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Araujo SC, de Angelo RM, Barbosa H, Costa-Silva TA, Tempone AG, Lago JHG, Honorio KM. Identification of inhibitors as drug candidates against Chagas disease. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 248:115074. [PMID: 36623331 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115074] [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: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease, after more than a century after its discovery, is still a major public health problem. It is estimated that approximately 10 million people worldwide are infected with T. cruzi. However, the situation is more critical in Latin America and other regions where the disease is endemic. The largest number of cases occurs in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico as more than 100 million people in these regions are located in areas with a high risk of contamination by the vector. The need for new therapeutic alternatives is urgent, as the available drugs have severe limitations such as low efficacy and high toxicity. From this scenario, in this work, we employed the virtual screening technique using cruzain and BDF2 as key biological targets for the survival of the parasite. Our objective was to identify potential inhibitors of T. cruzi trypomastigotes, which could be considered drug candidates against Chagas disease. For this, we employed different in silico methodologies and the obtained results were corroborated using in vitro biological assays. For the VS studies, a database containing synthetic compounds was simulated at the binding site of cruzain and BDF2. In addition, pharmacophoric models were constructed in the initial phases of VS, as well as other advanced analyses (molecular dynamics simulations, calculations of binding free energy, and ADME prediction) were carried out and the results allowed the selection of potential inhibitors of T. cruzi. Based on the obtained data, 32 different compounds commercially available were subjected to biological tests against the trypomastigote form of T. cruzi. As result, 11 of those compounds displayed significant activity against T. cruzi and can be considered potential candidates for the treatment of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Cruz Araujo
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, São Paulo, 09210-180, Brazil
| | | | - Henrique Barbosa
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, São Paulo, 09210-180, Brazil
| | - Thais Alves Costa-Silva
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, São Paulo, 09210-180, Brazil
| | - André Gustavo Tempone
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, 01246-902, Brazil
| | | | - Kathia Maria Honorio
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, São Paulo, 09210-180, Brazil; School of Arts, Science, and Humanities, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, 03828-000, Brazil.
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2
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Lemke C, Jílková A, Ferber D, Braune A, On A, Johe P, Zíková A, Schirmeister T, Mareš M, Horn M, Gütschow M. Two Tags in One Probe: Combining Fluorescence- and Biotin-based Detection of the Trypanosomal Cysteine Protease Rhodesain. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202201636. [PMID: 35852812 PMCID: PMC9826439 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202201636] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Rhodesain is the major cysteine protease of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei and a therapeutic target for sleeping sickness, a fatal neglected tropical disease. We designed, synthesized and characterized a bimodal activity-based probe that binds to and inactivates rhodesain. This probe exhibited an irreversible mode of action and extraordinary potency for the target protease with a kinac /Ki value of 37,000 M-1 s-1 . Two reporter tags, a fluorescent coumarin moiety and a biotin affinity label, were incorporated into the probe and enabled highly sensitive detection of rhodesain in a complex proteome by in-gel fluorescence and on-blot chemiluminescence. Furthermore, the probe was employed for microseparation and quantification of rhodesain and for inhibitor screening using a competition assay. The developed bimodal rhodesain probe represents a new proteomic tool for studying Trypanosoma pathobiochemistry and antitrypanosomal drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Lemke
- Pharmaceutical InstituteDepartment of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal ChemistryUniversity of BonnAn der Immenburg 453121BonnGermany
| | - Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryCzech Academy of SciencesFlemingovo n. 216610PragueCzech Republic
| | - Dominic Ferber
- Pharmaceutical InstituteDepartment of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal ChemistryUniversity of BonnAn der Immenburg 453121BonnGermany
| | - Annett Braune
- Research Group Intestinal MicrobiologyGerman Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-RehbrueckeArthur-Scheunert-Allee 114–11614558NuthetalGermany
| | - Anja On
- Pharmaceutical InstituteDepartment of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal ChemistryUniversity of BonnAn der Immenburg 453121BonnGermany
| | - Patrick Johe
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences (IPBS)Johannes Gutenberg University of MainzStaudingerweg 555128MainzGermany
| | - Alena Zíková
- Biology Centre CASInstitute of ParasitologyUniversity of South BohemiaFaculty of ScienceBranišovská 1160/3137005České BudějoviceCzech Republic
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences (IPBS)Johannes Gutenberg University of MainzStaudingerweg 555128MainzGermany
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryCzech Academy of SciencesFlemingovo n. 216610PragueCzech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryCzech Academy of SciencesFlemingovo n. 216610PragueCzech Republic
| | - Michael Gütschow
- Pharmaceutical InstituteDepartment of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal ChemistryUniversity of BonnAn der Immenburg 453121BonnGermany
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Kourbeli V, Chontzopoulou E, Moschovou K, Pavlos D, Mavromoustakos T, Papanastasiou IP. An Overview on Target-Based Drug Design against Kinetoplastid Protozoan Infections: Human African Trypanosomiasis, Chagas Disease and Leishmaniases. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26154629. [PMID: 34361781 PMCID: PMC8348971 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26154629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan diseases Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas disease (CD), and leishmaniases span worldwide and therefore their impact is a universal concern. The present regimen against kinetoplastid protozoan infections is poor and insufficient. Target-based design expands the horizon of drug design and development and offers novel chemical entities and potential drug candidates to the therapeutic arsenal against the aforementioned neglected diseases. In this review, we report the most promising targets of the main kinetoplastid parasites, as well as their corresponding inhibitors. This overview is part of the Special Issue, entitled "Advances of Medicinal Chemistry against Kinetoplastid Protozoa (Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp.) Infections: Drug Design, Synthesis and Pharmacology".
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Kourbeli
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 84 Athens, Greece;
| | - Eleni Chontzopoulou
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (E.C.); (K.M.); (D.P.); (T.M.)
| | - Kalliopi Moschovou
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (E.C.); (K.M.); (D.P.); (T.M.)
| | - Dimitrios Pavlos
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (E.C.); (K.M.); (D.P.); (T.M.)
| | - Thomas Mavromoustakos
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (E.C.); (K.M.); (D.P.); (T.M.)
| | - Ioannis P. Papanastasiou
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 84 Athens, Greece;
- Correspondence:
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4
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Hansen AH, Christensen HB, Pandey SK, Sergeev E, Valentini A, Dunlop J, Dedeo D, Fratta S, Hudson BD, Milligan G, Ulven T, Rexen Ulven E. Structure-Activity Relationship Explorations and Discovery of a Potent Antagonist for the Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:3326-3341. [PMID: 34288488 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100356] [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: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2) is a sensor for short-chain fatty acids that has been identified as an interesting potential drug target for treatment of metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Although several ligand series are known for the receptor, there is still a need for improved compounds. One of the most potent and frequently used antagonists is the amide-substituted phenylbutanoic acid known as CATPB ( 1 ). We here report the structure-activity relationship exploration of this compound, leading to the identification of homologues with increased potency. The preferred compound 37 (TUG-1958) was found, besides improved potency, to have high solubility and favorable pharmacokinetic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Højgaard Hansen
- University of Southern Denmark: Syddansk Universitet, Department of Physics,Chemistry and Pharmacy, DENMARK
| | - Henriette B Christensen
- University of Southern Denmark: Syddansk Universitet, Department of Physics, Chemsitry and Pharmacy, DENMARK
| | - Sunil K Pandey
- University of Southern Denmark: Syddansk Universitet, FKF, DENMARK
| | - Eugenia Sergeev
- University of Glasgow, Center for Translational Pharmacology, UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Alice Valentini
- University of Copenhagen: Kobenhavns Universitet, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacoloy, DENMARK
| | - Julia Dunlop
- University of Glasgow, Center for Translational Medicine, DENMARK
| | - Domonkos Dedeo
- University of Glasgow, Center for Translational Research, DENMARK
| | - Simone Fratta
- University of Copenhagen: Kobenhavns Universitet, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, DENMARK
| | - Brian D Hudson
- University of Glasgow, Center for Translational Medicine, DENMARK
| | - Graeme Milligan
- University of Glasgow, Center for Translational Research, DENMARK
| | - Trond Ulven
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Jagtvej 162, DK-2100, Copenhagen, DENMARK
| | - Elisabeth Rexen Ulven
- University of Copenhagen: Kobenhavns Universitet, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, DENMARK
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5
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Doherty W, Adler N, Butler TJ, Knox AJS, Evans P. Synthesis and optimisation of P 3 substituted vinyl sulfone-based inhibitors as anti-trypanosomal agents. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115774. [PMID: 32992251 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A series of lysine-based vinyl sulfone peptidomimetics were synthesised and evaluated for anti-trypanosomal activity against bloodstream forms of T. brucei. This focused set of compounds, varying in the P3 position, were accessed in a divergent manner from a common intermediate (ammonium salt 8). Several P3 analogues exhibited sub-micromolar EC50 values, with thiourea 14, urea 15 and amide 21 representing the most potent anti-trypanosomal derivatives of the series. In order to establish an in vitro selectivity index the most active anti-trypanosomal compounds were also assessed for their impact on cell viability and cytotoxity effects in mammalian cells. Encouragingly, all compounds only reduced cellular metabolic activity in mammalian cells to a modest level and little, or no cytotoxicity, was observed with the series.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Doherty
- Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 N2E2, Ireland
| | - Nikoletta Adler
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Thomas J Butler
- School of Biological and Health Sciences, Technological University Dublin, Dublin City Campus, Kevin St., Dublin D08 NF82, Ireland
| | - Andrew J S Knox
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland; School of Biological and Health Sciences, Technological University Dublin, Dublin City Campus, Kevin St., Dublin D08 NF82, Ireland.
| | - Paul Evans
- Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 N2E2, Ireland.
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6
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Cannalire R, Stefanelli I, Cerchia C, Beccari AR, Pelliccia S, Summa V. SARS-CoV-2 Entry Inhibitors: Small Molecules and Peptides Targeting Virus or Host Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165707. [PMID: 32784899 PMCID: PMC7460888 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The pandemic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 infection is forcing the scientific community to unprecedented efforts to explore all possible approaches against COVID-19. In this context, targeting virus entry is a promising antiviral strategy for controlling viral infections. The main strategies pursued to inhibit the viral entry are considering both the virus and the host factors involved in the process. Primarily, direct-acting antivirals rely on inhibition of the interaction between ACE2 and the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the Spike (S) protein or targeting the more conserved heptad repeats (HRs), involved in the membrane fusion process. The inhibition of host TMPRSS2 and cathepsins B/L may represent a complementary strategy to be investigated. In this review, we discuss the development entry inhibitors targeting the S protein, as well as the most promising host targeting strategies involving TMPRSS2 and CatB/L, which have been exploited so far against CoVs and other related viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolando Cannalire
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli “Federico II”, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (R.C.); (I.S.); (C.C.); (S.P.)
| | - Irina Stefanelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli “Federico II”, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (R.C.); (I.S.); (C.C.); (S.P.)
| | - Carmen Cerchia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli “Federico II”, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (R.C.); (I.S.); (C.C.); (S.P.)
| | | | - Sveva Pelliccia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli “Federico II”, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (R.C.); (I.S.); (C.C.); (S.P.)
| | - Vincenzo Summa
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli “Federico II”, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy; (R.C.); (I.S.); (C.C.); (S.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081-678656
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7
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Dehghanpoor S, Sadeghi B, Mosslemin MH. Green Nano-Silica Sulfuric Acid-Catalyzed Synthesis of New 6-Amino-8-aryl-7-(benzenesulfonyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-pyrano[3,2-b]pyran-4(8H)-one Derivatives. Russ J Org Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s107042801912025x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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8
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Santos SS, de Araújo RV, Giarolla J, Seoud OE, Ferreira EI. Searching for drugs for Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis: a review. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2020; 55:105906. [PMID: 31987883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.105906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis are neglected diseases (NDs) and are a considerable global challenge. Despite the huge number of people infected, NDs do not create interest from pharmaceutical companies because the associated revenue is generally low. Most of the research on these diseases has been conducted in academic institutions. The chemotherapeutic armamentarium for NDs is scarce and inefficient and better drugs are needed. Researchers have found some promising potential drug candidates using medicinal chemistry and computational approaches. Most of these compounds are synthetic but some are from natural sources or are semi-synthetic. Drug repurposing or repositioning has also been greatly stimulated for NDs. This review considers some potential drug candidates and provides details of their design, discovery and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraya Silva Santos
- Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutics Potentially Active in Neglected Diseases (LAPEN), Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo-USP, Avenue Professor Lineu Prestes, 580-Building 13, São Paulo SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Renan Vinicius de Araújo
- Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutics Potentially Active in Neglected Diseases (LAPEN), Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo-USP, Avenue Professor Lineu Prestes, 580-Building 13, São Paulo SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Jeanine Giarolla
- Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutics Potentially Active in Neglected Diseases (LAPEN), Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo-USP, Avenue Professor Lineu Prestes, 580-Building 13, São Paulo SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Omar El Seoud
- Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutics Potentially Active in Neglected Diseases (LAPEN), Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo-USP, Avenue Professor Lineu Prestes, 580-Building 13, São Paulo SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Igne Ferreira
- Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutics Potentially Active in Neglected Diseases (LAPEN), Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo-USP, Avenue Professor Lineu Prestes, 580-Building 13, São Paulo SP, 05508-900, Brazil.
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9
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Abstract
Introduction: Chagas disease affects 8-10 million people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. The current therapy for Chagas disease is limited to nifurtimox and benznidazole, which are effective in treating only the acute phase of the disease but with severe side effects. Therefore, there is an unmet need for new drugs and for the exploration of innovative approaches which may lead to the discovery of new effective and safe drugs for its treatment. Areas covered: The authors report and discuss recent approaches including structure-based design that have led to the discovery of new promising small molecule candidates for Chagas disease which affect prime targets that intervene in the sterol pathway of T. cruzi. Other trypanosome targets, phenotypic screening, the use of artificial intelligence and the challenges with Chagas disease drug discovery are also discussed. Expert opinion: The application of recent scientific innovations to the field of Chagas disease have led to the discovery of new promising drug candidates for Chagas disease. Phenotypic screening brought new hits and opportunities for drug discovery. Artificial intelligence also has the potential to accelerate drug discovery in Chagas disease and further research into this is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Villalta
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College , Nashville , TN , USA
| | - Girish Rachakonda
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College , Nashville , TN , USA
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Sadeghi B. Synthesis of novel 6-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-8-aryl-7-(phenylsulfonyl)pyrano[3,2-b]pyran-4(8H)-one derivatives catalyzed by nano-cellulose-OSO3H. Res Chem Intermed 2019; 45:4897-906. [DOI: 10.1007/s11164-019-03870-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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11
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Abyar E, Sadeghi B, Mosslemin MH. Synthesis of Novel 2-Amino-7-Methyl-4-Aryl-3-(Phenylsulfonyl)Pyrano[4,3- b]Pyran-5(4 H)-One Derivatives in the Presence TiCl 4 Supported on Kaolin as a Nano Catalyst. Polycycl Aromat Compd 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/10406638.2019.1628784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elahe Abyar
- Department of Chemistry, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran
| | - Bahareh Sadeghi
- Department of Chemistry, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran
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12
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Ding M, Zhang L, Guo H, Zhong M. Basic Ionic Liquid HEAA Catalysed One-Pot Synthesis of Novel 2-Amino-3-Phenylsulfonyl-4H-Pyrans Derivatives. Journal of Chemical Research 2019. [DOI: 10.3184/174751913x13848855844040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maohua Ding
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, P.R. China
| | - Lei Zhang
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, P.R. China
| | - Hongyun Guo
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, P.R. China
| | - Mingqiang Zhong
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, P.R. China
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13
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Field MC, Horn D, Fairlamb AH, Ferguson MAJ, Gray DW, Read KD, De Rycker M, Torrie LS, Wyatt PG, Wyllie S, Gilbert IH. Anti-trypanosomatid drug discovery: an ongoing challenge and a continuing need. Nat Rev Microbiol 2017; 15:217-231. [PMID: 28239154 PMCID: PMC5582623 DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro.2016.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The WHO recognizes human African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease and the leishmaniases as neglected tropical diseases. These diseases are caused by parasitic trypanosomatids and range in severity from mild and self-curing to near invariably fatal. Public health advances have substantially decreased the effect of these diseases in recent decades but alone will not eliminate them. In this Review, we discuss why new drugs against trypanosomatids are required, approaches that are under investigation to develop new drugs and why the drug discovery pipeline remains essentially unfilled. In addition, we consider the important challenges to drug discovery strategies and the new technologies that can address them. The combination of new drugs, new technologies and public health initiatives is essential for the management, and hopefully eventual elimination, of trypanosomatid diseases from the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Field
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - David Horn
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Alan H Fairlamb
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Michael A J Ferguson
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - David W Gray
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Kevin D Read
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Manu De Rycker
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Leah S Torrie
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Paul G Wyatt
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Susan Wyllie
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Ian H Gilbert
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
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14
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Goupil LS, Ivry SL, Hsieh I, Suzuki BM, Craik CS, O’Donoghue AJ, McKerrow JH. Cysteine and Aspartyl Proteases Contribute to Protein Digestion in the Gut of Freshwater Planaria. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004893. [PMID: 27501047 PMCID: PMC4976874 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteases perform numerous vital functions in flatworms, many of which are likely to be conserved throughout the phylum Platyhelminthes. Within this phylum are several parasitic worms that are often poorly characterized due to their complex life-cycles and lack of responsiveness to genetic manipulation. The flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea, or planaria, is an ideal model organism to study the complex role of protein digestion due to its simple life cycle and amenability to techniques like RNA interference (RNAi). In this study, we were interested in deconvoluting the digestive protease system that exists in the planarian gut. To do this, we developed an alcohol-induced regurgitation technique to enrich for the gut enzymes in S. mediterranea. Using a panel of fluorescent substrates, we show that this treatment produces a sharp increase in proteolytic activity. These enzymes have broad yet diverse substrate specificity profiles. Proteomic analysis of the gut contents revealed the presence of cysteine and metallo-proteases. However, treatment with class-specific inhibitors showed that aspartyl and cysteine proteases are responsible for the majority of protein digestion. Specific RNAi knockdown of the cathepsin B-like cysteine protease (SmedCB) reduced protein degradation in vivo. Immunohistochemistry and whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) confirmed that the full-length and active forms of SmedCB are found in secretory cells surrounding the planaria intestinal lumen. Finally, we show that the knockdown of SmedCB reduces the speed of tissue regeneration. Defining the roles of proteases in planaria can provide insight to functions of conserved proteases in parasitic flatworms, potentially uncovering drug targets in parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise S. Goupil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Sam L. Ivry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Ivy Hsieh
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Brian M. Suzuki
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Charles S. Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Anthony J. O’Donoghue
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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15
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Bermudez J, Davies C, Simonazzi A, Pablo Real J, Palma S. Current drug therapy and pharmaceutical challenges for Chagas disease. Acta Trop 2016; 156:1-16. [PMID: 26747009 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the most significant health problems in the American continent in terms of human health, and socioeconomic impact is Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Infection was originally transmitted by reduviid insects, congenitally from mother to fetus, and by oral ingestion in sylvatic/rural environments, but blood transfusions, organ transplants, laboratory accidents, and sharing of contaminated syringes also contribute to modern day transmission. Likewise, Chagas disease used to be endemic from Northern Mexico to Argentina, but migrations have earned it global. The parasite has a complex life cycle, infecting different species, and invading a variety of cells - including muscle and nerve cells of the heart and gastrointestinal tract - in the mammalian host. Human infection outcome is a potentially fatal cardiomyopathy, and gastrointestinal tract lesions. In absence of a vaccine, vector control and treatment of patients are the only tools to control the disease. Unfortunately, the only drugs now available for Chagas' disease, Nifurtimox and Benznidazole, are relatively toxic for adult patients, and require prolonged administration. Benznidazole is the first choice for Chagas disease treatment due to its lower side effects than Nifurtimox. However, different strategies are being sought to overcome Benznidazole's toxicity including shorter or intermittent administration schedules-either alone or in combination with other drugs. In addition, a long list of compounds has shown trypanocidal activity, ranging from natural products to specially designed molecules, re-purposing drugs commercialized to treat other maladies, and homeopathy. In the present review, we will briefly summarize the upturns of current treatment of Chagas disease, discuss the increment on research and scientific publications about this topic, and give an overview of the state-of-the-art research aiming to produce an alternative medication to treat T. cruzi infection.
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16
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McShan D, Kathman S, Lowe B, Xu Z, Zhan J, Statsyuk A, Ogungbe IV. Identification of non-peptidic cysteine reactive fragments as inhibitors of cysteine protease rhodesain. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2015; 25:4509-12. [PMID: 26342866 PMCID: PMC4592840 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.08.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rhodesain, the major cathepsin L-like cysteine protease in the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness, is a well-validated drug target. In this work, we used a fragment-based approach to identify inhibitors of this cysteine protease, and identified inhibitors of T. brucei. To discover inhibitors active against rhodesain and T. brucei, we screened a library of covalent fragments against rhodesain and conducted preliminary SAR studies. We envision that in vitro enzymatic assays will further expand the use of the covalent tethering method, a simple fragment-based drug discovery technique to discover covalent drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle McShan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, United States
| | - Stefan Kathman
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Brittiney Lowe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, United States
| | - Ziyang Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Jennifer Zhan
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Alexander Statsyuk
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, United States
| | - Ifedayo Victor Ogungbe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, United States
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17
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Khare S, Roach SL, Barnes SW, Hoepfner D, Walker JR, Chatterjee AK, Neitz RJ, Arkin MR, McNamara CW, Ballard J, Lai Y, Fu Y, Molteni V, Yeh V, McKerrow JH, Glynne RJ, Supek F. Utilizing Chemical Genomics to Identify Cytochrome b as a Novel Drug Target for Chagas Disease. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005058. [PMID: 26186534 PMCID: PMC4506092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Unbiased phenotypic screens enable identification of small molecules that inhibit pathogen growth by unanticipated mechanisms. These small molecules can be used as starting points for drug discovery programs that target such mechanisms. A major challenge of the approach is the identification of the cellular targets. Here we report GNF7686, a small molecule inhibitor of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, and identification of cytochrome b as its target. Following discovery of GNF7686 in a parasite growth inhibition high throughput screen, we were able to evolve a GNF7686-resistant culture of T. cruzi epimastigotes. Clones from this culture bore a mutation coding for a substitution of leucine by phenylalanine at amino acid position 197 in cytochrome b. Cytochrome b is a component of complex III (cytochrome bc1) in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and catalyzes the transfer of electrons from ubiquinol to cytochrome c by a mechanism that utilizes two distinct catalytic sites, QN and QP. The L197F mutation is located in the QN site and confers resistance to GNF7686 in both parasite cell growth and biochemical cytochrome b assays. Additionally, the mutant cytochrome b confers resistance to antimycin A, another QN site inhibitor, but not to strobilurin or myxothiazol, which target the QP site. GNF7686 represents a promising starting point for Chagas disease drug discovery as it potently inhibits growth of intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes with a half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 0.15 µM, and is highly specific for T. cruzi cytochrome b. No effect on the mammalian respiratory chain or mammalian cell proliferation was observed with up to 25 µM of GNF7686. Our approach, which combines T. cruzi chemical genetics with biochemical target validation, can be broadly applied to the discovery of additional novel drug targets and drug leads for Chagas disease. Chagas Disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is caused by the kinetoplastid protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is primarily transmitted to a mammalian host via a triatomine insect vector (the “kissing bug”) infected with T. cruzi parasites. Although discovered in 1909 by the physician Dr. Carlos Chagas, the disease gained recognition by the public health community only following a major outbreak in Brazil during the 1960s. Approximately eight million people (primarily in Central and South America) are infected with T. cruzi and cases are becoming more widespread due to migration out of the endemic regions. Current treatment options have severe problems with toxicity, limited efficacy, and long administration. Hence, discovery of new drugs for treatment of Chagas disease has become of prime interest to the biomedical research community. In this study, we report identification of a potent inhibitor of T. cruzi growth and use a chemical genetics-based approach to elucidate the associated mechanism of action. We found that this compound, GNF7686, targets cytochrome b, a component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain crucial for ATP generation. Our study provides new insights into the use of phenotypic screening to identify novel targets for kinetoplastid drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpi Khare
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Steven L. Roach
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - S. Whitney Barnes
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Dominic Hoepfner
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, Basel, Switzerland
| | - John R. Walker
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Arnab K. Chatterjee
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - R. Jeffrey Neitz
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michelle R. Arkin
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Case W. McNamara
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Jaime Ballard
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Yin Lai
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Yue Fu
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Valentina Molteni
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Vince Yeh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Richard J. Glynne
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Frantisek Supek
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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18
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Ekins S, Lage de Siqueira-Neto J, McCall LI, Sarker M, Yadav M, Ponder EL, Kallel EA, Kellar D, Chen S, Arkin M, Bunin BA, McKerrow JH, Talcott C. Machine Learning Models and Pathway Genome Data Base for Trypanosoma cruzi Drug Discovery. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003878. [PMID: 26114876 PMCID: PMC4482694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the eukaryotic parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The current clinical and preclinical pipeline for T. cruzi is extremely sparse and lacks drug target diversity. Methodology/Principal Findings In the present study we developed a computational approach that utilized data from several public whole-cell, phenotypic high throughput screens that have been completed for T. cruzi by the Broad Institute, including a single screen of over 300,000 molecules in the search for chemical probes as part of the NIH Molecular Libraries program. We have also compiled and curated relevant biological and chemical compound screening data including (i) compounds and biological activity data from the literature, (ii) high throughput screening datasets, and (iii) predicted metabolites of T. cruzi metabolic pathways. This information was used to help us identify compounds and their potential targets. We have constructed a Pathway Genome Data Base for T. cruzi. In addition, we have developed Bayesian machine learning models that were used to virtually screen libraries of compounds. Ninety-seven compounds were selected for in vitro testing, and 11 of these were found to have EC50 < 10μM. We progressed five compounds to an in vivo mouse efficacy model of Chagas disease and validated that the machine learning model could identify in vitro active compounds not in the training set, as well as known positive controls. The antimalarial pyronaridine possessed 85.2% efficacy in the acute Chagas mouse model. We have also proposed potential targets (for future verification) for this compound based on structural similarity to known compounds with targets in T. cruzi. Conclusions/ Significance We have demonstrated how combining chemoinformatics and bioinformatics for T. cruzi drug discovery can bring interesting in vivo active molecules to light that may have been overlooked. The approach we have taken is broadly applicable to other NTDs. Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the eukaryotic parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease is endemic to Latin America but is increasingly found in North America and Europe, primarily through immigration, and the spread of this disease is bringing new attention to the need for novel, safe, and effective therapeutics to treat T. cruzi infection. We have used data from a phenotypic screen to build Bayesian models to predict anti-parasitic activity against T. cruzi in vitro. These models were used to score various small libraries of molecules. We selected less than 100 compounds for testing and found in vitro actives, some of which were tested in an in vivo efficacy model. We identified the antimalarial pyronaridine as having in vivo efficacy and provides us with a new starting point for further investigation and optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Ekins
- Collaborative Drug Discovery, Burlingame, California, United States of America
- Collaborations in Chemistry, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jair Lage de Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Malabika Sarker
- SRI International, Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | - Maneesh Yadav
- SRI International, Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth L. Ponder
- Chemistry, Engineering & Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - E. Adam Kallel
- Collaborative Drug Discovery, Burlingame, California, United States of America
| | - Danielle Kellar
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Steven Chen
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michelle Arkin
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Barry A. Bunin
- Collaborative Drug Discovery, Burlingame, California, United States of America
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Carolyn Talcott
- SRI International, Menlo Park, California, United States of America
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19
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Neitz RJ, Bryant C, Chen S, Gut J, Hugo Caselli E, Ponce S, Chowdhury S, Xu H, Arkin MR, Ellman JA, Renslo AR. Tetrafluorophenoxymethyl ketone cruzain inhibitors with improved pharmacokinetic properties as therapeutic leads for Chagas' disease. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2015; 25:4834-4837. [PMID: 26144347 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.06.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of the cysteine protease cruzain from Trypanosoma cruzi has been studied pre-clinically as a new chemotherapeutic approach to treat Chagas' disease. Efficacious effects of vinylsulfone-based cruzain inhibitors in animal models support this therapeutic hypothesis. More recently, substrate-activity screening was used to identify nonpeptidic tetrafluorophenoxymethyl ketone inhibitors of cruzain that showed promising efficacy in animal models. Herein we report efforts to further optimize the in vitro potency and in vivo pharmacokinetic properties of this new class of cruzain inhibitors. Through modifications of the P1, P2 and/or P3 positions, new analogs have been identified with reduced lipophilicity, enhanced potency, and improved oral exposure and bioavailability.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Jeffrey Neitz
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Clifford Bryant
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Steven Chen
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Jiri Gut
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Estefania Hugo Caselli
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Servando Ponce
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Somenath Chowdhury
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Haichao Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Michelle R Arkin
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States
| | - Jonathan A Ellman
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Adam R Renslo
- Small Molecule Discovery Center, and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, United States.
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20
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Zhou Y, Vedantham P, Lu K, Agudelo J, Carrion R, Nunneley JW, Barnard D, Pöhlmann S, McKerrow JH, Renslo AR, Simmons G. Protease inhibitors targeting coronavirus and filovirus entry. Antiviral Res 2015; 116:76-84. [PMID: 25666761 PMCID: PMC4774534 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2015.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 441] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Revised: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We identify vinylsulfones as lead candidate inhibitors of Ebola virus and SARS-CoV. K11777 inhibited Ebola virus and SARS-CoV entry in the sub-nanomolar range. Potent inhibition correlated with the presence of a basic piperazine ring at P3. Serine protease inhibitor and K11777 blocked coronavirus entry into caco-2 cells. Camostat protected 6 out of ten mice from lethal infection with SARS-CoV.
In order to gain entry into cells, diverse viruses, including Ebola virus, SARS-coronavirus and the emerging MERS-coronavirus, depend on activation of their envelope glycoproteins by host cell proteases. The respective enzymes are thus excellent targets for antiviral intervention. In cell culture, activation of Ebola virus, as well as SARS- and MERS-coronavirus can be accomplished by the endosomal cysteine proteases, cathepsin L (CTSL) and cathepsin B (CTSB). In addition, SARS- and MERS-coronavirus can use serine proteases localized at the cell surface, for their activation. However, it is currently unclear which protease(s) facilitate viral spread in the infected host. We report here that the cysteine protease inhibitor K11777, ((2S)-N-[(1E,3S)-1-(benzenesulfonyl)-5-phenylpent-1-en-3-yl]-2-{[(E)-4-methylpiperazine-1-carbonyl]amino}-3-phenylpropanamide) and closely-related vinylsulfones act as broad-spectrum antivirals by targeting cathepsin-mediated cell entry. K11777 is already in advanced stages of development for a number of parasitic diseases, such as Chagas disease, and has proven to be safe and effective in a range of animal models. K11777 inhibition of SARS-CoV and Ebola virus entry was observed in the sub-nanomolar range. In order to assess whether cysteine or serine proteases promote viral spread in the host, we compared the antiviral activity of an optimized K11777-derivative with that of camostat, an inhibitor of TMPRSS2 and related serine proteases. Employing a pathogenic animal model of SARS-CoV infection, we demonstrated that viral spread and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV is driven by serine rather than cysteine proteases and can be effectively prevented by camostat. Camostat has been clinically used to treat chronic pancreatitis, and thus represents an exciting potential therapeutic for respiratory coronavirus infections. Our results indicate that camostat, or similar serine protease inhibitors, might be an effective option for treatment of SARS and potentially MERS, while vinyl sulfone-based inhibitors are excellent lead candidates for Ebola virus therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanchen Zhou
- Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Punitha Vedantham
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Kai Lu
- Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Juliet Agudelo
- Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Ricardo Carrion
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
| | | | - Dale Barnard
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Science, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - James H McKerrow
- Department of Pathology and Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Adam R Renslo
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Graham Simmons
- Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA.
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21
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Abstract
The last half-century has provided all of the (few) drugs currently used to treat human helminthiases. Concern regarding the long-term utility of these drugs, given how readily resistance evolves in the veterinary-agricultural sector, spurs the discovery of new chemical entities. We review the approaches and technologies in use to identify anthelmintics and discuss a number of drug discovery paradigms that may prove pivotal to the next half-century of anthelmintic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy G Geary
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3V9
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22
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yong Choi
- Department
of Chemistry, Scripps Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Larissa M. Podust
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, and Department of
Pathology, University of California—San
Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - William R. Roush
- Department
of Chemistry, Scripps Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
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23
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Vieira DF, Choi JY, Calvet CM, Siqueira-Neto JL, Johnston JB, Kellar D, Gut J, Cameron MD, McKerrow JH, Roush WR, Podust LM. Binding mode and potency of N-indolyloxopyridinyl-4-aminopropanyl-based inhibitors targeting Trypanosoma cruzi CYP51. J Med Chem 2014; 57:10162-75. [PMID: 25393646 PMCID: PMC4266343 DOI: 10.1021/jm501568b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Chagas disease is a chronic infection
in humans caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and manifested
in progressive cardiomyopathy
and/or gastrointestinal dysfunction. Limited therapeutic options to
prevent and treat Chagas disease put 8 million people infected with T. cruzi worldwide at risk. CYP51, involved in the biosynthesis
of the membrane sterol component in eukaryotes, is a promising drug
target in T. cruzi. We report the structure–activity
relationships (SAR) of an N-arylpiperazine series
of N-indolyloxopyridinyl-4-aminopropanyl-based inhibitors
designed to probe the impact of substituents in the terminal N-phenyl
ring on binding mode, selectivity and potency. Depending on the substituents
at C-4, two distinct ring binding modes, buried and solvent-exposed,
have been observed by X-ray structure analysis (resolution of 1.95–2.48
Å). The 5-chloro-substituted analogs 9 and 10 with no substituent at C-4 demonstrated improved selectivity
and potency, suppressing ≥99.8% parasitemia in mice when administered
orally at 25 mg/kg, b.i.d., for 4 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora F Vieira
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, ‡Department of Pathology, and §Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California-San Francisco , San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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24
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Doherty W, James J, Evans P, Martin L, Adler N, Nolan D, Knox A. Preparation, anti-trypanosomal activity and localisation of a series of dipeptide-based vinyl sulfones. Org Biomol Chem 2014; 12:7561-71. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ob01412j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
An improved, Weinreb amide-based, synthesis of anti-trypanosomal lysine-containing vinyl sulfones is described incorporating, as a feature, diversity at the ε-lysine amino group.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Doherty
- Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
- University College Dublin
- Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Jinju James
- Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
- University College Dublin
- Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Paul Evans
- Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
- University College Dublin
- Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Laura Martin
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology
- Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
- Trinity College Dublin
- Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Nikoletta Adler
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology
- Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
- Trinity College Dublin
- Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Derek Nolan
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology
- Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
- Trinity College Dublin
- Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Andrew Knox
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology
- Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
- Trinity College Dublin
- Dublin 2, Ireland
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25
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Abstract
Ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like (UBL) proteins regulate a vast variety of cellular functions. Some UBL proteins are present in all cell types, while others are expressed only in certain cells or under certain environmental conditions. This highlights the central role of UBL systems in regulation of ubiquitous as well as specific cellular functions. UBL proteins share little amino acid sequence identity to each other, yet they share similar 3D shapes, which is exemplified by the β-grasp fold. Central to UBL protein signaling pathways are UBL protein-activating E1 enzymes that activate the C-terminus of UBL proteins for subsequent conjugation to the protein substrates. Due to their critical roles in biology, E1 enzymes have been recognized as emerging drug targets to treat human diseases. In spite of their biological significance, however, methods to discover UBL proteins and to monitor the intracellular activity of E1 enzymes are lacking. Thus, there is a critical need for methods to evaluate the intracellular mechanisms of action of E1 enzyme inhibitors. Here we describe the development of a mechanism-based small-molecule probe, ABP1, that can be used to discover and to detect active UBL proteins, and to monitor the intracellular activity of E1 enzymes inside intact cells. The developed probe can also be used to profile the selectivity of E1 enzyme-targeting drugs in vitro and inside intact cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heeseon An
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University , Silverman Hall, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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Aguilera-venegas B, Olea-azar C, Arán VJ, Speisky H. Indazoles: a new top seed structure in the search of efficient drugs against Trypanosoma cruzi. Future Med Chem 2013; 5:1843-59. [DOI: 10.4155/fmc.13.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
For years, Chagas disease treatment has been limited to only two drugs of highly questionable and controversial use (Nifurtimox® and Benznidazole®). In the search of effective drugs, many efforts have been made, but only a few structures have emerged as actual candidates. Heading into this, the multitarget-directed approach appears as the best choice. In this framework, indazoles were shown to be potent Trypanosoma cruzi growth inhibitors, being able to lead both the formation of reactive oxygen species and the inhibition of trypanothione reductase. Herein, we discuss the main structural factors that rule the anti-T. cruzi properties of indazoles, and how they would be involved in the biological properties as well as in the action mechanisms, attempting to make parallels between the old paradigms and current evidences in order to outline what could be the next steps to follow in regard to the future drug design for Chagas disease treatment.
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Dunny E, Doherty W, Evans P, Malthouse JPG, Nolan D, Knox AJS. Vinyl Sulfone-Based Peptidomimetics as Anti-Trypanosomal Agents: Design, Synthesis, Biological and Computational Evaluation. J Med Chem 2013; 56:6638-50. [DOI: 10.1021/jm400294w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Dunny
- Centre for Synthesis
and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - William Doherty
- Centre for Synthesis
and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Paul Evans
- Centre for Synthesis
and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - J. Paul G. Malthouse
- Conway Institute,
School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Derek Nolan
- School of Biochemistry
and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Andrew J. S. Knox
- School of Biochemistry
and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Nishino M, Choy JW, Gushwa NN, Oses-Prieto JA, Koupparis K, Burlingame AL, Renslo AR, McKerrow JH, Taunton J. Hypothemycin, a fungal natural product, identifies therapeutic targets in Trypanosoma brucei [corrected]. eLife 2013; 2:e00712. [PMID: 23853713 PMCID: PMC3707081 DOI: 10.7554/elife.00712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein kinases are potentially attractive therapeutic targets for neglected parasitic diseases, including African trypanosomiasis caused by the protozoan, Trypanosoma brucei. How to prioritize T. brucei kinases and quantify their intracellular engagement by small-molecule inhibitors remain unsolved problems. Here, we combine chemoproteomics and RNA interference to interrogate trypanosome kinases bearing a Cys-Asp-Xaa-Gly motif (CDXG kinases). We discovered that hypothemycin, a fungal polyketide previously shown to covalently inactivate a subset of human CDXG kinases, kills T. brucei in culture and in infected mice. Quantitative chemoproteomic analysis with a hypothemycin-based probe revealed the relative sensitivity of endogenous CDXG kinases, including TbGSK3short and a previously uncharacterized kinase, TbCLK1. RNAi-mediated knockdown demonstrated that both kinases are essential, but only TbCLK1 is fully engaged by cytotoxic concentrations of hypothemycin in intact cells. Our study identifies TbCLK1 as a therapeutic target for African trypanosomiasis and establishes a new chemoproteomic tool for interrogating CDXG kinases in their native context. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00712.001 Human African trypanosomiasis—commonly known as sleeping sickness—is a debilitating and potentially fatal tropical disease that is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by the single-celled parasite Trypanosoma brucei, which is transmitted to humans by the bite of the tsetse fly. The infection takes its name from the disruption of the circadian clock that occurs early on in the disorder and leads to sleep disturbances. If left untreated, T. brucei infection leads to coma, organ failure and death. Most of the existing pharmaceutical treatments for sleeping sickness were developed more than 50 years ago. However, they are only weakly absorbed into the bloodstream—meaning that high doses must be used—and they lead to unpleasant side effects. Moreover, the T. brucei parasite is developing resistance to existing drugs, so further research is needed to identify new therapeutic targets. One promising option could be the parasite’s protein kinases. These enzymes, which add phosphate-based chemical groups to proteins, have a key role in regulating protein function and many of them are already being investigated as therapeutic targets for cancers and autoimmune diseases. T. brucei has 182 different kinases, suggesting a wealth of potential new targets. However, many of these are similar to human enzymes, and inhibiting the latter could lead to harmful side effects. Now, Nishino et al. have produced a synthetic version of a microbially derived kinase inhibitor, called hypothemycin, and have shown that it kills T. brucei cells grown in culture. Hypothemycin also killed T. brucei in infected mice, completely curing the infection in one third of animals, although high doses of the drug led to side effects. Using a chemical biology approach and quantitative mass spectrometry, Nishino et al. found that the main target of hypothemycin was a previously unknown kinase that is essential for T. brucei survival. Although hypothemycin itself is probably unsuitable as a treatment due to its lack of specificity, the work of Nishino et al. suggests that its kinase targets deserve further investigation. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00712.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Nishino
- Tetrad Graduate Program , University of California, San Francisco , San Francisco , United States ; Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases , University of California, San Francisco , San Francisco , United States
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