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Tausk F. Finally, successful interventions to ameliorate cutaneous infestations. J DERMATOL TREAT 2024; 35:2326655. [PMID: 38465790 DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2024.2326655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Tausk
- Department of Dermatology, Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
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2
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Villamizar-Monsalve MA, López-Abán J, Vicente B, Peláez R, Muro A. Current drug strategies for the treatment and control of schistosomiasis. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2024; 25:409-420. [PMID: 38511392 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2024.2333372] [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: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schistosomiasis, one of the current Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) affects over 230 million people globally, with nearly 700 million at risk in more than 74 countries. Praziquantel (PZQ) has served as the primary treatment for the past four decades; however, its effectiveness is limited as it solely eliminates adult worms. In regions where infections are frequent, PZQ exhibits only temporary efficacy and has restricted potential to disrupt the prolonged transmission of the disease. AREAS COVERED A comprehensive exploration using the PubMed database was conducted to review current pharmacotherapy approaches for schistosomiasis. This review also encompasses recent research findings related to potential novel therapeutics and the repurposing of existing drugs. EXPERT OPINION Current schistosoma treatment strategies, primarily relying on PZQ, face challenges like temporary effectiveness and limited impact on disease transmission. Drug repurposing, due to economic constraints, is decisive for NTDs. Despite PZQ's efficacy, its failure to prevent reinfection highlights the need for complementary strategies, especially in regions with persistent environmental foci. Integrating therapies against diverse schistosome stages boosts efficacy and impedes resistance. Uncovering novel agents is essential to address resistance concerns in tackling this neglected tropical disease. Integrated strategies present a comprehensive approach to navigate the complex challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Alejandra Villamizar-Monsalve
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Julio López-Abán
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Belén Vicente
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rafael Peláez
- Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Antonio Muro
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), Salamanca, Spain
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3
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Gouveia MJ, Ribeiro E, Vale N. A Surprising Repurposing of Central Nervous System Drugs against Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder, UM-UC-5. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:212. [PMID: 38399266 PMCID: PMC10892655 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020212] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The potential benefits of drug repurposing have gained attention as an alternative to developing de novo drugs. The potential of using central nervous system (CNS) drugs as anticancer drugs has been explored in several types of human cancers, such as breast and colon cancer, among others. Here, we examine the effect of the CNS drugs sertraline, paroxetine, and chlorpromazine on human squamous carcinoma cells of the bladder (UM-UC-5). After exposing UM-UC-5 cells to increased concentrations of each drug for 48 h, we assessed their metabolic activity using an MTT assay. Based on those results, we calculated cell viability and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values. The results suggest that the CNS drugs were effective against UM-UC-5 in the order of potency of sertraline > chlorpromazine > paroxetine. Interestingly, sertraline was more potent than 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a widely used anticancer drug. This study demonstrated, for the first time, the promising anticancer activity of CNS drugs on human bladder cancer cells in vitro and supports the repurposing of CNS drugs to improve cancer treatment. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to understand their mechanism of action and in vivo activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria João Gouveia
- Center for the Study in Animal Science (CECA/ICETA), University of Porto, Rua de D. Manuel II, Apt 55142, 4051-401 Porto, Portugal;
- Centre for Parasite Biology and Immunology, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Rua Alexandre Herculano 321, 4000-055 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eduarda Ribeiro
- PerMed Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- PerMed Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
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4
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Eck RJ, Stair JG, Kraemer BC, Liachko NF. Simple models to understand complex disease: 10 years of progress from Caenorhabditis elegans models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1300705. [PMID: 38239833 PMCID: PMC10794587 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1300705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are a powerful model system to study human disease, with numerous experimental advantages including significant genetic and cellular homology to vertebrate animals, a short lifespan, and tractable behavioral, molecular biology and imaging assays. Beginning with the identification of SOD1 as a genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), C. elegans have contributed to a deeper understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of this devastating neurodegenerative disease. More recently this work has expanded to encompass models of other types of ALS and the related disease frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-TDP), including those characterized by mutation or accumulation of the proteins TDP-43, C9orf72, FUS, HnRNPA2B1, ALS2, DCTN1, CHCHD10, ELP3, TUBA4A, CAV1, UBQLN2, ATXN3, TIA1, KIF5A, VAPB, GRN, and RAB38. In this review we summarize these models and the progress and insights from the last ten years of using C. elegans to study the neurodegenerative diseases ALS and FTLD-TDP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall J. Eck
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jade G. Stair
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Brian C. Kraemer
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nicole F. Liachko
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
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5
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Coghlan A, Partridge FA, Duque-Correa MA, Rinaldi G, Clare S, Seymour L, Brandt C, Mkandawire TT, McCarthy C, Holroyd N, Nick M, Brown AE, Tonitiwong S, Sattelle DB, Berriman M. A drug repurposing screen for whipworms informed by comparative genomics. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011205. [PMID: 37669291 PMCID: PMC10503962 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are infected with the whipworm Trichuris trichiura. Novel treatments are urgently needed as current drugs, such as albendazole, have relatively low efficacy. We have investigated whether drugs approved for other human diseases could be repurposed as novel anti-whipworm drugs. In a previous comparative genomics analysis, we identified 409 drugs approved for human use that we predicted to target parasitic worm proteins. Here we tested these ex vivo by assessing motility of adult worms of Trichuris muris, the murine whipworm, an established model for human whipworm research. We identified 14 compounds with EC50 values of ≤50 μM against T. muris ex vivo, and selected nine for testing in vivo. However, the best worm burden reduction seen in mice was just 19%. The high number of ex vivo hits against T. muris shows that we were successful at predicting parasite proteins that could be targeted by approved drugs. In contrast, the low efficacy of these compounds in mice suggest challenges due to their chemical properties (e.g. lipophilicity, polarity, molecular weight) and pharmacokinetics (e.g. absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) that may (i) promote absorption by the host gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing availability to the worms embedded in the large intestine, and/or (ii) restrict drug uptake by the worms. This indicates that identifying structural analogues that have reduced absorption by the host, and increased uptake by worms, may be necessary for successful drug development against whipworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avril Coghlan
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Frederick A. Partridge
- University College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Simon Clare
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Seymour
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Nancy Holroyd
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marina Nick
- University College London, London, United Kingdom
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6
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Pavičić A, Zajíčková M, Šadibolová M, Svobodová G, Matoušková P, Szotáková B, Langhansová L, Maršík P, Skálová L. Anthelmintic activity of European fern extracts against Haemonchus contortus. Vet Res 2023; 54:59. [PMID: 37443113 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-023-01192-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Most drugs used in the treatment of helminthiasis in humans and animals have lost their efficacy due to the development of drug-resistance in helminths. Moreover, since anthelmintics, like many pharmaceuticals, are now recognized as hazardous contaminants of the environment, returning to medicinal plants and their products represents an environmentally friendly way to treat helminthiasis. The goal of the present study was to test the anthelminthic activity of methanol extracts of eight selected European ferns from the genera Dryopteris, Athyrium and Blechnum against the nematode Haemonchus contortus, a widespread parasite of small ruminants. Eggs and adults of H. contortus drug-susceptible strain ISE and drug-resistant strain WR were isolated from experimentally infected sheep. The efficacy of fern extracts was assayed using egg hatch test and adults viability test based on ATP-level measurement. Among the ferns tested, only Dryopteris aemula extract (0.2 mg/mL) inhibited eggs hatching by 25% in comparison to control. Athyrium distentifolium, Dryopteris aemula and Dryopteris cambrensis were effective against H. contortus adults. In concentration 0.1 mg/mL, A. distentifolium, D. aemula, D. cambrensis significantly decreased the viability of females from ISE and WR strains to 36.2%, 51.9%, 32.9% and to 35.3%, 27.0%, 23.3%, respectively in comparison to untreated controls. None of the extracts exhibited toxicity in precise cut slices from ovine liver. Polyphenol's analysis identified quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid and protocatechuic acid as the major components of these anthelmintically active ferns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Pavičić
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 50005, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Zajíčková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 50005, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Šadibolová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 50005, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Gabriela Svobodová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 50005, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Matoušková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 50005, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Szotáková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 50005, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Langhansová
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 263, 16502, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Maršík
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 263, 16502, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Skálová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 50005, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
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7
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Hubbard IC, Thompson JS, Else KJ, Shears RK. Another decade of Trichuris muris research: An update and application of key discoveries. Adv Parasitol 2023; 121:1-63. [PMID: 37474238 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2023.05.002] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The mouse whipworm, Trichuris muris, has been used for over 60 years as a tractable model for human trichuriasis, caused by the related whipworm species, T. trichiura. The history of T. muris research, from the discovery of the parasite in 1761 to understanding the lifecycle and outcome of infection with different doses (high versus low dose infection), as well as the immune mechanisms associated with parasite expulsion and chronic infection have been detailed in an earlier review published in 2013. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of whipworm biology, host-parasite interactions and basic immunology brought about using the T. muris mouse model, focussing on developments from the last decade. In addition to the traditional high/low dose infection models that have formed the mainstay of T. muris research to date, novel models involving trickle (repeated low dose) infection in laboratory mice or infection in wild or semi-wild mice have led to important insights into how immunity develops in situ in a multivariate environment, while the use of novel techniques such as the development of caecal organoids (enabling the study of larval development ex vivo) promise to deliver important insights into host-parasite interactions. In addition, the genome and transcriptome analyses of T. muris and T. trichiura have proven to be invaluable tools, particularly in the context of vaccine development and identification of secreted products including proteins, extracellular vesicles and micro-RNAs, shedding further light on how these parasites communicate with their host and modulate the immune response to promote their own survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella C Hubbard
- Centre for Bioscience, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom; Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jacob S Thompson
- Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn J Else
- Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca K Shears
- Centre for Bioscience, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom; Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.
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McCarthy CI, Mustafá ER, Cornejo MP, Yaneff A, Rodríguez SS, Perello M, Raingo J. Chlorpromazine, an Inverse Agonist of D1R-Like, Differentially Targets Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel (Ca V) Subtypes in mPFC Neurons. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:2644-2660. [PMID: 36694048 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03221-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The dopamine receptor type 1 (D1R) and the dopamine receptor type 5 (D5R), which are often grouped as D1R-like due to their sequence and signaling similarities, exhibit high levels of constitutive activity. The molecular basis for this agonist-independent activation has been well characterized through biochemical and mutagenesis in vitro studies. In this regard, it was reported that many antipsychotic drugs act as inverse agonists of D1R-like constitutive activity. On the other hand, D1R is highly expressed in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a brain area with important functions such as working memory. Here, we studied the impact of D1R-like constitutive activity and chlorpromazine (CPZ), an antipsychotic drug and D1R-like inverse agonist, on various neuronal CaV conductances, and we explored its effect on calcium-dependent neuronal functions in the mouse medial mPFC. Using ex vivo brain slices containing the mPFC and transfected HEK293T cells, we found that CPZ reduces CaV2.2 currents by occluding D1R-like constitutive activity, in agreement with a mechanism previously reported by our lab, whereas CPZ directly inhibits CaV1 currents in a D1R-like activity independent manner. In contrast, CPZ and D1R constitutive activity did not affect CaV2.1, CaV2.3, or CaV3 currents. Finally, we found that CPZ reduces excitatory postsynaptic responses in mPFC neurons. Our results contribute to understanding CPZ molecular targets in neurons and describe a novel physiological consequence of CPZ non-canonical action as a D1R-like inverse agonist in the mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Inés McCarthy
- Electrophysiology Laboratory of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology (Argentine Research Council CONICET, Scientific Research Commission of the Buenos Aires Province and National University of La Plata), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emilio Román Mustafá
- Electrophysiology Laboratory of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology (Argentine Research Council CONICET, Scientific Research Commission of the Buenos Aires Province and National University of La Plata), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Paula Cornejo
- Neurophysiology Laboratory of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology (Argentine Research Council CONICET, Scientific Research Commission of the Buenos Aires Province and National University of La Plata), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Yaneff
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia Susana Rodríguez
- Electrophysiology Laboratory of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology (Argentine Research Council CONICET, Scientific Research Commission of the Buenos Aires Province and National University of La Plata), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mario Perello
- Neurophysiology Laboratory of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology (Argentine Research Council CONICET, Scientific Research Commission of the Buenos Aires Province and National University of La Plata), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jesica Raingo
- Electrophysiology Laboratory of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology (Argentine Research Council CONICET, Scientific Research Commission of the Buenos Aires Province and National University of La Plata), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Wheeler NJ, Gallo KJ, Rehborg EJG, Ryan KT, Chan JD, Zamanian M. wrmXpress: A modular package for high-throughput image analysis of parasitic and free-living worms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010937. [PMID: 36399491 PMCID: PMC9718391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in high-throughput and high-content imaging technologies require concomitant development of analytical software capable of handling large datasets and generating relevant phenotypic measurements. Several tools have been developed to analyze drug response phenotypes in parasitic and free-living worms, but these are siloed and often limited to specific instrumentation, worm species, and single phenotypes. No unified tool exists to analyze diverse high-content phenotypic imaging data of worms and provide a platform for future extensibility. We have developed wrmXpress, a unified framework for analyzing a variety of phenotypes matched to high-content experimental assays of free-living and parasitic nematodes and flatworms. We demonstrate its utility for analyzing a suite of phenotypes, including motility, development/size, fecundity, and feeding, and establish the package as a platform upon which to build future custom phenotypic modules. We show that wrmXpress can serve as an analytical workhorse for anthelmintic screening efforts across schistosomes, filarial nematodes, and free-living model nematodes and holds promise for enabling collaboration among investigators with diverse interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas J. Wheeler
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
| | - Kendra J. Gallo
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
| | - Elena J. G. Rehborg
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
| | - Kaetlyn T. Ryan
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
| | - John D. Chan
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin United States of America
| | - Mostafa Zamanian
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
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10
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Das SS, Ranjan P, Kunnakkattu IR. Literature-based drug-drug similarity for drug repurposing: impact of Medical Subject Headings term refinement and hierarchical clustering. Future Med Chem 2022. [PMID: 36017692 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2022-0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: We describe herein, an improved procedure for drug repurposing based on refined Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and hierarchical clustering method. Materials & methods: In the present study, we have employed MeSH data from MEDLINE (2019), 1669 US FDA approved drugs from Open FDA and a refined set of MeSH terms. Refinement of MeSH terms was performed to include terms related to mechanistic information of drugs and diseases. Results and Conclusions: In-depth analysis of the results obtained, demonstrated greater efficiency of the proposed approach, based on refined MeSH terms and hierarchical clustering, in terms of number of selected drug candidates for repurposing. Further, analysis of misclustering and size of noise clusters suggest that the proposed approach is reliable and can be employed in drug repurposing.
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11
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Padalino G, El-Sakkary N, Liu LJ, Liu C, Harte DSG, Barnes RE, Sayers E, Forde-Thomas J, Whiteland H, Bassetto M, Ferla S, Johnson G, Jones AT, Caffrey CR, Chalmers I, Brancale A, Hoffmann KF. Anti-schistosomal activities of quinoxaline-containing compounds: From hit identification to lead optimisation. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 226:113823. [PMID: 34536671 PMCID: PMC8626775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease of poverty that is caused by infection with blood fluke species contained within the genus Schistosoma. For the last 40 years, control of schistosomiasis in endemic regions has predominantly been facilitated by administration of a single drug, praziquantel. Due to limitations in this mono-chemotherapeutic approach for sustaining schistosomiasis control into the future, alternative anti-schistosomal compounds are increasingly being sought by the drug discovery community. Herein, we describe a multi-pronged, integrated strategy that led to the identification and further exploration of the quinoxaline core as a promising anti-schistosomal scaffold. Firstly, phenotypic screening of commercially available small molecules resulted in the identification of a moderately active hit compound against Schistosoma mansoni (1, EC50 = 4.59 μM on schistosomula). Secondary exploration of the chemical space around compound 1 led to the identification of a quinoxaline-core containing, non-genotoxic lead (compound 22). Compound 22 demonstrated substantially improved activities on both intra-mammalian (EC50 = 0.44 μM, 0.20 μM and 84.7 nM, on schistosomula, juvenile and adult worms, respectively) and intra-molluscan (sporocyst) S. mansoni lifecycle stages. Further medicinal chemistry optimisation of compound 22, resulting in the generation of 20 additional analogues, improved our understanding of the structure-activity relationship and resulted in considerable improvements in both anti-schistosome potency and selectivity (e.g. compound 30; EC50 = 2.59 nM on adult worms; selectivity index compared to the HepG2 cell line = 348). Some derivatives of compound 22 (e.g. 31 and 33) also demonstrated significant activity against the two other medically important species, Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma japonicum. Further optimisation of this class of anti-schistosomal is ongoing and could lead to the development of an urgently needed alternative to praziquantel for assisting in schistosomiasis elimination strategies. Lead compound 22 was identified with EC50 of 0.44 µM and 84.7 nM for schistosomula and adult worms. 20 analogues of the lead compound 22 were synthesised. Compounds 25, 30 and 32 showed the best selectivity profile. Compounds 31 and 33 are the most active on three medically important schistosome species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Padalino
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Nelly El-Sakkary
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lawrence J Liu
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Chenxi Liu
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Danielle S G Harte
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel E Barnes
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Edward Sayers
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine Forde-Thomas
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Whiteland
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Marcella Bassetto
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Salvatore Ferla
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - George Johnson
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom
| | - Arwyn T Jones
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Iain Chalmers
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Brancale
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Karl F Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, United Kingdom.
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12
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Zajíčková M, Prchal L, Navrátilová M, Vodvárková N, Matoušková P, Vokřál I, Nguyen LT, Skálová L. Sertraline as a new potential anthelmintic against Haemonchus contortus: toxicity, efficacy, and biotransformation. Vet Res 2021; 52:143. [PMID: 34895342 PMCID: PMC8666012 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-021-01012-x] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Haemonchus contortus is a parasitic nematode of ruminants which causes significant losses to many farmers worldwide. Since the drugs currently in use for the treatment of haemonchosis are losing their effectiveness due to the drug-resistance of this nematode, a new or repurposed drug is highly needed. As the antipsychotic drug sertraline (SRT) has been shown to be effective against the parasitic nematodes Trichuris muris, Ancylostoma caninum and Schistosoma mansoni, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible effect of SRT on H. contortus. The potential hepatotoxicity of SRT was tested in sheep, a common H. contortus host. In addition, the main metabolic pathways of SRT in H. contortus and the ovine liver were identified. While no effect of SRT on H. contortus egg hatching was observed, SRT was found to significantly decrease the viability of H. contortus adults in drug-sensitive and resistant strains, with its effect comparable to the commonly used anthelmintics levamisole and monepantel. Moreover, SRT in anthelmintically active concentrations showed no toxicity to the ovine liver. Biotransformation of SRT in H. contortus was weak, with most of the drug remaining unmetabolized. Production of the main metabolite hydroxy-SRT did not differ significantly between strains. Other minor metabolites such as SRT-O-glucoside, dihydroxy-SRT, and SRT-ketone were also identified in H. contorts adults. Compared to H. contortus, the ovine liver metabolized SRT more extensively, mainly via desmethylation and glucuronidation. In conclusion, the potency of SRT against H. contortus was proven, and it should be tested further toward possible repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markéta Zajíčková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 500 05, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Prchal
- Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital in Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Navrátilová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 500 05, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Nikola Vodvárková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 500 05, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Matoušková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 500 05, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Vokřál
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Linh Thuy Nguyen
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 500 05, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Skálová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, 500 05, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
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13
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Begley CG, Ashton M, Baell J, Bettess M, Brown MP, Carter B, Charman WN, Davis C, Fisher S, Frazer I, Gautam A, Jennings MP, Kearney P, Keeffe E, Kelly D, Lopez AF, McGuckin M, Parker MW, Rayner C, Roberts B, Rush JS, Sullivan M. Drug repurposing: Misconceptions, challenges, and opportunities for academic researchers. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabd5524. [PMID: 34550729 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abd5524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Ashton
- UniQuest Pty Ltd., University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jonathan Baell
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Michael P Brown
- Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Brett Carter
- Bioseer Pty Ltd., Glen Iris, Victoria, Australia
| | - William N Charman
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher Davis
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, Queensland, Australia
| | - Simon Fisher
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd., Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian Frazer
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Michael P Jennings
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, Queensland, Australia
| | - Philip Kearney
- Merck Sharp & Dohme, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Eloise Keeffe
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, Queensland, Australia
| | - Darren Kelly
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Angel F Lopez
- Centre for Cancer Biology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Michael W Parker
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Brett Roberts
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd., Macquarie Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Mark Sullivan
- Medicines Development for Global Health, Southbank, Victoria, Australia
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14
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Seifert R, Schirmer B. Problems associated with the use of the term "antibiotics". Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2021; 394:2153-66. [PMID: 34536087 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-021-02144-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The term “antibiotics” is a broadly used misnomer to designate antibacterial drugs. In a recent article, we have proposed to replace, e.g., the term “antibiotics” by “antibacterial drugs”, “antibiosis” by “antibacterial therapy”, “antibiogram” by “antibacteriogram”, and “antibiotic stewardship” by “antibacterial stewardship” (Seifert and Schirmer Trends Microbiol, 2021). In the present article, we show that many traditional terms related to antibiotics are used much more widely in the biomedical literature than the respective scientifically precise terms. This practice should be stopped. Moreover, we provide arguments to end the use of other broadly used terms in the biomedical literature such as “narrow-spectrum antibiotics” and “reserve antibiotics”, “chemotherapeutics”, and “tuberculostatics”. Finally, we provide several examples showing that antibacterial drugs are used for non-antibacterial indications and that some non-antibacterial drugs are used for antibacterial indications now. Thus, the increasing importance of drug repurposing renders it important to drop short designations of drug classes such as “antibiotics”. Rather, the term “drug” should be explicitly used, facilitating the inclusion of newly emerging indications such as antipsychotic and anti-inflammatory. This article is part of an effort to implement a new rational nomenclature of drug classes across the entire field of pharmacology.
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15
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Hahnel SR, Roberts WM, Heisler I, Kulke D, Weeks JC. Comparison of electrophysiological and motility assays to study anthelmintic effects in Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2021; 16:174-187. [PMID: 34252686 PMCID: PMC8350797 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.05.005] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Currently, only a few chemical drug classes are available to control the global burden of nematode infections in humans and animals. Most of these drugs exert their anthelmintic activity by interacting with proteins such as ion channels, and the nematode neuromuscular system remains a promising target for novel intervention strategies. Many commonly-used phenotypic readouts such as motility provide only indirect insight into neuromuscular function and the site(s) of action of chemical compounds. Electrophysiological recordings provide more specific information but are typically technically challenging and lack high throughput for drug discovery. Because drug discovery relies strongly on the evaluation and ranking of drug candidates, including closely related chemical derivatives, precise assays and assay combinations are needed for capturing and distinguishing subtle drug effects. Past studies show that nematode motility and pharyngeal pumping (feeding) are inhibited by most anthelmintic drugs. Here we compare two microfluidic devices (“chips”) that record electrophysiological signals from the nematode pharynx (electropharyngeograms; EPGs) ─ the ScreenChip™ and the 8-channel EPG platform ─ to evaluate their respective utility for anthelmintic research. We additionally compared EPG data with whole-worm motility measurements obtained with the wMicroTracker instrument. As references, we used three macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin, moxidectin, and milbemycin oxime), and levamisole, which act on different ion channels. Drug potencies (IC50 and IC95 values) from concentration-response curves, and the time-course of drug effects, were compared across platforms and across drugs. Drug effects on pump timing and EPG waveforms were also investigated. These experiments confirmed drug-class specific effects of the tested anthelmintics and illustrated the relative strengths and limitations of the different assays for anthelmintic research. Anthelmintic drugs inhibit pharyngeal pumping and motility in C. elegans. Two electrophysiological assays and one motility assay were compared. Macrocyclic lactones and levamisole have drug-class-specific effects. A combination of assays most fully reveals anthelmintic effects. Strengths and limitations of the three assays were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Janis C Weeks
- InVivo Biosystems Inc. (formerly NemaMetrix Inc.), Eugene, OR, USA.
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16
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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.
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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
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17
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Partridge F, Bataille CJ, Forman R, Marriott AE, Forde-Thomas J, Häberli C, Dinsdale RL, O’Sullivan JD, Willis NJ, Wynne GM, Whiteland H, Archer J, Steven A, Keiser J, Turner JD, Hoffmann KF, Taylor MJ, Else KJ, Russell AJ, Sattelle DB. Structural Requirements for Dihydrobenzoxazepinone Anthelmintics: Actions against Medically Important and Model Parasites: Trichuris muris, Brugia malayi, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, and Schistosoma mansoni. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1260-1274. [PMID: 33797218 PMCID: PMC8154432 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nine hundred million people are infected with the soil-transmitted helminths Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm), hookworm, and Trichuris trichiura (whipworm). However, low single-dose cure rates of the benzimidazole drugs, the mainstay of preventative chemotherapy for whipworm, together with parasite drug resistance, mean that current approaches may not be able to eliminate morbidity from trichuriasis. We are seeking to develop new anthelmintic drugs specifically with activity against whipworm as a priority and previously identified a hit series of dihydrobenzoxazepinone (DHB) compounds that block motility of ex vivo Trichuris muris. Here, we report a systematic investigation of the structure-activity relationship of the anthelmintic activity of DHB compounds. We synthesized 47 analogues, which allowed us to define features of the molecules essential for anthelmintic action as well as broadening the chemotype by identification of dihydrobenzoquinolinones (DBQs) with anthelmintic activity. We investigated the activity of these compounds against other parasitic nematodes, identifying DHB compounds with activity against Brugia malayi and Heligmosomoides polygyrus. We also demonstrated activity of DHB compounds against the trematode Schistosoma mansoni, a parasite that causes schistosomiasis. These results demonstrate the potential of DHB and DBQ compounds for further development as broad-spectrum anthelmintics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick
A. Partridge
- Centre
for Respiratory Biology, UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, United Kingdom
| | - Carole J.R. Bataille
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Forman
- Lydia
Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology,
Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Amy E. Marriott
- Centre
for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine Forde-Thomas
- Institute
of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Cécile Häberli
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel CH-4002, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, Petersplatz
1, Basel CH-4001, Switzerland
| | - Ria L. Dinsdale
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - James D.B. O’Sullivan
- Lydia
Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology,
Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Henry
Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United
Kingdom
| | - Nicky J. Willis
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
- Alzheimer’s
Research UK UCL Drug Discovery Institute, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Graham M. Wynne
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Whiteland
- Institute
of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - John Archer
- Centre
for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Steven
- Centre
for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel CH-4002, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, Petersplatz
1, Basel CH-4001, Switzerland
| | - Joseph D. Turner
- Centre
for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
- Centre
for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool
School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Karl F. Hoffmann
- Institute
of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales SY23 3DA, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Centre
for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
- Centre
for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Liverpool
School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn J. Else
- Lydia
Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology,
Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Angela J. Russell
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, United
Kingdom
| | - David B. Sattelle
- Centre
for Respiratory Biology, UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, United Kingdom
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18
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Giunti S, Andersen N, Rayes D, De Rosa MJ. Drug discovery: Insights from the invertebrate Caenorhabditis elegans. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00721. [PMID: 33641258 PMCID: PMC7916527 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [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: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic drug development is a long, expensive, and complex process that usually takes 12-15 years. In the early phases of drug discovery, in particular, there is a growing need for animal models that ensure the reduction in both cost and time. Caenorhabditis elegans has been traditionally used to address fundamental aspects of key biological processes, such as apoptosis, aging, and gene expression regulation. During the last decade, with the advent of large-scale platforms for screenings, this invertebrate has also emerged as an essential tool in the pharmaceutical research industry to identify novel drugs and drug targets. In this review, we discuss the reasons why C. elegans has been positioned as an outstanding cost-effective option for drug discovery, highlighting both the advantages and drawbacks of this model. Particular attention is paid to the suitability of this nematode in large-scale genetic and pharmacological screenings. High-throughput screenings in C. elegans have indeed contributed to the breakthrough of a wide variety of candidate compounds involved in extensive fields including neurodegeneration, pathogen infections and metabolic disorders. The versatility of this nematode, which enables its instrumentation as a model of human diseases, is another attribute also herein underscored. As illustrative examples, we discuss the utility of C. elegans models of both human neurodegenerative diseases and parasitic nematodes in the drug discovery industry. Summing up, this review aims to demonstrate the impact of C. elegans models on the drug discovery pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Giunti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - Natalia Andersen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - Diego Rayes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - María José De Rosa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
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19
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Dahlin JL, Auld DS, Rothenaigner I, Haney S, Sexton JZ, Nissink JWM, Walsh J, Lee JA, Strelow JM, Willard FS, Ferrins L, Baell JB, Walters MA, Hua BK, Hadian K, Wagner BK. Nuisance compounds in cellular assays. Cell Chem Biol 2021; 28:356-370. [PMID: 33592188 PMCID: PMC7979533 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Compounds that exhibit assay interference or undesirable mechanisms of bioactivity ("nuisance compounds") are routinely encountered in cellular assays, including phenotypic and high-content screening assays. Much is known regarding compound-dependent assay interferences in cell-free assays. However, despite the essential role of cellular assays in chemical biology and drug discovery, there is considerably less known about nuisance compounds in more complex cell-based assays. In our view, a major obstacle to realizing the full potential of chemical biology will not just be difficult-to-drug targets or even the sheer number of targets, but rather nuisance compounds, due to their ability to waste significant resources and erode scientific trust. In this review, we summarize our collective academic, government, and industry experiences regarding cellular nuisance compounds. We describe assay design strategies to mitigate the impact of nuisance compounds and suggest best practices to efficiently address these compounds in complex biological settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayme L Dahlin
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
| | - Douglas S Auld
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ina Rothenaigner
- Assay Development and Screening Platform, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Steve Haney
- Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Jonathan Z Sexton
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Jarrod Walsh
- Hit Discovery, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK
| | | | | | | | - Lori Ferrins
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jonathan B Baell
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Michael A Walters
- Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA
| | - Bruce K Hua
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
| | - Kamyar Hadian
- Assay Development and Screening Platform, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Bridget K Wagner
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
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20
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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
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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.
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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
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21
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Ferreira SR, Machado ART, Furtado LF, Gomes JHDS, de Almeida RM, de Oliveira Mendes T, Maciel VN, Barbosa FS, Carvalho LM, Bueno LL, Bartholomeu DC, de Araújo JV, Rabelo EML, de Pádua RM, Pimenta LPS, Fujiwara RT. Ketamine can be produced by Pochonia chlamydosporia: an old molecule and a new anthelmintic? Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:527. [PMID: 33081837 PMCID: PMC7574484 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04402-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection by nematodes is a problem for human health, livestock, and agriculture, as it causes deficits in host health, increases production costs, and incurs a reduced food supply. The control of these parasites is usually done using anthelmintics, which, in most cases, have not been fully effective. Therefore, the search for new molecules with anthelmintic potential is necessary. METHODS In the present study, we isolated and characterized molecules from the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia and tested these compounds on three nematodes: Caenorhabditis elegans; Ancylostoma ceylanicum; and Ascaris suum. RESULTS The ethyl acetate extract showed nematicidal activity on the nematode model C. elegans. We identified the major substance present in two sub-fractions of this extract as ketamine. Then, we tested this compound on C. elegans and the parasites A. ceylanicum and A. suum using hamsters and mice as hosts, respectively. We did not find a difference between the animal groups when considering the number of worms recovered from the intestines of animals treated with ketamine (6 mg) and albendazole (P > 0.05). The parasite burden of larvae recovered from the lungs of mice treated with ketamine was similar to those treated with ivermectin. CONCLUSIONS The results presented here demonstrate the nematicidal activity of ketamine in vitro and in vivo, thus confirming the nematicidal potential of the molecule present in the fungus P. chlamydosporia may consist of a new method of controlling parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiao Rodrigo Ferreira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.,Centro de Formação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Praça Joana Angélica, 250, Teixeira de Freitas, BA, 45988-058, Brazil
| | - Alan Rodrigues T Machado
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.,Departamento de Ciências Exatas, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Unidade João Monlevade, João Monlevade, MG, 35930-314, Brazil
| | - Luís Fernando Furtado
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.,Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Unidade Passos, Avenida Juca Stockler, Nossa Sra. das Gracas, 1130, Passos, MG, 37900-106, Brazil
| | - Jose Hugo de S Gomes
- Departamento de Produtos Naturais, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Raquel M de Almeida
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Thiago de Oliveira Mendes
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa, MG, 36.570-000, Brazil
| | - Valentina N Maciel
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Fernando Sergio Barbosa
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Lorendane M Carvalho
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa, MG, 36.570-000, Brazil
| | - Lilian Lacerda Bueno
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Jackson Victor de Araújo
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa, MG, 36.570-000, Brazil
| | - Elida M L Rabelo
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Maia de Pádua
- Departamento de Produtos Naturais, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Lucia Pinheiro Santos Pimenta
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
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22
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Krzyżek P, Paluch E, Gościniak G. Synergistic Therapies as a Promising Option for the Treatment of Antibiotic-Resistant Helicobacter pylori. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9100658. [PMID: 33007899 PMCID: PMC7599531 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9100658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for the development of gastric diseases. The issue of spreading antibiotic resistance of H. pylori and its limited therapeutic options is an important topic in modern gastroenterology. This phenomenon is greatly associated with a very narrow range of antibiotics used in standard therapies and, as a consequence, an alarmingly high detection of multidrug-resistant H. pylori strains. For this reason, scientists are increasingly focused on the search for new substances that will not only exhibit antibacterial effect against H. pylori, but also potentiate the activity of antibiotics. The aim of the current review is to present scientific reports showing newly discovered or repurposed compounds with an ability to enhance the antimicrobial activity of classically used antibiotics against H. pylori. To gain a broader context in their future application in therapies of H. pylori infections, their antimicrobial properties, such as minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentrations, dose- and time-dependent mode of action, and, if characterized, anti-biofilm and/or in vivo activity are further described. The authors of this review hope that this article will encourage the scientific community to expand research on the important issue of synergistic therapies in the context of combating H. pylori infections.
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23
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mona Luo
- University of California, San Francisco
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24
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López-López E, Barrientos-Salcedo C, Prieto-Martínez FD, Medina-Franco JL. In silico tools to study molecular targets of neglected diseases: inhibition of TcSir2rp3, an epigenetic enzyme of Trypanosoma cruzi. Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol 2020; 122:203-229. [PMID: 32951812 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There is a growing interest to study and address neglected tropical diseases (NTD). To this end, in silico methods can serve as the bridge that connects academy and industry, encouraging the development of future treatments against these diseases. This chapter discusses current challenges in the development of new therapies, available computational methods and successful cases in computer-aided design with particular focus on human trypanosomiasis. Novel targets are also discussed. As a case study, we identify amentoflavone as a potential inhibitor of TcSir2rp3 (sirtuine) from Trypanosoma cruzi (20.03 μM) with a workflow that integrates chemoinformatic approaches, molecular modeling, and theoretical affinity calculations, as well as in vitro assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar López-López
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Pharmacology, Center of Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Fernando D Prieto-Martínez
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José L Medina-Franco
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
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25
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Duguet TB, Glebov A, Hussain A, Kulkarni S, Mochalkin I, Geary TG, Rashid M, Spangenberg T, Ribeiro P. Identification of annotated bioactive molecules that impair motility of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2020; 13:73-88. [PMID: 32531750 PMCID: PMC7284125 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases are of growing worldwide concern and schistosomiasis, caused by parasitic flatworms, continues to be a major threat with more than 200 million people requiring preventive treatment. As praziquantel (PZQ) remains the treatment of choice, an urgent need for alternative treatments motivates research to identify new lead compounds that would complement PZQ by filling the therapeutic gaps associated with this treatment. Because impairing parasite neurotransmission remains a core strategy for control of parasitic helminths, we screened a library of 708 compounds with validated biological activity in humans on the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni, measuring their effect on the motility on schistosomulae and adult worms. The primary phenotypic screen performed on schistosomulae identified 70 compounds that induced changes in viability and/or motility. Screening different concentrations and incubation times identified molecules with fast onset of activity on both life stages at low concentration (1 μM). To complement this study, similar assays were performed with chemical analogs of the cholinomimetic drug arecoline and the calcilytic molecule NPS-2143, two compounds that rapidly inhibited schistosome motility; 17 arecoline and 302 NPS-2143 analogs were tested to enlarge the pool of schistosomicidal molecules. Finally, validated hit compounds were tested on three functionally-validated neuroregulatory S. mansoni G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs): Sm5HTR (serotonin-sensitive), SmGPR2 (histamine) and SmD2 (dopamine), revealing NPS-2143 and analogs as potent inhibitors of dopamine/epinine responses on both human and S. mansoni GPCRs. This study highlights the potential for repurposing known human therapeutic agents for potential schistosomicidal effects and expands the list of hits for further progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas B Duguet
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Anastasia Glebov
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Asimah Hussain
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Igor Mochalkin
- EMD Serono Research and Development Institute, Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Timothy G Geary
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mohammed Rashid
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Thomas Spangenberg
- Global Health Institute of Merck, Ares Trading S.A., a subsidiary of Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany), Eysins, Switzerland.
| | - Paula Ribeiro
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
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26
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Peña-Espinoza M, Valente AH, Bornancin L, Simonsen HT, Thamsborg SM, Williams AR, López-Muñoz R. Anthelmintic and metabolomic analyses of chicory (Cichorium intybus) identify an industrial by-product with potent in vitro antinematodal activity. Vet Parasitol 2020; 280:109088. [PMID: 32278938 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109088] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a bioactive forage rich in sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) with reported in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity in livestock. However, the on-farm adoption of chicory as an anthelmintic crop is limited and may be facilitated by using standardised industrial chicory material. Chicory root pulp is a by-product obtained from industrial chicory roots after inulin extraction and can potentially retain SLs. However, SL content and associated anthelmintic activity of chicory root pulp have not been investigated. Here, we evaluated the anthelmintic activity of SL-enriched extracts from chicory root pulp and forage chicory, and used untargeted metabolomics and molecular networking to identify potential anthelmintic molecules. Six different sources of chicory material were used: fresh chicory root pulp (from industrial chicory roots C. intybus var. sativum; "Root Pulp"), fresh leaves from chicory cv. Spadona (sampled on four occasions) and fresh leaves from chicory cv. Choice. The resulting extracts were tested for anthelmintic activity against the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the pig nematode Ascaris suum. The cytotoxicity of the chicory extracts was evaluated on mammalian (Vero) cells. In the C. elegans assays, the Root Pulp was the most potent extract and induced paralysis in >95% of worms exposed to >250 μg extract/mL (EC50 = 64.2 μg/mL). In the A. suum assays, the Root Pulp was also the most potent chicory extract to inhibit worm motility (EC50 = 87.6 μg/mL), followed closely by two of the Spadona leaf extracts (EC50 = 89.8 μg/mL and 112.2 μg/mL) The Root Pulp extract had the lowest cytotoxicity of all tested extracts towards mammalian cells, with a selectivity index of 5.37. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that chicory Root Pulp had a markedly different chemical profile in comparison with forage chicory extracts. Molecular networking confirmed several SLs and SL-derivatives mainly present in chicory root pulp, that may be responsible of its potent anti-parasitic activity. Bioactivity-based molecular networking of chicory root pulp and the most potent forage chicory extracts revealed a high predicted anthelmintic score for the guaianolide SL 11,13-dihydro-lactucopicrin. In conclusion, chicory root pulp showed potent and selective in vitro anthelmintic activity against C. elegans and A. suum, with low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells. The promising anthelmintic activity of chicory root pulp should be confirmed in vivo to further explore the potential of this agro-industrial by-product as a nutraceutical anthelmintic for livestock and as novel source of anti-parasitic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Peña-Espinoza
- Instituto de Farmacologia y Morfofisiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
| | - Angela H Valente
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Louis Bornancin
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Henrik T Simonsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Stig M Thamsborg
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Andrew R Williams
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Rodrigo López-Muñoz
- Instituto de Farmacologia y Morfofisiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
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27
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Sepúlveda-Crespo D, Reguera RM, Rojo-Vázquez F, Balaña-Fouce R, Martínez-Valladares M. Drug discovery technologies: Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for anthelmintic therapeutics. Med Res Rev 2020; 40:1715-1753. [PMID: 32166776 DOI: 10.1002/med.21668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Helminthiasis is one of the gravest problems worldwide. There is a growing concern on less available anthelmintics and the emergence of resistance creating a major threat to human and livestock health resources. Novel and broad-spectrum anthelmintics are urgently needed. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans could address this issue through automated high-throughput technologies for the screening of large chemical libraries. This review discusses the strong advantages and limitations for using C elegans as a screening method for anthelmintic drug discovery. C elegans is the best model available for the validation of novel effective drugs in treating most, if not all, helminth infections, and for the elucidation the mode of action of anthelmintic candidates. This review also focuses on available technologies in the discovery of anthelmintics published over the last 15 years with particular attention to high-throughput technologies over conventional screens. On the other hand, this review highlights how combinatorial and nanomedicine strategies could prolong the use of anthelmintics and control resistance problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sepúlveda-Crespo
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Rosa M Reguera
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Francisco Rojo-Vázquez
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), León, Spain.,Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - María Martínez-Valladares
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), León, Spain.,Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
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28
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Liu M, Panda SK, Luyten W. Plant-Based Natural Products for the Discovery and Development of Novel Anthelmintics against Nematodes. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10030426. [PMID: 32182910 PMCID: PMC7175113 DOI: 10.3390/biom10030426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal parasitic nematodes infect approximately two billion people worldwide. In the absence of vaccines for human intestinal nematodes, control of infections currently relies mainly on chemotherapy, but resistance is an increasing problem. Thus, there is an urgent need for the discovery and development of new anthelmintic drugs, especially ones with novel mechanisms of action. Medicinal plants hold great promise as a source of effective treatments, including anthelmintic therapy. They have been used traditionally for centuries and are mostly safe (if not, their toxicity is well-known). However, in most medicinal plants the compounds active against nematodes have not been identified thus far. The free-living nematode C. elegans was demonstrated to be an excellent model system for the discovery of new anthelmintics and for characterizing their mechanism of action or resistance. The compounds discussed in this review are of botanical origin and were published since 2002. Most of them need further studies of their toxicity, mechanisms and structure-activity relationship to assess more fully their potential as drugs.
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29
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Zajíčková M, Nguyen LT, Skálová L, Raisová Stuchlíková L, Matoušková P. Anthelmintics in the future: current trends in the discovery and development of new drugs against gastrointestinal nematodes. Drug Discov Today 2019; 25:430-437. [PMID: 31883953 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The control of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs), the most abundant and serious parasites of livestock, has become difficult because of the limited number of available drugs and fast development of drug resistance. Thus, considerable efforts have been devoted to developing new anthelmintics that are efficient against nematodes, especially resistant species. Here, we summarize the most recent results using various approaches: target-based or high-throughput screening (HTS) of compound libraries; the synthesis of new derivatives or new combinations of current anthelmintics; the repurposing of drugs currently approved for other indications; and lastly, the identification of active plant products. We also evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each of these approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markéta Zajíčková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Linh Thuy Nguyen
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Skálová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Raisová Stuchlíková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Matoušková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
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30
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Krzyżek P, Franiczek R, Krzyżanowska B, Łaczmański Ł, Migdał P, Gościniak G. In Vitro Activity of Sertraline, an Antidepressant, Against Antibiotic-Susceptible and Antibiotic-Resistant Helicobacter pylori Strains. Pathogens 2019; 8:E228. [PMID: 31717683 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8040228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori, a spiral bacterium associated with gastric diseases, is a topic that has been intensively discussed in last decades. Recent discoveries indicate promising antimicrobial and antibiotic-potentiating properties of sertraline (SER), an antidepressant substance. The aim of the study, therefore, was to determine the antibacterial activity of SER in relation to antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains. The antimicrobial tests were performed using a diffusion-disk method, microdilution method, and time-killing assay. The interaction between SER and antibiotics (amoxicillin, clarithromycin, tetracycline, and metronidazole) was determined by using a checkerboard method. In addition, the study was expanded to include observations by light, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy. The growth inhibition zones were in the range of 19–37 mm for discs impregnated with 2 mg of SER. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) counted for 2–8 µg/mL and 4–8 µg/mL, respectively. The time-killing assay showed the time-dependent and concentration-dependent bactericidal activity of SER. Bacteria exposed to MBCs (but not sub-MICs and MICs ≠ MBCs) underwent morphological transformation into coccoid forms. This mechanism, however, was not protective because these cells after a 24-h incubation had a several-fold reduced green/red fluorescence ratio compared to the control. Using the checkerboard assay, a synergistic/additive interaction of SER with all four antibiotics tested was demonstrated. These results indicate that SER may be a promising anti-H. pylori compound.
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Maccesi M, Aguiar PHN, Pasche V, Padilla M, Suzuki BM, Montefusco S, Abagyan R, Keiser J, Mourão MM, Caffrey CR. Multi-center screening of the Pathogen Box collection for schistosomiasis drug discovery. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:493. [PMID: 31640761 PMCID: PMC6805474 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3747-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past five years, as a public service to encourage and accelerate drug discovery for diseases of poverty, the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has released box sets of 400 compounds named the Malaria, Pathogen and Stasis Boxes. Here, we screened the Pathogen Box against the post-infective larvae (schistosomula) of Schistosoma mansoni using assays particular to the three contributing institutions, namely, the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in the USA, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) in Switzerland, and the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) in Brazil. With the same set of compounds, the goal was to determine the degree of inter-assay variability and identify a core set of active compounds common to all three assays. New drugs for schistosomiasis would be welcome given that current treatment and control strategies rely on chemotherapy with just one drug, praziquantel. METHODS Both the UCSD and Swiss TPH assays utilize daily observational scoring methodologies over 72 h, whereas the FIOCRUZ assay employs XTT (2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide) at 72 h to measure viability as a function of NAD+/NADH redox state. Raw and transformed data arising from each assay were assembled for comparative analysis. RESULTS For the UCSD and Swiss TPH assays, there was strong concordance of at least 87% in identifying active and inactive compounds on one or more of the three days. When all three assays were compared at 72 h, concordance remained a robust 74%. Further, robust Pearson's correlations (0.48-0.68) were measured between the assays. Of those actives at 72 h, the UCSD, Swiss TPH and FIOCRUZ assays identified 86, 103 and 66 compounds, respectively, of which 35 were common. Assay idiosyncrasies included the identification of unique compounds, the differential ability to identify known antischistosomal compounds and the concept that compounds of interest might include those that increase metabolic activity above baseline. CONCLUSIONS The inter-assay data generated were in good agreement, including with previously reported data. A common set of antischistosomal molecules for further exploration has been identified .
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Maccesi
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pedro H N Aguiar
- Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, René Rachou Institute, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Valérian Pasche
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, P.O. Box, 4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Melody Padilla
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Brian M Suzuki
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sandro Montefusco
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy
| | - Ruben Abagyan
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, 4002, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, P.O. Box, 4003, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marina M Mourão
- Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, René Rachou Institute, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - 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, CA, USA.
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Bibo-Verdugo B, Wang SC, Almaliti J, Ta AP, Jiang Z, Wong DA, Lietz CB, Suzuki BM, El-Sakkary N, Hook V, Salvesen GS, Gerwick WH, Caffrey CR, O’Donoghue AJ. The Proteasome as a Drug Target in the Metazoan Pathogen, Schistosoma mansoni. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:1802-1812. [PMID: 31355632 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Proteases are fundamental to successful parasitism, including that of the schistosome flatworm parasite, which causes the disease schistosomiasis in 200 million people worldwide. The proteasome is receiving attention as a potential drug target for treatment of a variety of infectious parasitic diseases, but it has been understudied in the schistosome. Adult Schistosoma mansoni were incubated with 1 μM concentrations of the proteasome inhibitors bortezomib, carfilzomib, and MG132. After 24 h, bortezomib and carfilzomib decreased worm motility by more than 85% and endogenous proteasome activity by >75%, and after 72 h, they increased caspase activity by >4.5-fold. The association between the engagement of the proteasome target and the phenotypic and biochemical effects recorded encouraged the chromatographic enrichment of the S. mansoni proteasome (Sm20S). Activity assays with fluorogenic proteasome substrates revealed that Sm20S contains caspase-type (β1), trypsin-type (β2), and chymotrypsin-type (β5) activities. Sm20S was screened with 11 peptide epoxyketone inhibitors derived from the marine natural product carmaphycin B. Analogue 17 was 27.4-fold less cytotoxic to HepG2 cells than carmaphycin B and showed equal potency for the β5 subunits of Sm20S, human constitutive proteasome, and human immunoproteasome. However, this analogue was 13.2-fold more potent at targeting Sm20S β2 than it was at targeting the equivalent subunits of the human enzymes. Furthermore, 1 μM 17 decreased both worm motility and endogenous Sm20S activity by more than 90% after 24 h. We provide direct evidence of the proteasome's importance to schistosome viability and identify a lead for which future studies will aim to improve the potency, selectivity, and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betsaida Bibo-Verdugo
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Steven C Wang
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jehad Almaliti
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Anh P. Ta
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Zhenze Jiang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Derek A. Wong
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Christopher B. Lietz
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Brian M. Suzuki
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Nelly El-Sakkary
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Vivian Hook
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Guy S. Salvesen
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - William H. Gerwick
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 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, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Anthony J. O’Donoghue
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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Elfawal MA, Savinov SN, Aroian RV. Drug Screening for Discovery of Broad-spectrum Agents for Soil-transmitted Nematodes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12347. [PMID: 31451730 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48720-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil-transmitted nematodes (STNs), namely hookworms, whipworms, and ascarids, are extremely common parasites, infecting 1-2 billion of the poorest people worldwide. Two benzimidazoles, albendazole and mebendazole, are currently used in STN mass drug administration, with many instances of low/reduced activity reported. New drugs against STNs are urgently needed. We tested various models for STN drug screening with the aim of identifying the most effective tactics for the discovery of potent, safe and broad-spectrum agents. We screened a 1280-compound library of approved drugs to completion against late larval/adult stages and egg/larval stages of both the human hookworm parasite Ancylostoma ceylanicum and the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is often used as a surrogate for STNs in screens. The quality of positives was further evaluated based on cheminformatics/data mining analyses and activity against evolutionarily distant Trichuris muris whipworm adults. From these data, two pairs of positives, sulconazole/econazole and pararosaniline/cetylpyridinium, predicted to target nematode CYP-450 and HSP-90 respectively, were prioritized for in vivo evaluation against A. ceylanicum infections in hamsters. One of these positives, pararosaniline, showed a significant impact on hookworm fecundity in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that anthelmintic screening with A. ceylanicum larval stages is superior to C. elegans based on both reduced false negative rate and superior overall quality of actives. Our results also highlight two potentially important targets for the discovery of broad-spectrum human STN drugs.
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Bottega A, Serafin MB, da Rosa TF, Foletto VS, Machado CS, Coelho SS, Mainardi A, Hörner R. Antimicrobial and Antineoplastic Properties of Sertraline. Am J Ther 2020; 27:e632-5. [PMID: 31283537 DOI: 10.1097/MJT.0000000000001022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Wangchuk P, Kouremenos K, Eichenberger RM, Pearson M, Susianto A, Wishart DS, McConville MJ, Loukas A. Metabolomic profiling of the excretory-secretory products of hookworm and whipworm. Metabolomics 2019; 15:101. [PMID: 31254203 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-019-1561-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Soil-transmitted helminths infect billions of people, livestock and companion animals worldwide, and chronic infections with these nematodes represent a major health burden in many developing countries. On the other hand, complete elimination of parasitic helminths and other infectious pathogens has been implicated with rising rates of autoimmune and allergic disorders in developed countries. Given the enormous health impact of these parasites, it is surprising how little is known about the non-protein small metabolites of the excretory-secretory products (ESP), including their composition and pharmacological properties. OBJECTIVES We sought proof-of-concept that Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and Trichuris muris, rodent models of two of the most important human soil-transmitted helminths, secrete small metabolites and that some of these metabolites may have specific pharmacological functions. METHODS N. brasiliensis and T. muris ESP were collected from adult worms and filtered using a 10 kDa cut-off membrane to produce excretory-secretory metabolites (ESM). The ESM were analysed using targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for polar and non-polar small metabolites. RESULTS ESM from both N. brasiliensis and T. muris contained small molecules. A total of 54 small molecules (38 polar metabolites and 16 fatty acids) were identified, 36 known polar metabolites from N. brasiliensis and 35 from T. muris. A literature review of the identified compounds revealed that 17 of them have various demonstrated pharmacological activities. CONCLUSION N. brasiliensis and T. muris secrete polar and non-polar small molecules with as many as 17 metabolites known to exhibit various pharmacological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phurpa Wangchuk
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Building E4, McGregor Rd, Smithfield, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia.
| | - Konstantinos Kouremenos
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Ramon M Eichenberger
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Building E4, McGregor Rd, Smithfield, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mark Pearson
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Building E4, McGregor Rd, Smithfield, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia
| | - Atik Susianto
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Building E4, McGregor Rd, Smithfield, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia
| | - David S Wishart
- Department of Biological Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Malcolm J McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Alex Loukas
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Building E4, McGregor Rd, Smithfield, Cairns, QLD, 4878, Australia.
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Probst A, Nguyen TN, El-Sakkary N, Skinner D, Suzuki BM, Buckner FS, Gelb MH, Caffrey CR, Debnath A. Bioactivity of Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors Against Entamoeba histolytica and Schistosoma mansoni. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:180. [PMID: 31192168 PMCID: PMC6548881 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica can induce amebic colitis and amebic liver abscess. First-line drugs for the treatment of amebiasis are nitroimidazoles, particularly metronidazole. Metronidazole has side effects and potential drug resistance is a concern. Schistosomiasis, a chronic and painful infection, is caused by various species of the Schistosoma flatworm. There is only one partially effective drug, praziquantel, a worrisome situation should drug resistance emerge. As many essential metabolic pathways and enzymes are shared between eukaryotic organisms, it is possible to conceive of small molecule interventions that target more than one organism or target, particularly when chemical matter is already available. Farnesyltransferase (FT), the last common enzyme for products derived from the mevalonate pathway, is vital for diverse functions, including cell differentiation and growth. Both E. histolytica and Schistosoma mansoni genomes encode FT genes. In this study, we phenotypically screened E. histolytica and S. mansoni in vitro with the established FT inhibitors, lonafarnib and tipifarnib, and with 125 tipifarnib analogs previously screened against both the whole organism and/or the FT of Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. For E. histolytica, we also explored whether synergy arises by combining lonafarnib and metronidazole or lonafarnib with statins that modulate protein prenylation. We demonstrate the anti-amebic and anti-schistosomal activities of lonafarnib and tipifarnib, and identify 17 tipifarnib analogs with more than 75% growth inhibition at 50 μM against E. histolytica. Apart from five analogs of tipifarnib exhibiting activity against both E. histolytica and S. mansoni, 10 additional analogs demonstrated anti-schistosomal activity (severe degenerative changes at 10 μM after 24 h). Analysis of the structure-activity relationship available for the T. brucei FT suggests that FT may not be the relevant target in E. histolytica and S. mansoni. For E. histolytica, combination of metronidazole and lonafarnib resulted in synergism for growth inhibition. Also, of a number of statins tested, simvastatin exhibited moderate anti-amebic activity which, when combined with lonafarnib, resulted in slight synergism. Even in the absence of a definitive molecular target, identification of potent anti-parasitic tipifarnib analogs encourages further exploration while the synergistic combination of metronidazole and lonafarnib offers a promising treatment strategy for amebiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Probst
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Thi N Nguyen
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 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, CA, United States
| | - Danielle Skinner
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Brian M Suzuki
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Frederick S Buckner
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Michael H Gelb
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 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, CA, United States
| | - Anjan Debnath
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Haeberlein S, Angrisano A, Quack T, Lu Z, Kellershohn J, Blohm A, Grevelding CG, Hahnel SR. Identification of a new panel of reference genes to study pairing-dependent gene expression in Schistosoma mansoni. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:615-624. [PMID: 31136746 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [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: 11/03/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Facilitated by the Schistosoma mansoni genome project, multiple transcriptomic studies were performed over the last decade to elucidate gene expression patterns among different developmental stages of the complex schistosome life cycle. While these analyses enable the identification of candidate genes with key functions in schistosome biology, a diverse molecular tool set is needed that allows comprehensive functional characterization at the single gene level. This includes the availability of reliable reference genes to confirm changes in the transcription of genes of interest over different biological samples and experimental conditions. In particular, the investigation of one key aspect of schistosome biology, the pairing-dependent gene expression in females and males, requires knowledge on reference genes that are expressed independently of both pairing and of in vitro culture effects. Therefore, the present study focused on the identification of quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR reference genes suitable for the investigation of pairing-dependent gene expression in the S. mansoni male. The "pipeline" we present here is based on qRT-PCR analyses of high biological replication combined with three different statistical analysis tools, BestKeeper, geNorm, and NormFinder. Our approach resulted in a statistically robust ranking of 15 selected reference genes with respect to their transcription stability between pairing-unexperienced and -experienced males. We further tested the top seven candidate genes for their transcription stability during invitro culture of adult S. mansoni. Of these, the two most suitable reference genes were used to investigate the influence of the pairing contact on the transcription of genes of interest, comprising a tyrosine decarboxylase gene Smtdc1, an ebony ortholog Smebony, and the follistatin ortholog Smfst in S. mansoni males. Performing pairing, separation and re-pairing experiments with adult S. mansoni in vitro, our results indicate for the first time that pairing can act as a molecular on/off-switch of specific genes to strictly control their expression in schistosome males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Haeberlein
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Quack
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Zhigang Lu
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany; Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Josina Kellershohn
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Ariane Blohm
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Steffen R Hahnel
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
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Li X, Haeberlein S, Zhao L, Mughal MN, Zhu T, Liu L, Fang R, Zhou Y, Zhao J, Grevelding CG, Hu M. The ABL kinase inhibitor imatinib causes phenotypic changes and lethality in adult Schistosoma japonicum. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:881-90. [PMID: 30729300 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06224-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis caused by different species of schistosome parasites is one of the most debilitating helminthic diseases of humans worldwide. For decades, chemotherapy is the main method of controlling schistosomiasis. However, the fear of drug resistance has motivated the search for alternatives. It has been demonstrated that the ABL kinase inhibitor imatinib affected the development and survival of Schistosoma mansoni in vitro; however, there is still lack of information on whether imatinib also affects other schistosome species such as Schistosoma japonicum. In the present study, the anti-schistosomal potency of imatinib on adult S. japonicum was investigated in vitro, and the results showed that imatinib had a significant impact on various physiological processes of S. japonicum adult worms. Besides its negative effects on worm motility, pairing stability, and gonad development, imatinib caused pathological changes in the gastrodermis as well as the death of the parasite. Our findings suggest that imatinib is an intriguing candidate for further development as an option to fight S. japonicum.
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Doulberis M, Papaefthymiou A, Kountouras J, Polyzos SA, Srivastava DS, Perrig M, Katsinelos P, Özgüler O, Kotronis G, Gialamprinou D, Papamichos S, Ingold J, Xanthis A, Exadaktylos AK. Hookworms in Emergency Department: The "Vampire" Within. J Acute Med 2018; 8:135-148. [PMID: 32995216 PMCID: PMC7517929 DOI: 10.6705/j.jacme.201812_8(4).0001] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Hookworms infection is a soil-transmitted helminthic disease particularly endemic in developing counties of tropical regions. It is attributed mainly to two human pathogens nematodes namely Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale. Although the disease has been characterized as "neglected" is very diffi cult to be eliminated and the economic consequences are great. Worms are fed with blood of hosts in small intestine and cause typically iron deficiency anemia with relevant symptoms as well as eosinophilia. Patients admitted in emergency department claim often diffuse general symptoms, whereas cases with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding can be seen. Within this brief review, after introducing some basic elements of hookworms' epidemiology, taxonomy and socioeconomic problem is emphasized, pathogenesis, and life cycle of parasite are concisely explained. Furthermore, clinical manifestations often or rarely seen in emergency department are described. Therapeutic options are also enclosed. Awareness of the problem and critical thinking of patients coming from endemic regions could result to identifying more hookworm cases and their therapy will efficiently alleviate not only the patients per se but health system and societies as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Doulberis
- University Hospital Inselspital Bern Department of General Internal Medicine Bern Switzerland
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Department of Internal Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Ippokration Hospital Thessaloniki, Macedonia Greece
| | | | - Jannis Kountouras
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Department of Internal Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Ippokration Hospital Thessaloniki, Macedonia Greece
| | - Stergios A Polyzos
- Thessaloniki First Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Macedonia Greece
| | | | - Martin Perrig
- University Hospital Inselspital Bern Department of General Internal Medicine Bern Switzerland
| | - Panagiotis Katsinelos
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Department of Internal Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Ippokration Hospital Thessaloniki, Macedonia Greece
| | - Onur Özgüler
- General Hospital Bürgerspital Department of Emergency Medicine Solothurn Switzerland
| | - Georgios Kotronis
- General Hospital Agios Pavlos of Thessaloniki Department of Internal Medicine Thessaloniki, Macedonia Greece
| | - Dimitra Gialamprinou
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Department of Pediatrics, Papageorgiou University Hospital Thessaloniki, Macedonia Greece
| | - Spyros Papamichos
- University Hospital Inselspital Bern Department of Hematology Bern Switzerland
| | - Jonas Ingold
- Tiefenau Hospital of Bern Department of General Internal Medicine Bern Switzerland
| | - Andreas Xanthis
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Department of Internal Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Ippokration Hospital Thessaloniki, Macedonia Greece
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Weeks JC, Robinson KJ, Lockery SR, Roberts WM. Anthelmintic drug actions in resistant and susceptible C. elegans revealed by electrophysiological recordings in a multichannel microfluidic device. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2018; 8:607-628. [PMID: 30503202 PMCID: PMC6287544 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Many anthelmintic drugs used to treat parasitic nematode infections target proteins that regulate electrical activity of neurons and muscles: ion channels (ICs) and neurotransmitter receptors (NTRs). Perturbation of IC/NTR function disrupts worm behavior and can lead to paralysis, starvation, immune attack and expulsion. Limitations of current anthelmintics include a limited spectrum of activity across species and the threat of drug resistance, highlighting the need for new drugs for human and veterinary medicine. Although ICs/NTRs are valuable anthelmintic targets, electrophysiological recordings are not commonly included in drug development pipelines. We designed a medium-throughput platform for recording electropharyngeograms (EPGs)-the electrical signals emitted by muscles and neurons of the pharynx during pharyngeal pumping (feeding)-in Caenorhabditis elegans and parasitic nematodes. The current study in C. elegans expands previous work in several ways. Detecting anthelmintic bioactivity in drugs, compounds or natural products requires robust, sustained pharyngeal pumping under baseline conditions. We generated concentration-response curves for stimulating pumping by perfusing 8-channel microfluidic devices (chips) with the neuromodulator serotonin, or with E. coli bacteria (C. elegans' food in the laboratory). Worm orientation in the chip (head-first vs. tail-first) affected the response to E. coli but not to serotonin. Using a panel of anthelmintics-ivermectin, levamisole and piperazine-targeting different ICs/NTRs, we determined the effects of concentration and treatment duration on EPG activity, and successfully distinguished control (N2) and drug-resistant worms (avr-14; avr-15; glc-1, unc-38 and unc-49). EPG recordings detected anthelmintic activity of drugs that target ICs/NTRs located in the pharynx as well as at extra-pharyngeal sites. A bus-8 mutant with enhanced permeability was more sensitive than controls to drug treatment. These results provide a useful framework for investigators who would like to more easily incorporate electrophysiology as a routine component of their anthelmintic research workflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janis C Weeks
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA.
| | - Kristin J Robinson
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA.
| | - Shawn R Lockery
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA.
| | - William M Roberts
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA.
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Wolfe AR, Neitz RJ, Burlingame M, Suzuki BM, Lim KC, Scheideler M, Nelson DL, Benet LZ, Caffrey CR. TPT sulfonate, a single, oral dose schistosomicidal prodrug: In vivo efficacy, disposition and metabolic profiling. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2018; 8:571-86. [PMID: 30503203 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of schistosomiasis relies precariously on just one drug, praziquantel (PZQ). In the search for alternatives, 15 S-[2-(alkylamino)alkane] thiosulfuric acids were obtained from a previous research program and profiled in mice for efficacy against both mature (>42-day-old) and juvenile (21-day-old) Schistosoma mansoni using a screening dose of 100 mg/kg PO QDx4. One compound, S-[2-(tert-butylamino)-1-phenylethane] thiosulfuric acid (TPT sulfonate), was the most effective by decreasing female and male worm burdens by ≥ 90% and ≥46% (mature), and ≥89% and ≥79% (juvenile), respectively. In contrast, PZQ decreased mature female and male worm burdens by 95% and 94%, respectively, but was ineffective against juvenile stages. Against 7-day-old lung-stage worms, TPT sulfonate was only effective at twice the dose decreasing female and male burdens by 95 and 80%, respectively. Single oral doses at 400 and/or 600 mg/kg across various developmental time-points (1-, 7-, 15-, 21- and/or 42 day-old) were consistent with the QD x4 data; efficacy was strongest once the parasites had completed lung migration, and female and male burdens were decreased by at least 90% and 80%, respectively. In vitro, TPT sulfonate is inactive against the parasite suggesting a pro-drug mechanism of action. In mice, TPT sulfonate is fully absorbed and subject to rapid, non-CYP-mediated, first-pass metabolism that is initiated by desulfation and yields a series of metabolites. The initially-formed free thiol-containing metabolite, termed TP thiol, was chemically synthesized; it dose-dependently decreased S. mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium motility in vitro. Also, when administered as a single 50 mg/kg IP dose, TP thiol decreased 33-day-old S. mansoni female and male burdens by 35% and 44%, with less severe organomegaly. Overall, TPT sulfonate's efficacy profile is competitive with that of PZQ. Also, the characterization of a parasiticidal metabolite facilitates an understanding and improvement of the chemistry, and identification of the mechanism of action and/or target. TPT sulfonate provides single dose efficacy that is competitive with the current drug, praziquantel. TPT sulfonate must be biotransformed to be active. TPT sulfonate is fully absorbed and subject to rapid, non-CYP-mediated, first-pass metabolism. One of the key metabolites, TP thiol, is anti-schistosomal in vitro and in vivo.
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Ferreira DD, Mesquita JT, da Costa Silva TA, Romanelli MM, da Gama Jaen Batista D, da Silva CF, da Gama ANS, Neves BJ, Melo-Filho CC, Correia Soeiro MDN, Andrade CH, Tempone AG. Efficacy of sertraline against Trypanosoma cruzi: an in vitro and in silico study. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2018; 24:30. [PMID: 30450114 PMCID: PMC6208092 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-018-0165-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Drug repurposing has been an interesting and cost-effective approach, especially for neglected diseases, such as Chagas disease. Methods In this work, we studied the activity of the antidepressant drug sertraline against Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of the Y and Tulahuen strains, and investigated its action mode using cell biology and in silico approaches. Results Sertraline demonstrated in vitro efficacy against intracellular amastigotes of both T. cruzi strains inside different host cells, including cardiomyocytes, with IC50 values between 1 to 10 μM, and activity against bloodstream trypomastigotes, with IC50 of 14 μM. Considering the mammalian cytotoxicity, the drug resulted in a selectivity index of 17.8. Sertraline induced a change in the mitochondrial integrity of T. cruzi, resulting in a decrease in ATP levels, but not affecting reactive oxygen levels or plasma membrane permeability. In silico approaches using chemogenomic target fishing, homology modeling and molecular docking suggested the enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 of T. cruzi (TcIDH2) as a potential target for sertraline. Conclusions The present study demonstrated that sertraline had a lethal effect on different forms and strains of T. cruzi, by affecting the bioenergetic metabolism of the parasite. These findings provide a starting point for future experimental assays and may contribute to the development of new compounds. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40409-018-0165-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiane Dias Ferreira
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 351, 8° andar, sala 9, CEP, São Paulo, SP 01246-000 Brazil
| | - Juliana Tonini Mesquita
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 351, 8° andar, sala 9, CEP, São Paulo, SP 01246-000 Brazil
| | - Thais Alves da Costa Silva
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 351, 8° andar, sala 9, CEP, São Paulo, SP 01246-000 Brazil
| | - Maiara Maria Romanelli
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 351, 8° andar, sala 9, CEP, São Paulo, SP 01246-000 Brazil
| | - Denise da Gama Jaen Batista
- 2Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Celular do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365 Manguinhos, CEP, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-360 Brazil
| | - Cristiane França da Silva
- 2Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Celular do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365 Manguinhos, CEP, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-360 Brazil
| | - Aline Nefertiti Silva da Gama
- 2Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Celular do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365 Manguinhos, CEP, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-360 Brazil
| | - Bruno Junior Neves
- 3Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rua 240 Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia, GO 74605170 Brazil
| | - Cleber Camilo Melo-Filho
- 3Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rua 240 Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia, GO 74605170 Brazil
| | - Maria de Nazare Correia Soeiro
- 2Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Celular do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365 Manguinhos, CEP, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21040-360 Brazil
| | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- 3Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rua 240 Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia, GO 74605170 Brazil
| | - Andre Gustavo Tempone
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 351, 8° andar, sala 9, CEP, São Paulo, SP 01246-000 Brazil
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El-Sakkary N, Chen S, Arkin MR, Caffrey CR, Ribeiro P. Octopamine signaling in the metazoan pathogen Schistosoma mansoni: localization, small-molecule screening and opportunities for drug development. Dis Model Mech 2018; 11:dmm033563. [PMID: 29925529 PMCID: PMC6078403 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.033563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease caused by a flatworm trematode parasite that infects over 200 million people worldwide. Treatment and control of the disease rely on just one drug, praziquantel. The possibility of drug resistance coupled with praziquantel's variable efficacy encourages the identification of new drugs and drug targets. Disruption of neuromuscular homeostasis in parasitic worms is a validated strategy for drug development. In schistosomes, however, much remains to be understood about the organization of the nervous system, its component neurotransmitters and potential for drug discovery. Using synapsin as a neuronal marker, we map the central and peripheral nervous systems in the Schistosoma mansoni adult and schistosomulum (post-infective larva). We discover the widespread presence of octopamine (OA), a tyrosine-derived and invertebrate-specific neurotransmitter involved in neuromuscular coordination. OA labeling facilitated the discovery of two pairs of ganglia in the brain of the adult schistosome, rather than the one pair thus far reported for this and other trematodes. In quantitative phenotypic assays, OA and the structurally related tyrosine-derived phenolamine and catecholamine neurotransmitters differentially modulated schistosomulum motility and length. Similarly, from a screen of 28 drug agonists and antagonists of tyrosine-derivative signaling, certain drugs that act on OA and dopamine receptors induced robust and sometimes complex concentration-dependent effects on schistosome motility and length; in some cases, these effects occurred at concentrations achievable in vivo The present data advance our knowledge of the organization of the nervous system in this globally important pathogen and identify a number of drugs that interfere with tyrosine-derivative signaling, one or more of which might provide the basis for a new chemotherapeutic approach to treat schistosomiasis.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelly El-Sakkary
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, 21, 111 Lakeshore Road, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X-3V9
| | - Steven Chen
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Michelle R Arkin
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Paula Ribeiro
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, 21, 111 Lakeshore Road, Ste Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X-3V9
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Mangoni AA, Tuccinardi T, Collina S, Vanden Eynde JJ, Muñoz-Torrero D, Karaman R, Siciliano C, de Sousa ME, Prokai-Tatrai K, Rautio J, Guillou C, Gütschow M, Galdiero S, Liu H, Agrofoglio LA, Sabatier JM, Hulme C, Kokotos G, You Q, Gomes PAC. Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes-3. Molecules 2018; 23:E1596. [PMID: 29966350 PMCID: PMC6099979 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23071596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Arduino A Mangoni
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
| | - Tiziano Tuccinardi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Simona Collina
- Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, Centre for Health Technologies (CHT), University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde
- Formerly head of the Department of Organic Chemistry (FS), University of Mons-UMONS, 7000 Mons, Belgium.
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, Barcelona E-08028, Spain.
| | - Rafik Karaman
- Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, POB 20002 Jerusalem, Palestine.
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Viadell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
| | - Carlo Siciliano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, I-87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy.
| | - Maria Emília de Sousa
- Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências, Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
- Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR/CIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal.
| | - Katalin Prokai-Tatrai
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, and the Institute for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
| | - Jarkko Rautio
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Catherine Guillou
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR 2301, Université de Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Michael Gütschow
- Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53115 Bonn, Germany.
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- Department of Pharmacy, CIRPEB-University of Naples "Federico II", Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Hong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Luigi A Agrofoglio
- ICOA UMR CNRS 6005, Universite d'Orleans, Rue de Chartres, 45067 Orleans CEDEX 2, France.
| | - Jean-Marc Sabatier
- Laboratory INSERM UMR 1097, Aix-Marseille University, 163, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Avenue de Luminy, Bâtiment TPR2, Case 939, Marseille 13288, France.
| | - Christopher Hulme
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Biological Sciences West Room 351, 1041 East Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
| | - George Kokotos
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15771, Greece.
| | - Qidong You
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Paula A C Gomes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
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