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Steketee PC, Giordani F, Vincent IM, Crouch K, Achcar F, Dickens NJ, Morrison LJ, MacLeod A, Barrett MP. Transcriptional differentiation of Trypanosoma brucei during in vitro acquisition of resistance to acoziborole. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009939. [PMID: 34752454 PMCID: PMC8648117 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009939] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Subspecies of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei are the causative agents of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), a debilitating neglected tropical disease prevalent across sub-Saharan Africa. HAT case numbers have steadily decreased since the start of the century, and sustainable elimination of one form of the disease is in sight. However, key to this is the development of novel drugs to combat the disease. Acoziborole is a recently developed benzoxaborole, currently in advanced clinical trials, for treatment of stage 1 and stage 2 HAT. Importantly, acoziborole is orally bioavailable, and curative with one dose. Recent studies have made significant progress in determining the molecular mode of action of acoziborole. However, less is known about the potential mechanisms leading to acoziborole resistance in trypanosomes. In this study, an in vitro-derived acoziborole-resistant cell line was generated and characterised. The AcoR line exhibited significant cross-resistance with the methyltransferase inhibitor sinefungin as well as hypersensitisation to known trypanocides. Interestingly, transcriptomics analysis of AcoR cells indicated the parasites had obtained a procyclic- or stumpy-like transcriptome profile, with upregulation of procyclin surface proteins as well as differential regulation of key metabolic genes known to be expressed in a life cycle-specific manner, even in the absence of major morphological changes. However, no changes were observed in transcripts encoding CPSF3, the recently identified protein target of acoziborole. The results suggest that generation of resistance to this novel compound in vitro can be accompanied by transcriptomic switches resembling a procyclic- or stumpy-type phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter C. Steketee
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Giordani
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel M. Vincent
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Crouch
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Achcar
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. Dickens
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Liam J. Morrison
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Annette MacLeod
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Polyomics, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
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2
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Giordani F, Paape D, Vincent IM, Pountain AW, Fernández-Cortés F, Rico E, Zhang N, Morrison LJ, Freund Y, Witty MJ, Peter R, Edwards DY, Wilkes JM, van der Hooft JJJ, Regnault C, Read KD, Horn D, Field MC, Barrett MP. Veterinary trypanocidal benzoxaboroles are peptidase-activated prodrugs. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008932. [PMID: 33141865 PMCID: PMC7710103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Livestock diseases caused by Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax and T. brucei, collectively known as nagana, are responsible for billions of dollars in lost food production annually. There is an urgent need for novel therapeutics. Encouragingly, promising antitrypanosomal benzoxaboroles are under veterinary development. Here, we show that the most efficacious subclass of these compounds are prodrugs activated by trypanosome serine carboxypeptidases (CBPs). Drug-resistance to a development candidate, AN11736, emerged readily in T. brucei, due to partial deletion within the locus containing three tandem copies of the CBP genes. T. congolense parasites, which possess a larger array of related CBPs, also developed resistance to AN11736 through deletion within the locus. A genome-scale screen in T. brucei confirmed CBP loss-of-function as the primary mechanism of resistance and CRISPR-Cas9 editing proved that partial deletion within the locus was sufficient to confer resistance. CBP re-expression in either T. brucei or T. congolense AN11736-resistant lines restored drug-susceptibility. CBPs act by cleaving the benzoxaborole AN11736 to a carboxylic acid derivative, revealing a prodrug activation mechanism. Loss of CBP activity results in massive reduction in net uptake of AN11736, indicating that entry is facilitated by the concentration gradient created by prodrug metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Giordani
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Paape
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel M. Vincent
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew W. Pountain
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Fernando Fernández-Cortés
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Rico
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Ning Zhang
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Liam J. Morrison
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Yvonne Freund
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Witty
- Global Alliance for Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemary Peter
- Global Alliance for Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Darren Y. Edwards
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan M. Wilkes
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Justin J. J. van der Hooft
- Glasgow Polyomics, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Current address: Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Clément Regnault
- Glasgow Polyomics, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin D. Read
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - David Horn
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Mark C. Field
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Polyomics, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Lim AT, Vincent IM, Barrett MP, Gilbert IH. Small Polar Hits against S. aureus: Screening, Initial Hit Optimization, and Metabolomic Studies. ACS Omega 2019; 4:19199-19215. [PMID: 31763544 PMCID: PMC6869403 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b02507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The global prevalence of antibacterial resistance requires new antibacterial drugs with novel chemical scaffolds and modes of action. It is also vital to design compounds with optimal physicochemical properties to permeate the bacterial cell envelope. We described an approach of combining and integrating whole cell screening and metabolomics into early antibacterial drug discovery using a library of small polar compounds. Whole cell screening of a diverse library of small polar compounds against Staphylococcus aureus gave compound 2. Hit expansion was carried out to determine structure-activity relationships. A selection of compounds from this series, together with other screened active compounds, was subjected to an initial metabolomics study to provide a metabolic fingerprint of the mode of action. It was found that compound 2 and its analogues have a different mode of action from some of the known antibacterial compounds tested. This early study highlighted the potential of whole cell screening and metabolomics in early antibacterial drug discovery. Future works will require improving potency and performing orthogonal studies to confirm the modes of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew
S. T. Lim
- Drug
Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Division
of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K.
| | - Isabel M. Vincent
- Glasgow
Polyomics, University of Glasgow, Wolfson
Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Campus, Bearsden G61 1QH, U.K.
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Glasgow
Polyomics, University of Glasgow, Wolfson
Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Campus, Bearsden G61 1QH, U.K.
- Wellcome
Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity
and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, U.K.
| | - Ian H. Gilbert
- Drug
Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Division
of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, U.K.
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Begolo D, Vincent IM, Giordani F, Pöhner I, Witty MJ, Rowan TG, Bengaly Z, Gillingwater K, Freund Y, Wade RC, Barrett MP, Clayton C. The trypanocidal benzoxaborole AN7973 inhibits trypanosome mRNA processing. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007315. [PMID: 30252911 PMCID: PMC6173450 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [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: 04/12/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastid parasites-trypanosomes and leishmanias-infect millions of humans and cause economically devastating diseases of livestock, and the few existing drugs have serious deficiencies. Benzoxaborole-based compounds are very promising potential novel anti-trypanosomal therapies, with candidates already in human and animal clinical trials. We investigated the mechanism of action of several benzoxaboroles, including AN7973, an early candidate for veterinary trypanosomosis. In all kinetoplastids, transcription is polycistronic. Individual mRNA 5'-ends are created by trans splicing of a short leader sequence, with coupled polyadenylation of the preceding mRNA. Treatment of Trypanosoma brucei with AN7973 inhibited trans splicing within 1h, as judged by loss of the Y-structure splicing intermediate, reduced levels of mRNA, and accumulation of peri-nuclear granules. Methylation of the spliced leader precursor RNA was not affected, but more prolonged AN7973 treatment caused an increase in S-adenosyl methionine and methylated lysine. Together, the results indicate that mRNA processing is a primary target of AN7973. Polyadenylation is required for kinetoplastid trans splicing, and the EC50 for AN7973 in T. brucei was increased three-fold by over-expression of the T. brucei cleavage and polyadenylation factor CPSF3, identifying CPSF3 as a potential molecular target. Molecular modeling results suggested that inhibition of CPSF3 by AN7973 is feasible. Our results thus chemically validate mRNA processing as a viable drug target in trypanosomes. Several other benzoxaboroles showed metabolomic and splicing effects that were similar to those of AN7973, identifying splicing inhibition as a common mode of action and suggesting that it might be linked to subsequent changes in methylated metabolites. Granule formation, splicing inhibition and resistance after CPSF3 expression did not, however, always correlate and prolonged selection of trypanosomes in AN7973 resulted in only 1.5-fold resistance. It is therefore possible that the modes of action of oxaboroles that target trypanosome mRNA processing might extend beyond CPSF3 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Begolo
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Isabel M. Vincent
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Giordani
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ina Pöhner
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Schloß-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael J. Witty
- Global Alliance for Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, Doherty Building, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy G. Rowan
- Global Alliance for Livestock and Veterinary Medicine, Doherty Building, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Zakaria Bengaly
- Centre International de Recherche–Développement sur l’Elevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES), Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
| | - Kirsten Gillingwater
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yvonne Freund
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Rebecca C. Wade
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), Schloß-Wolfsbrunnenweg 35, Heidelberg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 205, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Polyomics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Clayton
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Im Neuenheimer Feld 282, Heidelberg, Germany
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Steketee PC, Vincent IM, Achcar F, Giordani F, Kim DH, Creek DJ, Freund Y, Jacobs R, Rattigan K, Horn D, Field MC, MacLeod A, Barrett MP. Benzoxaborole treatment perturbs S-adenosyl-L-methionine metabolism in Trypanosoma brucei. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006450. [PMID: 29758036 PMCID: PMC5976210 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei causes Human African Trypanosomiasis and Nagana in other mammals. These diseases present a major socio-economic burden to large areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Current therapies involve complex and toxic regimens, which can lead to fatal side-effects. In addition, there is emerging evidence for drug resistance. AN5568 (SCYX-7158) is a novel benzoxaborole class compound that has been selected as a lead compound for the treatment of HAT, and has demonstrated effective clearance of both early and late stage trypanosomiasis in vivo. The compound is currently awaiting phase III clinical trials and could lead to a novel oral therapeutic for the treatment of HAT. However, the mode of action of AN5568 in T. brucei is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the mode of action of AN5568 against T. brucei, using a combination of molecular and metabolomics-based approaches.Treatment of blood-stage trypanosomes with AN5568 led to significant perturbations in parasite metabolism. In particular, elevated levels of metabolites involved in the metabolism of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, an essential methyl group donor, were found. Further comparative metabolomic analyses using an S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferase inhibitor, sinefungin, showed the presence of several striking metabolic phenotypes common to both treatments. Furthermore, several metabolic changes in AN5568 treated parasites resemble those invoked in cells treated with a strong reducing agent, dithiothreitol, suggesting redox imbalances could be involved in the killing mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter C. Steketee
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel M. Vincent
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Achcar
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Giordani
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Dong-Hyun Kim
- Centre for Analytical Bioscience, Division of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yvonne Freund
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Robert Jacobs
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Kevin Rattigan
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David Horn
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Mark C. Field
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Annette MacLeod
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Zhang N, Zoltner M, Leung KF, Scullion P, Hutchinson S, del Pino RC, Vincent IM, Zhang YK, Freund YR, Alley MRK, Jacobs RT, Read KD, Barrett MP, Horn D, Field MC. Host-parasite co-metabolic activation of antitrypanosomal aminomethyl-benzoxaboroles. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006850. [PMID: 29425238 PMCID: PMC5823473 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent development of benzoxaborole-based chemistry gave rise to a collection of compounds with great potential in targeting diverse infectious diseases, including human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), a devastating neglected tropical disease. However, further medicinal development is largely restricted by a lack of insight into mechanism of action (MoA) in pathogenic kinetoplastids. We adopted a multidisciplinary approach, combining a high-throughput forward genetic screen with functional group focused chemical biological, structural biology and biochemical analyses, to tackle the complex MoAs of benzoxaboroles in Trypanosoma brucei. We describe an oxidative enzymatic pathway composed of host semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase and a trypanosomal aldehyde dehydrogenase TbALDH3. Two sequential reactions through this pathway serve as the key underlying mechanism for activating a series of 4-aminomethylphenoxy-benzoxaboroles as potent trypanocides; the methylamine parental compounds as pro-drugs are transformed first into intermediate aldehyde metabolites, and further into the carboxylate metabolites as effective forms. Moreover, comparative biochemical and crystallographic analyses elucidated the catalytic specificity of TbALDH3 towards the benzaldehyde benzoxaborole metabolites as xenogeneic substrates. Overall, this work proposes a novel drug activation mechanism dependent on both host and parasite metabolism of primary amine containing molecules, which contributes a new perspective to our understanding of the benzoxaborole MoA, and could be further exploited to improve the therapeutic index of antimicrobial compounds. Human African Trypanomiasis (HAT) is among a list of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) that impose devastating burdens on both public health and economy of some of the most unprivileged societies across the world. To secure the long-term global control of the disease, it is critical to understand the mechanisms underlying the interactions of drugs and drug candidates with the causative agents as well as resistance potentially arising from use of the compounds. We demonstrated here a metabolic enzymatic cascade dependent on a host-pathogen interaction that determines potency against T. brucei of a series of benzoxaborole compounds. More importantly, this pathway represents a metabolic interaction network between host and pathogen, illuminating an important perspective on understanding mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhang
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Zoltner
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Ka-Fai Leung
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Scullion
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Hutchinson
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Ricardo C. del Pino
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel M. Vincent
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Yong-Kang Zhang
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Yvonne R. Freund
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Michael R. K. Alley
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Robert T. Jacobs
- Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Palo Alto, California, United States of America
| | - Kevin D. Read
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David Horn
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Mark C. Field
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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7
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Mwenechanya R, Kovářová J, Dickens NJ, Mudaliar M, Herzyk P, Vincent IM, Weidt SK, Burgess KE, Burchmore RJS, Pountain AW, Smith TK, Creek DJ, Kim DH, Lepesheva GI, Barrett MP. Sterol 14α-demethylase mutation leads to amphotericin B resistance in Leishmania mexicana. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017. [PMID: 28622334 PMCID: PMC5498063 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [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] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphotericin B has emerged as the therapy of choice for use against the leishmaniases. Administration of the drug in its liposomal formulation as a single injection is being promoted in a campaign to bring the leishmaniases under control. Understanding the risks and mechanisms of resistance is therefore of great importance. Here we select amphotericin B-resistant Leishmania mexicana parasites with relative ease. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that ergosterol, the sterol known to bind the drug, is prevalent in wild-type cells, but diminished in the resistant line, where alternative sterols become prevalent. This indicates that the resistance phenotype is related to loss of drug binding. Comparing sequences of the parasites' genomes revealed a plethora of single nucleotide polymorphisms that distinguish wild-type and resistant cells, but only one of these was found to be homozygous and associated with a gene encoding an enzyme in the sterol biosynthetic pathway, sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51). The mutation, N176I, is found outside of the enzyme's active site, consistent with the fact that the resistant line continues to produce the enzyme's product. Expression of wild-type sterol 14α-demethylase in the resistant cells caused reversion to drug sensitivity and a restoration of ergosterol synthesis, showing that the mutation is indeed responsible for resistance. The amphotericin B resistant parasites become hypersensitive to pentamidine and also agents that induce oxidative stress. This work reveals the power of combining polyomics approaches, to discover the mechanism underlying drug resistance as well as offering novel insights into the selection of resistance to amphotericin B itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Mwenechanya
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Julie Kovářová
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. Dickens
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Manikhandan Mudaliar
- Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Pawel Herzyk
- Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel M. Vincent
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan K. Weidt
- Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Karl E. Burgess
- Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. S. Burchmore
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew W. Pountain
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Terry K. Smith
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St. Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Drug Delivery, Disposition & Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dong-Hyun Kim
- Centre for Analytical Bioscience, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Galina I. Lepesheva
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Akram MI, Vincent IM, Siddiqui AJ, Musharraf SG. Polymeric hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometry and chemometric analysis for untargeted metabolite profiling of natural rice variants. J Cereal Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcs.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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9
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Vincent IM, Daly R, Courtioux B, Cattanach AM, Biéler S, Ndung’u JM, Bisser S, Barrett MP. Metabolomics Identifies Multiple Candidate Biomarkers to Diagnose and Stage Human African Trypanosomiasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005140. [PMID: 27941966 PMCID: PMC5152828 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment for human African trypanosomiasis is dependent on the species of trypanosome causing the disease and the stage of the disease (stage 1 defined by parasites being present in blood and lymphatics whilst for stage 2, parasites are found beyond the blood-brain barrier in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)). Currently, staging relies upon detecting the very low number of parasites or elevated white blood cell numbers in CSF. Improved staging is desirable, as is the elimination of the need for lumbar puncture. Here we use metabolomics to probe samples of CSF, plasma and urine from 40 Angolan patients infected with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, at different disease stages. Urine samples provided no robust markers indicative of infection or stage of infection due to inherent variability in urine concentrations. Biomarkers in CSF were able to distinguish patients at stage 1 or advanced stage 2 with absolute specificity. Eleven metabolites clearly distinguished the stage in most patients and two of these (neopterin and 5-hydroxytryptophan) showed 100% specificity and sensitivity between our stage 1 and advanced stage 2 samples. Neopterin is an inflammatory biomarker previously shown in CSF of stage 2 but not stage 1 patients. 5-hydroxytryptophan is an important metabolite in the serotonin synthetic pathway, the key pathway in determining somnolence, thus offering a possible link to the eponymous symptoms of “sleeping sickness”. Plasma also yielded several biomarkers clearly indicative of the presence (87% sensitivity and 95% specificity) and stage of disease (92% sensitivity and 81% specificity). A logistic regression model including these metabolites showed clear separation of patients being either at stage 1 or advanced stage 2 or indeed diseased (both stages) versus control. Human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is a parasitic disease that affects people in sub-Saharan Africa. There are two stages of the infection. The first stage involves parasites proliferating in the bloodstream following introduction via the bite of an infected tsetse fly. The second, more serious stage, involves parasite invasion and proliferation within the central nervous system causing characteristic disturbances to the patients’ sleep wake patterns and progressive appearance of other neurological signs, including walking disabilities behaviour changes, abnormal movements, incontinence, then ultimately coma and death. Drugs are available to treat both stages of the disease, but the drugs for stage 2 disease have serious side effects and must be administered in hospital settings. Stage determination is thus a key element for disease management. Currently staging involves microscopic evaluation of CSF following a lumbar puncture. Here, we have analysed the metabolome of CSF, blood and urine of patients to seek biomarkers to stage the disease based on these biofluids. CSF and blood fluids were found to have distinctive metabolic biomarkers and when several of these metabolites are combined, a sensitive and robust discriminatory staging test can be developed. Some CSF metabolic markers relate to brain inflammation, whilst others may be related to somnolence associated with the disease in stage 2 patients, which may also help in understanding disease progression. Interestingly, distinctive biomarkers were also found in plasma, potentially abrogating the need for diagnostic lumbar punctures in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel M. Vincent
- Wellcome Trust Centre of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Rónán Daly
- Glasgow Polyomics, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Bertrand Courtioux
- INSERM U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France; Université de Limoges, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, Limoges, France
| | - Amy M. Cattanach
- Glasgow Polyomics, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sylvain Biéler
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Sylvie Bisser
- INSERM U1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Limoges, France; Université de Limoges, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, Limoges, France
- * E-mail: (MPB); (SBis)
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- Wellcome Trust Centre of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Polyomics, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (MPB); (SBis)
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10
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Fernandez-Prada C, Vincent IM, Brotherton MC, Roberts M, Roy G, Rivas L, Leprohon P, Smith TK, Ouellette M. Different Mutations in a P-type ATPase Transporter in Leishmania Parasites are Associated with Cross-resistance to Two Leading Drugs by Distinct Mechanisms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005171. [PMID: 27911896 PMCID: PMC5135041 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [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: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum is an etiological agent of the life-threatening visceral form of leishmaniasis. Liposomal amphotericin B (AmB) followed by a short administration of miltefosine (MF) is a drug combination effective for treating visceral leishmaniasis in endemic regions of India. Resistance to MF can be due to point mutations in the miltefosine transporter (MT). Here we show that mutations in MT are also observed in Leishmania AmB-resistant mutants. The MF-induced MT mutations, but not the AmB induced mutations in MT, alter the translocation/uptake of MF. Moreover, mutations in the MT selected by AmB or MF have a major impact on lipid species that is linked to cross-resistance between both drugs. These alterations include changes of specific phospholipids, some of which are enriched with cyclopropanated fatty acids, as well as an increase in inositolphosphoceramide species. Collectively these results provide evidence of the risk of cross-resistance emergence derived from current AmB-MF sequential or co-treatments for visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Fernandez-Prada
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabel M. Vincent
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie-Christine Brotherton
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Mathew Roberts
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex (BSRC), Schools of Biology & Chemistry, The North Haugh, The University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Gaétan Roy
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Luis Rivas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Philippe Leprohon
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Terry K. Smith
- Biomedical Sciences Research Complex (BSRC), Schools of Biology & Chemistry, The North Haugh, The University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Ouellette
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie du Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec and Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
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11
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Shameer S, Logan-Klumpler FJ, Vinson F, Cottret L, Merlet B, Achcar F, Boshart M, Berriman M, Breitling R, Bringaud F, Bütikofer P, Cattanach AM, Bannerman-Chukualim B, Creek DJ, Crouch K, de Koning HP, Denise H, Ebikeme C, Fairlamb AH, Ferguson MAJ, Ginger ML, Hertz-Fowler C, Kerkhoven EJ, Mäser P, Michels PAM, Nayak A, Nes DW, Nolan DP, Olsen C, Silva-Franco F, Smith TK, Taylor MC, Tielens AGM, Urbaniak MD, van Hellemond JJ, Vincent IM, Wilkinson SR, Wyllie S, Opperdoes FR, Barrett MP, Jourdan F. TrypanoCyc: a community-led biochemical pathways database for Trypanosoma brucei. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 43:D637-44. [PMID: 25300491 PMCID: PMC4384016 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku944] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabolic network of a cell represents the catabolic and anabolic reactions that interconvert small molecules (metabolites) through the activity of enzymes, transporters and non-catalyzed chemical reactions. Our understanding of individual metabolic networks is increasing as we learn more about the enzymes that are active in particular cells under particular conditions and as technologies advance to allow detailed measurements of the cellular metabolome. Metabolic network databases are of increasing importance in allowing us to contextualise data sets emerging from transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic experiments. Here we present a dynamic database, TrypanoCyc (http://www.metexplore.fr/trypanocyc/), which describes the generic and condition-specific metabolic network of Trypanosoma brucei, a parasitic protozoan responsible for human and animal African trypanosomiasis. In addition to enabling navigation through the BioCyc-based TrypanoCyc interface, we have also implemented a network-based representation of the information through MetExplore, yielding a novel environment in which to visualise the metabolism of this important parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanu Shameer
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR1331, TOXALIM (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Florence Vinson
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR1331, TOXALIM (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Ludovic Cottret
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR441, Laboratoire des Interactions Plantes-Microorganismes (LIPM), Auzeville, France
| | - Benjamin Merlet
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR1331, TOXALIM (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Fiona Achcar
- University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Michael Boshart
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Biocenter, 82152-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Matthew Berriman
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Rainer Breitling
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Darren J Creek
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | | | | | - Hubert Denise
- European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | | | | | | | - Michael L Ginger
- Divisionof Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YG, UK
| | | | - Eduard J Kerkhoven
- Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, 412 96, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, Basel 4051, Switzerland
| | | | - Archana Nayak
- University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, G12 8QQ, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Terry K Smith
- University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, KY16 9ST, UK
| | | | - Aloysius G M Tielens
- Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3508 TD, The Netherlands Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015 CE, The Netherlands
| | - Michael D Urbaniak
- Divisionof Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YG, UK
| | | | | | | | - Susan Wyllie
- University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, DD1 4HN, UK
| | | | | | - Fabien Jourdan
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR1331, TOXALIM (Research Centre in Food Toxicology), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
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12
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Abstract
Metabolomics-based studies are proving of great utility in the analysis of modes of action (MOAs) and resistance mechanisms of drugs in parasitic protozoa. They have helped to determine the MOA of eflornithine, half of the gold standard combination therapy in use against human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), as well as the mechanism of resistance to this drug. In Leishmania, metabolomics has also given insight into the MOA of miltefosine, an alkylphospholipid. Several studies on antimony resistance in Leishmania have been conducted, analyzing the metabolic content of resistant lines, offering clues as to the MOA of this class of drugs. A study of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum combined metabolomics techniques with other genetic and proteomic techniques to offer new insight into the role of the PfCRT protein. The MOA and mechanism of resistance to a group of halogenated pyrimidines in Trypanosoma brucei have also recently been elucidated. Effective as metabolomics techniques are, care must be taken in the design and implementation of these experiments, to ensure the resulting data are meaningful. This review outlines the steps required to conduct a metabolomics experiment as well as provide an overview of metabolomics-based drug research in protozoa to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel M Vincent
- The Glasgow Polyomics Facility and Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Michael P Barrett
- The Glasgow Polyomics Facility and Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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De Paula Lima CV, Batista M, Kugeratski FG, Vincent IM, Soares MJ, Probst CM, Krieger MA, Marchini FK. LM14 defined medium enables continuous growth of Trypanosoma cruzi. BMC Microbiol 2014; 14:238. [PMID: 25213265 PMCID: PMC4172853 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-014-0238-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, alternates between distinct morphological and functional forms during its life cycle. Axenic multiplication and differentiation processes of this protozoan parasite can be reproduced in vitro, enabling the isolation and study of the different evolutionary forms. Although there are several publications attempting the cultivation of T. cruzi under chemically defined conditions, in our experience none of the published media are capable of maintaining T. cruzi in continuous growth. RESULTS In this work we modified a known chemically defined medium for Trypanosoma brucei growth. The resulting LM14 and LM14B defined media enabled cultivation of five different strains of T. cruzi for more than forty passages until now. The parasite's biological characteristics such as morphology and differentiation to metacyclic trypomastigotes were maintained when defined media is used. CONCLUSIONS The establishment of a defined medium for T. cruzi cultivation is an important tool for basic biological research allowing several different approaches, providing new perspectives for further studies related to cell biology of this parasite.
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14
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Vincent IM, Weidt S, Rivas L, Burgess K, Smith TK, Ouellette M. Untargeted metabolomic analysis of miltefosine action in Leishmania infantum reveals changes to the internal lipid metabolism. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2014; 4:20-7. [PMID: 24596665 PMCID: PMC3940234 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Revised: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
There are many theories as to the mode of action of miltefosine against Leishmania including alterations to the membrane lipid content, induction of apoptosis and modulation of macrophage responses. Here we perform untargeted metabolomics to elucidate the metabolic changes involved in miltefosine action. Over 800 metabolites were detected, 10% of which were significantly altered after 3.75 h. Many of the changes related to an increase in alkane fragment and sugar release. Fragment release is synchronised with reactive oxygen species production, but native membrane phospholipids remain intact. Signs of DNA damage were also detected as were changes to the levels of some thiols and polyamines. After 5 h of miltefosine treatment the cells showed depleted levels of most metabolites, indicating that the cells' outer membrane integrity had become compromised and internal metabolites were escaping upon cell death. In miltefosine resistant cells, the drug was not internalised and the changes to the internal metabolite levels were not seen. In contrast, cells resistant to antimony (SbIII) had similar corresponding alterations to the levels of internal metabolites as wild-type cells. A detailed knowledge of the mode of action of miltefosine will be important to inform the design of combination therapies to combat leishmaniasis, something that the research community should be prioritising in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel M. Vincent
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Stefan Weidt
- Glasgow Polyomics Facility, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Luis Rivas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Karl Burgess
- Glasgow Polyomics Facility, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Terry K. Smith
- Schools of Biology & Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex (BSRC), The North Haugh, The University, St. Andrews, UK
| | - Marc Ouellette
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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15
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Millerioux Y, Ebikeme C, Biran M, Morand P, Bouyssou G, Vincent IM, Mazet M, Riviere L, Franconi JM, Burchmore RJS, Moreau P, Barrett MP, Bringaud F. The threonine degradation pathway of the Trypanosoma brucei procyclic form: the main carbon source for lipid biosynthesis is under metabolic control. Mol Microbiol 2013; 90:114-29. [PMID: 23899193 PMCID: PMC4034587 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The Trypanosoma brucei procyclic form resides within the digestive tract of its insect vector, where it exploits amino acids as carbon sources. Threonine is the amino acid most rapidly consumed by this parasite, however its role is poorly understood. Here, we show that the procyclic trypanosomes grown in rich medium only use glucose and threonine for lipid biosynthesis, with threonine's contribution being ∼ 2.5 times higher than that of glucose. A combination of reverse genetics and NMR analysis of excreted end-products from threonine and glucose metabolism, shows that acetate, which feeds lipid biosynthesis, is also produced primarily from threonine. Interestingly, the first enzymatic step of the threonine degradation pathway, threonine dehydrogenase (TDH, EC 1.1.1.103), is under metabolic control and plays a key role in the rate of catabolism. Indeed, a trypanosome mutant deleted for the phosphoenolpyruvate decarboxylase gene (PEPCK, EC 4.1.1.49) shows a 1.7-fold and twofold decrease of TDH protein level and activity, respectively, associated with a 1.8-fold reduction in threonine-derived acetate production. We conclude that TDH expression is under control and can be downregulated in response to metabolic perturbations, such as in the PEPCK mutant in which the glycolytic metabolic flux was redirected towards acetate production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoann Millerioux
- Centre de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques (RMSB), UMR-5536 Université Bordeaux Segalen, CNRS, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France
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16
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Vincent IM, Creek DJ, Burgess K, Woods DJ, Burchmore RJS, Barrett MP. Untargeted metabolomics reveals a lack of synergy between nifurtimox and eflornithine against Trypanosoma brucei. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1618. [PMID: 22563508 PMCID: PMC3341325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [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: 12/30/2012] [Accepted: 03/05/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A non-targeted metabolomics-based approach is presented that enables the study of pathways in response to drug action with the aim of defining the mode of action of trypanocides. Eflornithine, a polyamine pathway inhibitor, and nifurtimox, whose mode of action involves its metabolic activation, are currently used in combination as first line treatment against stage 2, CNS-involved, human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). Drug action was assessed using an LC-MS based non-targeted metabolomics approach. Eflornithine revealed the expected changes to the polyamine pathway as well as several unexpected changes that point to pathways and metabolites not previously described in bloodstream form trypanosomes, including a lack of arginase activity and N-acetylated ornithine and putrescine. Nifurtimox was shown to be converted to a trinitrile metabolite indicative of metabolic activation, as well as inducing changes in levels of metabolites involved in carbohydrate and nucleotide metabolism. However, eflornithine and nifurtimox failed to synergise anti-trypanosomal activity in vitro, and the metabolomic changes associated with the combination are the sum of those found in each monotherapy with no indication of additional effects. The study reveals how untargeted metabolomics can yield rapid information on drug targets that could be adapted to any pharmacological situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel M. Vincent
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Darren J. Creek
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Polyomics Facility, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Karl Burgess
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Polyomics Facility, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Debra J. Woods
- Pfizer Animal Health, Pfizer Inc, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Richard J. S. Burchmore
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Polyomics Facility, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P. Barrett
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Glasgow Polyomics Facility, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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17
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Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis or ‘sleeping sickness’ is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma brucei. A decade of intense international cooperation has brought the incidence to fewer than 10,000 reported cases per annum with anti-trypanosomal drugs, particularly against stage 2 disease where the CNS is involved, being central to control. Treatment failures with melarsoprol started to appear in the 1990s and their incidence has risen sharply in many foci. Loss of plasma membrane transporters involved in drug uptake, particularly the P2 aminopurine transporter and also a transporter termed the high affinity pentamidine transporter, relate to melarsoprol resistance selected in the laboratory. The same two transporters are also responsible for the uptake of the stage 1 drug pentamidine and, to varying extents, other diamidines. However, reports of treatment failures with pentamidine have been rare from the field. Eflornithine (difluoromethylornithine) has replaced melarsoprol as first-line treatment in many regions. However, a need for protracted and complicated drug dosing regimens slowed widespread implementation of eflornithine monotherapy. A combination of eflornithine with nifurtimox substantially decreases the required dose and duration of eflornithine administration and this nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy has enjoyed rapid implementation. Unfortunately, selection of resistance to eflornithine in the laboratory is relatively easy (through loss of an amino acid transporter believed to be involved in its uptake), as is selection of resistance to nifurtimox. The first anecdotal reports of treatment failures with eflornithine monotherapy are emerging from some foci. The possibility that parasites resistant to melarsoprol on the one hand, and eflornithine on the other, are present in the field indicates that genes capable of conferring drug resistance to both drugs are in circulation. If new drugs, that act in ways that will not render them susceptible to resistance mechanisms already in circulation do not appear soon, there is also a risk that the current downward trend in Human African trypanosomiasis prevalence will be reversed and, as has happened in the past, the disease will become resurgent, only this time in a form that resists available drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabel M Vincent
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland
| | - Richard JS Burchmore
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland
| | - Anne JN Kazibwe
- Makerere University School of Veterinary Medicine, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Enock Matovu
- Makerere University School of Veterinary Medicine, Kampala, Uganda
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