1
|
Spiwoková P, Horn M, Fanfrlík J, Jílková A, Fajtová P, Leontovyč A, Houštecká R, Bieliková L, Brynda J, Chanová M, Mertlíková-Kaiserová H, Caro-Diaz EJE, Almaliti J, El-Sakkary N, Gerwick WH, Caffrey CR, Mareš M. Nature-Inspired Gallinamides Are Potent Antischistosomal Agents: Inhibition of the Cathepsin B1 Protease Target and Binding Mode Analysis. ACS Infect Dis 2024. [PMID: 38757505 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, caused by a parasitic blood fluke of the genus Schistosoma, is a global health problem for which new chemotherapeutic options are needed. We explored the scaffold of gallinamide A, a natural peptidic metabolite of marine cyanobacteria that has previously been shown to inhibit cathepsin L-type proteases. We screened a library of 19 synthetic gallinamide A analogs and identified nanomolar inhibitors of the cathepsin B-type protease SmCB1, which is a drug target for the treatment of schistosomiasis mansoni. Against cultured S. mansoni schistosomula and adult worms, many of the gallinamides generated a range of deleterious phenotypic responses. Imaging with a fluorescent-activity-based probe derived from gallinamide A demonstrated that SmCB1 is the primary target for gallinamides in the parasite. Furthermore, we solved the high-resolution crystal structures of SmCB1 in complex with gallinamide A and its two analogs and describe the acrylamide covalent warhead and binding mode in the active site. Quantum chemical calculations evaluated the contribution of individual positions in the peptidomimetic scaffold to the inhibition of the target and demonstrated the importance of the P1' and P2 positions. Our study introduces gallinamides as a powerful chemotype that can be exploited for the development of novel antischistosomal chemotherapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petra Spiwoková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technická 5, Prague 6 16628, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Adrian Leontovyč
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Radka Houštecká
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Kateřinská 32, Praha 2 12108, Czech Republic
| | - Lucia Bieliková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Kateřinská 32, Praha 2 12108, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Brynda
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Chanová
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Studničkova 2028/7, Prague 2 12800, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Mertlíková-Kaiserová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Eduardo J E Caro-Diaz
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Jehad Almaliti
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Nelly El-Sakkary
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - William H Gerwick
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Saidu U, Ibrahim MA, de Koning HP, McKerrow JH, Caffrey CR, Balogun EO. Human schistosomiasis in Nigeria: present status, diagnosis, chemotherapy, and herbal medicines. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2751-2772. [PMID: 37851179 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07993-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by a parasitic, trematode blood fluke of the genus Schistosoma. With 20 million people infected, mostly due to Schistosoma haematobium, Nigeria has the highest burden of schistosomiasis in the world. We review the status of human schistosomiasis in Nigeria regarding its distribution, prevalence, diagnosis, prevention, orthodox and traditional treatments, as well as snail control strategies. Of the country's 36 states, the highest disease prevalence is found in Lagos State, but at a geo-political zonal level, the northwest is the most endemic. The predominantly used diagnostic techniques are based on microscopy. Other methods such as antibody-based serological assays and DNA detection methods are rarely employed. Possible biomarkers of disease have been identified in fecal and blood samples from patients. With respect to preventive chemotherapy, mass drug administration with praziquantel as well as individual studies with artemisinin or albendazole have been reported in 11 out of the 36 states with cure rates between 51.1 and 100%. Also, Nigerian medicinal plants have been traditionally used as anti-schistosomal agents or molluscicides, of which Tetrapleura tetraptera (Oshosho, aridan, Aidan fruit), Carica papaya (Gwanda, Ìbẹ́pẹ, Pawpaw), Borreria verticillata (Karya garma, Irawo-ile, African borreria), and Calliandra portoricensis (Tude, Oga, corpse awakener) are most common in the scientific literature. We conclude that the high endemicity of the disease in Nigeria is associated with the limited application of various diagnostic tools and preventive chemotherapy efforts as well as poor knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). Nonetheless, the country could serve as a scientific base in the discovery of biomarkers, as well as novel plant-derived schistosomicides and molluscicides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Umar Saidu
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Mohammed Auwal Ibrahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
| | - Harry P de Koning
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - James H McKerrow
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0657, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0657, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0657, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Biendl S, Häberli C, Chen G, Wang W, Zhong L, Saunders J, Pham T, Wang X, Wu J, Charman SA, Vennerstrom JL, Keiser J. In Vitro and In Vivo Antischistosomal Activity Profiling and Pharmacokinetics of Ozonide Carboxylic Acids. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:643-652. [PMID: 36794836 PMCID: PMC10858445 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Praziquantel, the only drug in clinical use for the treatment and control of schistosomiasis, is inactive against developing infections. Ozonides are synthetic peroxide derivatives inspired by the naturally occurring artemisinin and show particularly promising activity against juvenile schistosomes. We conducted an in-depth characterization of the in vitro and in vivo antischistosomal activity and pharmacokinetics of lead ozonide carboxylic acid OZ418 and four of its active analogs. In vitro, the ozonides featured rapid and consistent activity against schistosomula and adult schistosomes at double-digit micromolar EC50 values. Potency did not vary considerably between Schistosoma spp. The zwitterionic OZ740 and OZ772 were more active in vivo compared to their non-amphoteric carboxylic acids OZ418 and OZ748, despite their much lower systemic plasma exposure (AUC). The most active compound in vivo was ethyl ester OZ780, which was rapidly transformed to its parent zwitterion OZ740 and achieved ED50 values of 35 ± 2.4 and 29 ± 2.4 mg/kg against adult and juvenile Schistosoma mansoni, respectively. Ozonide carboxylic acids represent promising candidates for further optimization and development due to their good efficacy against both life stages together with their broad activity range against all relevant parasite species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Biendl
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cécile Häberli
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gong Chen
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Wen Wang
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Longjin Zhong
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jessica Saunders
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Thao Pham
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Xiaofang Wang
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 986125, United States of America
| | - Jianbo Wu
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 986125, United States of America
| | - Susan A Charman
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jonathan L Vennerstrom
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 986125, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
El-Derbawy MM, Salem HS, Raboo M, Baiuomy IR, Fadil SA, Fadil HA, Ibrahim SRM, El Kholy WA. In Vivo Evaluation of the Anti-Schistosomal Potential of Ginger-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles on Schistosoma mansoni: Histopathological, Ultrastructural, and Immunological Changes. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12111834. [PMID: 36362992 PMCID: PMC9696985 DOI: 10.3390/life12111834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy is the most widely advocated method of Schistosome control. However, repeated chemotherapy leads to the emergence of drug-resistant Schistosoma strains. Therefore, efforts to find alternative drugs, especially those of natural origin, have risen globally. Nanoparticles (NPs) have received special interest as efficient drug delivery systems. This work aimed to investigate the anti-schistosomal potential of Zingiber officinale (ginger, Zingiberaceae)-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (GCsNPs) on Schistosoma mansoni experimentally infected mice that were exposed to 80 ± 10 cercariae/mouse. The study groups are: (G1) negative control; (G2) positive control; (G3) praziquantel in a dose of 500 mg/kg/day for two consecutive days; (G4) ginger in a dose of 500 mg/kg treated; (G5) chitosan nanoparticles in a dose 3 mg/kg (G6) GCsNPs in a dose 250 mg/kg; and (G7) GCsNPs in a dose 500 mg/kg. The anti-schistosome potential was assessed using histopathological scanning electron microscopically and immunological parameters. The results showed that there was a significant decrease in cellular granuloma count (p < 0.05) and granuloma diameter (p < 0.001) in all infected treated mice groups, in comparison to the infected non-treated group with the highest reduction in both G3 and G7. SEM of S. mansoni adult worm recovered from G3 showed mild edema of oral and ventral suckers with some peeling and blebs around them, while that recovered from G7 showed abnormal oedematous oral and retracted ventral sucker, edema of the tegument, rupture of many tubercles with vacuolation and complete loss of spines. All infected treated mice groups, in comparison to positive control G2, showed a significant reduction in IL-4, IL-10, and TNF-α levels (p-value < 0.001), especially groups G6 and G7 (p-value < 0.05); both G6 and G7 values were nearer to the normal that indicated recovery of the liver tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mona M. El-Derbawy
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11751, Egypt
| | - Hala S. Salem
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11751, Egypt
| | - Mona Raboo
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11751, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim R. Baiuomy
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza 12411, Egypt
| | - Sana A. Fadil
- Department of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haifa A. Fadil
- Department of Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Almadinah Almunawarah 30078, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sabrin R. M. Ibrahim
- Preparatory Year Program, Department of Chemistry, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-581183034
| | - Walaa A. El Kholy
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11751, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mathavan I, Liu LJ, Robinson SW, El-Sakkary N, Elatico AJJ, Gomez D, Nellas R, Owens RJ, Zuercher W, Navratilova I, Caffrey CR, Beis K. Identification of Inhibitors of the Schistosoma mansoni VKR2 Kinase Domain. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1715-1722. [PMID: 36385939 PMCID: PMC9661718 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic flatworms. Current treatment relies on just one partially effective drug, praziquantel (PZQ). Schistosoma mansoni Venus Kinase Receptors 1 and 2 (SmVKR1 and SmVKR2) are important for parasite growth and egg production, and are potential targets for combating schistosomiasis. VKRs consist of an extracellular Venus Flytrap Module (VFTM) linked via a transmembrane helix to a kinase domain. Here, we initiated a drug discovery effort to inhibit the activity of the SmVKR2 kinase domain (SmVKR2KD) by screening the GSK published kinase inhibitor set 2 (PKIS2). We identified several inhibitors, of which four were able to inhibit its enzymatic activity and induced phenotypic changes in ex vivo S. mansoni. Our crystal structure of the SmVKR2KD displays an active-like state that sheds light on the activation process of VKRs. Our data provide a basis for the further exploration of SmVKR2 as a possible drug target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Indran Mathavan
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, South Kensington SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom,Rutherford
Appleton Laboratory, Research Complex at
Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Lawrence J. Liu
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Sean W. Robinson
- Kinetic
Discovery Ltd., an Exscientia group company, The Schrödinger Building, Oxford Science
Park, Oxford OX4 4GE, United Kingdom
| | - Nelly El-Sakkary
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Adam Jo J. Elatico
- Institute
of Chemistry, College of Science, University
of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1101
| | - Darwin Gomez
- Institute
of Chemistry, College of Science, University
of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1101
| | - Ricky Nellas
- Institute
of Chemistry, College of Science, University
of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1101
| | - Raymond J. Owens
- The Rosalind
Franklin Institute, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom,Division
of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, United
Kingdom
| | - William Zuercher
- Structural
Genomics Consortium, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Iva Navratilova
- Kinetic
Discovery Ltd., an Exscientia group company, The Schrödinger Building, Oxford Science
Park, Oxford OX4 4GE, United Kingdom
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States,E-mail:
| | - Konstantinos Beis
- Department
of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, South Kensington SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom,Rutherford
Appleton Laboratory, Research Complex at
Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0FA, United Kingdom,E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mtemeli FL, Ndlovu J, Mugumbate G, Makwikwi T, Shoko R. Advances in schistosomiasis drug discovery based on natural products. All Life 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/26895293.2022.2080281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- F. L. Mtemeli
- Department of Biology, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
| | - J. Ndlovu
- Department of Biology, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
| | - G. Mugumbate
- Department of Chemical Technology, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - T. Makwikwi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - R. Shoko
- Department of Biology, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Chinhoyi University of Technology, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cheuka PM. Drug Discovery and Target Identification against Schistosomiasis: a Reality Check on Progress and Future Prospects. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 22:1595-1610. [PMID: 34565320 DOI: 10.2174/1568026621666210924101805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis ranks among the most important infectious diseases, with over 200 million people currently being infected and > 280,000 deaths reported annually. Chemotherapeutic treatment has relied on one drug, praziquantel, for four decades, while other drugs, such as oxamniquine and metrifonate, are no longer preferred for clinical use due to their narrow spectrum of activity - these are only active against S. mansoni and S. haematobium, respectively. Despite being cheap, safe, and effective against all schistosome species, praziquantel is ineffective against immature worms, which may lead to reinfections and treatment failure in endemic areas; a situation that necessitates repeated administration besides other limitations. Therefore, novel drugs are urgently needed to overcome this situation. In this paper, an up to date review of drug targets identified and validated against schistosomiasis while also encompassing promising clinical and preclinical candidate drugs is presented. While there are considerable efforts aimed at identifying and validating drug targets, the pipeline for new antischistosomals is dry. Moreover, the majority of compounds evaluated preclinically are not really advanced because most of them were evaluated in very small preclinical species such as mice alone. Overall, it appears that although a lot of research is going on at discovery phases, unfortunately, it does not translate to advanced preclinical and clinical evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Mubanga Cheuka
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka. Zambia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Moreira-Filho JT, Silva AC, Dantas RF, Gomes BF, Souza Neto LR, Brandao-Neto J, Owens RJ, Furnham N, Neves BJ, Silva-Junior FP, Andrade CH. Schistosomiasis Drug Discovery in the Era of Automation and Artificial Intelligence. Front Immunol 2021; 12:642383. [PMID: 34135888 PMCID: PMC8203334 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.642383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma and affects over 200 million people worldwide. The control and treatment of this neglected tropical disease is based on a single drug, praziquantel, which raises concerns about the development of drug resistance. This, and the lack of efficacy of praziquantel against juvenile worms, highlights the urgency for new antischistosomal therapies. In this review we focus on innovative approaches to the identification of antischistosomal drug candidates, including the use of automated assays, fragment-based screening, computer-aided and artificial intelligence-based computational methods. We highlight the current developments that may contribute to optimizing research outputs and lead to more effective drugs for this highly prevalent disease, in a more cost-effective drug discovery endeavor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José T. Moreira-Filho
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Arthur C. Silva
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Rafael F. Dantas
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Barbara F. Gomes
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lauro R. Souza Neto
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose Brandao-Neto
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Raymond J. Owens
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell, United Kingdom
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetic, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Furnham
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno J. Neves
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Floriano P. Silva-Junior
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina H. Andrade
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Monti L, Cornec AS, Oukoloff K, Kovalevich J, Prijs K, Alle T, Brunden KR, Smith AB, El-Sakkary N, Liu LJ, Syed A, Skinner DE, Ballatore C, Caffrey CR. Congeners Derived from Microtubule-Active Phenylpyrimidines Produce a Potent and Long-Lasting Paralysis of Schistosoma mansoni In Vitro. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1089-1103. [PMID: 33135408 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that affects approximately 200 million people in developing countries. Current treatment relies on just one partially effective drug, and new drugs are needed. Tubulin and microtubules (MTs) are essential constituents of the cytoskeleton in all eukaryotic cells and considered potential drug targets to treat parasitic infections. The α- and β-tubulin of Schistosoma mansoni have ∼96% and ∼91% sequence identity to their respective human tubulins, suggesting that compounds which bind mammalian tubulin may interfere with MT-mediated functions in the parasite. To explore the potential of different classes of tubulin-binding molecules as antischistosomal leads, we completed a series of in vitro whole-organism screens of a target-based compound library against S. mansoni adults and somules (postinfective larvae), and identified multiple biologically active compounds, among which phenylpyrimidines were the most promising. Further structure-activity relationship studies of these hits identified a series of thiophen-2-yl-pyrimidine congeners, which induce a potent and long-lasting paralysis of the parasite. Moreover, compared to the originating compounds, which showed cytotoxicity values in the low nanomolar range, these new derivatives were 1-4 orders of magnitude less cytotoxic and exhibited weak or undetectable activity against mammalian MTs in a cell-based assay of MT stabilization. Given their selective antischistosomal activity and relatively simple drug-like structures, these molecules hold promise as candidates for the development of new treatments for schistosomiasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Monti
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Anne-Sophie Cornec
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
| | - Killian Oukoloff
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jane Kovalevich
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
| | - Kristen Prijs
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
| | - Thibault Alle
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Kurt R. Brunden
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
| | - Amos B. Smith
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
| | - Nelly El-Sakkary
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Lawrence J. Liu
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Ali Syed
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Danielle E. Skinner
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Carlo Ballatore
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zorn KM, Sun S, McConnon CL, Ma K, Chen EK, Foil DH, Lane TR, Liu LJ, El-Sakkary N, Skinner DE, Ekins S, Caffrey CR. A Machine Learning Strategy for Drug Discovery Identifies Anti-Schistosomal Small Molecules. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:406-420. [PMID: 33434015 PMCID: PMC7887754 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Schistosomiasis is a chronic and
painful disease of poverty caused
by the flatworm parasite Schistosoma. Drug discovery
for antischistosomal compounds predominantly employs in vitro whole organism (phenotypic) screens against two developmental stages
of Schistosoma mansoni, post-infective larvae (somules)
and adults. We generated two rule books and associated scoring systems
to normalize 3898 phenotypic data points to enable machine learning.
The data were used to generate eight Bayesian machine learning models
with the Assay Central software according to parasite’s developmental
stage and experimental time point (≤24, 48, 72, and >72
h).
The models helped predict 56 active and nonactive compounds from commercial
compound libraries for testing. When these were screened against S. mansoni in vitro, the prediction accuracy for active
and inactives was 61% and 56% for somules and adults, respectively;
also, hit rates were 48% and 34%, respectively, far exceeding the
typical 1–2% hit rate for traditional high throughput screens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley M. Zorn
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Shengxi Sun
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Cecelia L. McConnon
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Kelley Ma
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Eric K. Chen
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Daniel H. Foil
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Thomas R. Lane
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Lawrence J. Liu
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Nelly El-Sakkary
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Danielle E. Skinner
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wu J, Wang X, Chiu FCK, Häberli C, Shackleford DM, Ryan E, Kamaraj S, Bulbule VJ, Wallick AI, Dong Y, White KL, Davis PH, Charman SA, Keiser J, Vennerstrom JL. Structure-Activity Relationship of Antischistosomal Ozonide Carboxylic Acids. J Med Chem 2020; 63:3723-3736. [PMID: 32134263 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Semisynthetic artemisinins and other bioactive peroxides are best known for their powerful antimalarial activities, and they also show substantial activity against schistosomes-another hemoglobin-degrading pathogen. Building on this discovery, we now describe the initial structure-activity relationship (SAR) of antischistosomal ozonide carboxylic acids OZ418 (2) and OZ165 (3). Irrespective of lipophilicity, these ozonide weak acids have relatively low aqueous solubilities and high protein binding values. Ozonides with para-substituted carboxymethoxy and N-benzylglycine substituents had high antischistosomal efficacies. It was possible to increase solubility, decrease protein binding, and maintain the high antischistosomal activity in mice infected with juvenile and adult Schistosoma mansoni by incorporating a weak base functional group in these compounds. In some cases, adding polar functional groups and heteroatoms to the spiroadamantane substructure increased the solubility and metabolic stability, but in all cases decreased the antischistosomal activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Wu
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 986125, United States
| | - Xiaofang Wang
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 986125, United States
| | - Francis C K Chiu
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Cécile Häberli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - David M Shackleford
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Eileen Ryan
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Sriraghavan Kamaraj
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 986125, United States
| | - Vivek J Bulbule
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 986125, United States
| | - Alexander I Wallick
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - Yuxiang Dong
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 986125, United States
| | - Karen L White
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Paul H Davis
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - Susan A Charman
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan L Vennerstrom
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 986125, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Singh S, El-Sakkary N, Skinner DE, Sharma PP, Ottilie S, Antonova-Koch Y, Kumar P, Winzeler E, Poonam, Caffrey CR, Rathi B. Synthesis and Bioactivity of Phthalimide Analogs as Potential Drugs to Treat Schistosomiasis, a Neglected Disease of Poverty. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:E25. [PMID: 32028743 DOI: 10.3390/ph13020025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The neglected tropical disease, schistosomiasis, is caused by trematode blood flukes of the Schistosoma genus and infects approximately 200 million people worldwide. With just one partially effective drug available for disease treatment, new drugs are urgently needed. Herein, a series of 47 phthalimide (Pht) analogues possessing high-value bioactive scaffolds (i.e., benzimidazole and 1,2,3,-triazoles) was synthesized by click-chemistry. Compounds were evaluated for anti-schistosomal activity in culture against somules (post-infective larvae) and adults of Schistosoma mansoni, their predicted ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties, and toxicity vs. HepG2 cells. The majority showed favorable parameters for surface area, lipophilicity, bioavailability and Lipinski score. Thirteen compounds were active at 10 µM against both somules and adults (6d, 6f, 6i–6l, 6n–6p, 6s, 6r’, 6t’ and 6w). Against somules, the majority caused degeneracy and/or death after 72 h; whereas against adult parasites, five compounds (6l, 6d, 6f, 6r’ and 6s) elicited degeneracy, tegumental (surface) damage and/or death. Strongest potency against both developmental stages was recorded for compounds possessing n-butyl or isobutyl as a linker, and a pentafluorophenyl group on triazole. Apart from five compounds for which anti-parasite activity tracked with toxicity to HepG2 cells, there was apparently no toxicity to HepG2 cells (EC50 values ≥50 µM). The data overall suggest that phthaloyl-triazole compounds are favorable synthons for additional studies as anti-schistosomals.
Collapse
|