis J.F.Gmel.; pseudosemiglabrin from Tephrosia apollinea (Delile) DC; ellagic acid and quercetin from Terminalia leiocarpa (DC.) Baill.; and catechin, ethyl gallate, and epicatechin gallate from Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H.Hurter & Mabb. Also the extracts of Croton gratissimus var. gratissimus and Cuscuta hyalina Roth ex Schult. exhibited promising antitrypanosomatid activity. This assessment provides a comprehensive overview of Sudanese medicinal plants and supports the notion that they are a potential source of bioactive molecules against protozoan parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdelhalim Babiker Mahmoud
- Parasite Chemotherapy Unit, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Parasite Chemotherapy Unit, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Parasite Chemotherapy Unit, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Sami Khalid
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology, Omdurman, Sudan
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Baek KH, Piel L, Rosazza T, Prina E, Späth GF, No JH. Infectivity and Drug Susceptibility Profiling of Different Leishmania-Host Cell Combinations. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9050393. [PMID: 32443883 PMCID: PMC7281264 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, a spectrum of a disease that threatens public health worldwide. Although next-generation therapeutics are urgently needed, the early stage of the drug discovery process is hampered by very low hit rates from intracellular Leishmania phenotypic high-throughput screenings. Designing and applying a physiologically relevant in vitro assay is therefore in high demand. In this study, we characterized the infectivity, morphology, and drug susceptibility of different Leishmania and host cell infection combinations. Primary bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) and differentiated human acute monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cells were infected with amastigote or promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania donovani. Regardless of host cell types, amastigotes were generally well phagocytosed and showed high infectivity, whereas promastigotes, especially those of L. donovani, had predominantly remained in the extracellular space. In the drug susceptibility test, miltefosine and sodium stibogluconate (SSG) showed varying ranges of activity with 14 and >10-fold differences in susceptibility, depending on the host-parasite pairs, indicating the importance of assay conditions for evaluating antileishmanial activity. Overall, our results suggest that combinations of Leishmania species, infection forms, and host cells must be carefully optimized to evaluate the activity of potential therapeutic compounds against Leishmania.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Hwa Baek
- Leishmania Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13488, Korea;
| | - Laura Piel
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, 75015 Paris, France; (L.P.); (T.R.); (E.P.); (G.F.S.)
| | - Thibault Rosazza
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, 75015 Paris, France; (L.P.); (T.R.); (E.P.); (G.F.S.)
| | - Eric Prina
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, 75015 Paris, France; (L.P.); (T.R.); (E.P.); (G.F.S.)
| | - Gerald F. Späth
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, 75015 Paris, France; (L.P.); (T.R.); (E.P.); (G.F.S.)
| | - Joo Hwan No
- Leishmania Research Laboratory, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13488, Korea;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-31-8018-8210
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Chen M, Vial ML, Gee L, Davis RA, St John JA, Ekberg JAK. The plant natural product 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone stimulates therapeutic neural repair properties of olfactory ensheathing cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:951. [PMID: 31969642 PMCID: PMC6976649 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57793-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are crucial for promoting the regeneration of the primary olfactory nervous system that occurs throughout life. Transplantation of OECs has emerged as a promising therapy for nervous system injuries, in particular for spinal cord injury repair. Functional outcomes in both animals and humans are, however, highly variable, primarily because it is difficult to rapidly obtain enough OECs for transplantation. Compounds which can stimulate OEC proliferation without changing the phenotype of the cells are therefore highly sought after. Additionally, compounds which can stimulate favourable cell behaviours such as migration and phagocytic activity are desirable. We conducted a medium-throughput screen testing the Davis open access natural product-based library (472 compounds) and subsequently identified the known plant natural product 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone as a stimulant of OEC viability. We showed that 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone: (i) strongly stimulates proliferation over several weeks in culture whilst maintaining the OEC phenotype; (ii) stimulates the phagocytic activity of OECs, and (iii) modulates the cell cycle. We also identified the transcription factor Nrf2 as the compound’s potential molecular target. From these extensive investigations we conclude that 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone may enhance the therapeutic potential of OECs by stimulating proliferation prior to transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Chen
- Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, QLD, Australia.,Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia.,Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - M L Vial
- Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, QLD, Australia.,Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia.,Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - L Gee
- Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, QLD, Australia.,Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - R A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - J A St John
- Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, QLD, Australia.,Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia.,Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - J A K Ekberg
- Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, Griffith University, Nathan, 4111, QLD, Australia. .,Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia. .,Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Honek JF. Commentary on "Current Challenges in the Development of Vaccines and Drugs Against Emerging Vector-borne Diseases" by Professor Kwang-sun Kim, Pusan National University, Republic of Korea. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:3201-3204. [PMID: 31526346 DOI: 10.2174/092986732617190820145226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John F Honek
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Need for sustainable approaches in antileishmanial drug discovery. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:2743-2752. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06443-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
30
|
Souto EB, Dias-Ferreira J, Craveiro SA, Severino P, Sanchez-Lopez E, Garcia ML, Silva AM, Souto SB, Mahant S. Therapeutic Interventions for Countering Leishmaniasis and Chagas's Disease: From Traditional Sources to Nanotechnological Systems. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8030119. [PMID: 31374930 PMCID: PMC6789685 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8030119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of neglected diseases in tropical countries, such as Leishmaniasis and Chagas's disease, is attributed to a set of biological and ecological factors associated with the socioeconomic context of developing countries and with a significant burden to health care systems. Both Leishmaniasis and Chagas's disease are caused by different protozoa and develop diverse symptoms, which depend on the specific species infecting man. Currently available drugs to treat these disorders have limited therapeutic outcomes, frequently due to microorganisms' drug resistance. In recent years, significant efforts have been made towards the development of innovative drug delivery systems aiming to improve bioavailability and pharmacokinetic profiles of classical drug therapy. This paper discusses the key facts of Leishmaniasis and Chagas's disease, the currently available pharmacological therapies and the new drug delivery systems for conventional drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eliana B Souto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra (FFUC), Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - João Dias-Ferreira
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra (FFUC), Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sara A Craveiro
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, Paranhos, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Severino
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (LNMED), Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Av. Murilo Dantas, 300, Aracaju 49010-390, Brazil
- University of Tiradentes (UNIT), Industrial Biotechnology Program, Av. Murilo Dantas 300, Aracaju 49032-490, Brazil
| | - Elena Sanchez-Lopez
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria L Garcia
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amélia M Silva
- Departamento de Biologia e Ambiente, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), P.O. Box 1013; 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação e de Tecnologias Agro-Ambientais e Biológicas (CITAB-UTAD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Selma B Souto
- Department of Endocrinology of Braga Hospital, Sete Fontes, 4710-243 São Victor, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sheefali Mahant
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana 124001, India
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
de Menezes IRA, da Costa RHS, Augusti Boligon A, Rolón M, Coronel C, Vega C, Melo Coutinho HD, da Costa MS, Tintino SR, Silva Pereira RL, de Albuquerque TR, da Silva Almeida JRG, Quintans-Júnior LJ. Ximenia americana L. enhances the antibiotic activity and inhibit the development of kinetoplastid parasites. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2019; 64:40-46. [PMID: 31174698 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this work was evaluate the cytotoxic, leishmanicidal and tripanocidal activity, as well as to evaluate its antimicrobial and modulatory activity in association with different antibiotics of the hydroethanolic extract of the Ximenia Americana stem bark (EHXA). METHOD In vitro tests against Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania sp. and citotoxicity were performed. The evaluation of the antibacterial and bacterial resistance modulatory effect was given by the microdilution method. RESULTS The chemical profile show different classes of compounds with significant presence of quercetrin and caffeic acid. The EHXA demonstrated activity only in the concentration of 1000 μg/mL against the L. infantum and L. brasiliensis promastigotes, causing mortality percentage of 40.66 and 27.62%, respectively. The extract presented a significant toxicity only in the concentration of 1000 μg/mL, causing a mortality of 55.42% of fibroblasts. The antibacterial activity of the EHXA demonstrated a MIC value ≥1024 μg/mL against all the tested bacteria. However, in the modulation assay with EHXA in association with different antibiotics the extract had a synergistic effect against S. aureus strains when associated with norfloxacin. CONCLUSION The results of this investigation demonstrate for the first time the chemical composition of the hydroethanolic extract of the Ximenia Americana stem bark, your potential antiparasitic and modulatory effect. The low cytotoxic and biological potential against S. aureus open therapeutic perspectives against leishmaniosis and bacterial infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Miriam Rolón
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Investigación Científica (CEDIC), Fundación Moisés Bertoni/Laboratorios Díaz Gill, Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Cathia Coronel
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Investigación Científica (CEDIC), Fundación Moisés Bertoni/Laboratorios Díaz Gill, Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Celeste Vega
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Investigación Científica (CEDIC), Fundación Moisés Bertoni/Laboratorios Díaz Gill, Asunción, Paraguay
| | | | - Maria Socorro da Costa
- Laboratório de Microbiologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, CE, Brazil
| | - Saulo Relison Tintino
- Laboratório de Microbiologia e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, CE, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Christen KE, Davis RA, Kennedy D. Psammaplysin F increases the efficacy of bortezomib and sorafenib through regulation of stress granule formation. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2019; 112:24-38. [PMID: 31022461 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2019.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The past few decades have delivered significant improvements in diagnosis and treatment of cancer, however, despite these improvements cancer continues to be a major global health issue requiring the urgent development of new strategies for treatment. Stress granules are cytoplasmic structures that triage gene expression in response to environmental stresses, including chemotherapies, and have been implicated in the development of drug resistance. One novel approach to developing a new anti-cancer strategy involves inhibiting stress granules with compounds derived from natural products. In a previous rapid screen, a subset of 132 compounds from the Davis Open Access Natural Product Library was screened using a stress granule inhibition assay and provisionally one hit was identified which was the known marine sponge-derived metabolite, psammaplysin F. Using cell based assays psammaplysin F was assessed to determine whether it could inhibit the formation of stress granules after exposure to sodium arsenite in Vero, HEK293 MCF7, T47D, HeLa and MCF7MDR cells by analysing the number of stress granules using high content imaging. A significant reduction in the number of stress granules was observed and subsequent analysis by western blot revealed that treatment with psammaplysin F decreased levels of phosphorylated eIF2α. Combinational studies in MCF7, HeLa and MCF7MDR cells revealed that psammaplysin F increased the efficacy of bortezomib and sorafenib and a synergistic effect was observed in vitro. Stress granules appear to be one tool in a battery of responses that cancer cells can exploit to elicit drug resistance. Disrupting stress granule formation by use of orally available drugs presents a potential mechanism to restore drug efficacy. The work presented here provides evidence that small molecules derived from nature, such as psammaplysin F, can prevent the formation of stress granules and therefore may represent a useful strategy to improving drug efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley E Christen
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Derek Kennedy
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Chiboub O, Sifaoui I, Lorenzo-Morales J, Abderrabba M, Mejri M, Fernández JJ, Piñero JE, Díaz-Marrero AR. Spiralyde A, an Antikinetoplastid Dolabellane from the Brown Alga Dictyota spiralis. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:E192. [PMID: 30934651 PMCID: PMC6471066 DOI: 10.3390/md17030192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioassay-guided fractionation of the antikinetoplastid extract of the brown alga Dictyota spiralis has led to the isolation of spiralyde A (1), a new dolabellane aldehyde, along with other five known related diterpenes (2⁻6). Their structures were determined by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and comparison with data reported in the literature. The antiparasitic activity of all compounds was evaluated. Spiralyde A (1) and the known compound 3,4-epoxy-7,18-dolabelladiene (2) were the most active compounds against Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. Spiralyde A (1) was the most potent compound, comparable to benznidazole, the reference drug for trypanocidal activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olfa Chiboub
- Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González (IUBO AG), Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Canarias (CIBICAN), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico F. Sánchez, 2, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Islas Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico F. Sánchez s/n, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
- Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, B.P 51, La Marsa, University of Carthage, Tunis 2070, Tunisia.
- Institut National d'Agronomie de Tunis, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, University of Carthage, Tunis 1082, Tunisia.
| | - Ines Sifaoui
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Islas Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico F. Sánchez s/n, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
- Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, B.P 51, La Marsa, University of Carthage, Tunis 2070, Tunisia.
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Islas Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico F. Sánchez s/n, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
| | - Manef Abderrabba
- Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, B.P 51, La Marsa, University of Carthage, Tunis 2070, Tunisia.
| | - Mondher Mejri
- Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, B.P 51, La Marsa, University of Carthage, Tunis 2070, Tunisia.
| | - José Javier Fernández
- Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González (IUBO AG), Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Canarias (CIBICAN), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico F. Sánchez, 2, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico F. Sánchez, 2, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
| | - José E Piñero
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Islas Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico F. Sánchez s/n, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
| | - Ana R Díaz-Marrero
- Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González (IUBO AG), Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Canarias (CIBICAN), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avda. Astrofísico F. Sánchez, 2, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Wibowo M, Forster PI, Guymer GP, Hofmann A, Davis RA. Using UHPLC-MS Profiling for the Discovery of New Dihydro-β-Agarofurans from Australian Celastraceae Plant Extracts. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24050859. [PMID: 30823439 PMCID: PMC6429220 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24050859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An analytical method using UHPLC-MS was developed and applied to 16 crude CH2Cl2 extracts from Australian Celastraceae plants; the endemic plant materials were accessed from Griffith University’s NatureBank resource and included bark, fruit, leaf, root, twig and mixed samples, all of which were collected from Queensland, Australia. The generated UHPLC-MS data were analysed and dereplicated using the scientific databases Dictionary of Natural Products and SciFinder Scholar in order to potentially identify new dihydro-β-agarofurans from local Celastraceae plants. These investigations led to the large-scale extraction and isolation work on a prioritised fruit sample that belonged to the rainforest plant Denhamia celastroides. Chemical investigations resulted in the purification of four new natural products, denhaminols O–R (1–4), along with the related and known compound, denhaminol G (5). The structures of all the new compounds were determined via detailed analysis of NMR and MS data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mario Wibowo
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| | - Paul I Forster
- Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Toowong, QLD 4066, Australia.
| | - Gordon P Guymer
- Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Toowong, QLD 4066, Australia.
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Antiprotozoal investigation of 20 plant metabolites on Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes. Atalantoflavone alters the mitochondrial membrane potential. Parasitology 2019; 146:849-856. [PMID: 30755289 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182019000052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The study aims to evaluate the antiprotozoal activities of 20 plant metabolites on Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes. Compounds 1-20 were obtained and identified by using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. The antiparasitic assays were performed on the intracellular form of T. cruzi and L. amazonensis using human leukaemic THP-1 cells as the host. The mechanism of action of the most active compounds was explored in silico by molecular docking using T. cruzi trypanothione reductase (TR) as a target, whereas the in vitro studies were performed by enzymatic assay using T. cruzi recombinant TR. In addition, the mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated by flow cytometry. Two flavonoids, one triterpene and three acetogenins showed from high to moderate trypanocidal activities with IC50 values ranging 3.6-37.2 µm while three of the metabolites were moderately leishmanicidal. The molecular docking study revealed interactions between TR and the most trypanocidal compounds 1 (abyssinone IV) and 2 (atalantoflavone). In contrast, both showed no effect on TR in vitro. For the mitochondrial membrane potential assay, atalantoflavone (2) displayed a dose-dependent depolarization. On the basis of the aforementioned results, this compound's structure could be chemically explored in order to develop more potent trypanocidal derivatives.
Collapse
|
36
|
Mojica SA, Eriksson AU, Davis RA, Bahnan W, Elofsson M, Gylfe Å. Red Fluorescent Chlamydia trachomatis Applied to Live Cell Imaging and Screening for Antibacterial Agents. Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3151. [PMID: 30619216 PMCID: PMC6305398 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we describe the application of a transformed Chlamydia trachomatis strain constitutively expressing the red fluorescent protein mCherry, to allow real-time monitoring of the infection cycle and screening for agents that block replication of C. trachomatis. The red fluorescent C. trachomatis strain was detected autonomously without antibody staining and was equally susceptible to doxycycline as the wild type strain. A high-throughput screening assay was developed using the transformed strain and automated fluorescence microscopy. The assay was used in a pilot screen of a 349 compound library containing natural products from Australian flora and fauna. Compounds with anti-chlamydial activity were tested for dose response and toxicity to host cells and two non-toxic compounds had 50% effective concentration (EC50) values in the low micromolar range. Natural products are valuable sources for drug discovery and the identified Chlamydia growth inhibition may be starting points for future drug development. Live cell imaging was used to visualize growth of the red fluorescent C. trachomatis strain over time. The screening assay reduced workload and reagents compared to an assay requiring immunostaining and could further be used to monitor the development of Chlamydia inclusions and anti-chlamydial effect in real time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio A Mojica
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anna U Eriksson
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, Laboratories of Chemical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Wael Bahnan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Mikael Elofsson
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Åsa Gylfe
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Lum KY, Carroll AR, Ekins MG, Read S, Haq Z, Tietjen I, St John J, Davis RA. Capillasterin A, a Novel Pyrano[2,3-f]chromene from the Australian Crinoid Capillaster multiradiatus. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17010026. [PMID: 30621172 PMCID: PMC6356231 DOI: 10.3390/md17010026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Capillasterin A (1), a novel pyrano[2,3-f]chromene, together with seven known naphthopyrones including comaparvin (2), TMC-256C1 (3), 6-methoxycomaparvin-5- methyl ether (4), 5,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-2-propyl-4H-naphtho[2,3-b]pyran-4-one (5), 5,8-dihydroxy-6,10-dimethoxy-2-propyl-4H-naphtho[2,3-b]pyran-4-one (6), TMC-256A1 (7) and 6-methoxycomaparvin (8) were isolated from an EtOH/H2O extract from the Australian crinoid Capillaster multiradiatus. The structures of all the compounds were determined by detailed spectroscopic (1D/2D NMR and MS) data analysis. This is the first report of a natural product that contains the pyrano[2,3-f]chromene skeleton. Compounds 2–6 were observed to display moderate inhibition of in vitro HIV-1 replication in a T cell line with EC50 values ranging from 7.5 to 25.5 µM without concomitant cytotoxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kah Yean Lum
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| | - Anthony R Carroll
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| | - Merrick G Ekins
- Biodiversity and Geosciences, Queensland Museum, South Brisbane BC, QLD 4101, Australia.
| | - Silven Read
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Zahra Haq
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Ian Tietjen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - James St John
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Alcântara LM, Ferreira TCS, Gadelha FR, Miguel DC. Challenges in drug discovery targeting TriTryp diseases with an emphasis on leishmaniasis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2018; 8:430-439. [PMID: 30293058 PMCID: PMC6195035 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Tritryps diseases are devastating parasitic neglected infections caused by Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei subspecies. Together, these parasites affect more than 30 million people worldwide and cause high mortality and morbidity. Leishmaniasis comprises a complex group of diseases with clinical manifestation ranging from cutaneous lesions to systemic visceral damage. Antimonials, the first-choice drugs used to treat leishmaniasis, lead to high toxicity and carry significant contraindications limiting its use. Drug-resistant parasite strains are also a matter for increasing concern, especially in areas with very limited resources. The current scenario calls for novel and/or improvement of existing therapeutics as key research priorities in the field. Although several studies have shown advances in drug discovery towards leishmaniasis in recent years, key knowledge gaps in drug discovery pipelines still need to be addressed. In this review we discuss not only scientific and non-scientific bottlenecks in drug development, but also the central role of public-private partnerships for a successful campaign for novel treatment options against this devastating disease. Treatment options targeting TriTryp diseases are limited. Scientific and non-scientific bottlenecks need to be unveiled for the development of new treatments. Private and public sector partnership is key to allow advances in bench-to-bedside science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Alcântara
- Biology Institute, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thalita C S Ferreira
- Biology Institute, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda R Gadelha
- Biology Institute, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danilo C Miguel
- Biology Institute, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Jones NG, Catta-Preta CMC, Lima APCA, Mottram JC. Genetically Validated Drug Targets in Leishmania: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects. ACS Infect Dis 2018; 4:467-477. [PMID: 29384366 PMCID: PMC5902788 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
![]()
There has been a very limited number
of high-throughput screening campaigns carried out with Leishmania drug targets. In part, this is due to the small number of suitable
target genes that have been shown by genetic or chemical methods to
be essential for the parasite. In this perspective, we discuss the
state of genetic target validation in the field of Leishmania research and review the 200 Leishmania genes and
36 Trypanosoma cruzi genes for which gene deletion
attempts have been made since the first published case in 1990. We
define a quality score for the different genetic deletion techniques
that can be used to identify potential drug targets. We also discuss
how the advances in genome-scale gene disruption techniques have been
used to assist target-based and phenotypic-based drug development
in other parasitic protozoa and why Leishmania has
lacked a similar approach so far. The prospects for this scale of
work are considered in the context of the application of CRISPR/Cas9
gene editing as a useful tool in Leishmania.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel G. Jones
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, U.K
| | - Carolina M. C. Catta-Preta
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, U.K
| | - Ana Paula C. A. Lima
- Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Jeremy C. Mottram
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, U.K
| |
Collapse
|