1
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Nguyen W, Boulet C, Dans MG, Loi K, Jarman KE, Watson GM, Tham WH, Fairhurst KJ, Yeo T, Fidock DA, Wittlin S, Chowdury M, de Koning-Ward TF, Chen G, Yan D, Charman SA, Baud D, Brand S, Jackson PF, Cowman AF, Gilson PR, Sleebs BE. Activity refinement of aryl amino acetamides that target the P. falciparum STAR-related lipid transfer 1 protein. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 270:116354. [PMID: 38554474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating disease that causes significant morbidity worldwide. The development of new antimalarial chemotypes is urgently needed because of the emergence of resistance to frontline therapies. Independent phenotypic screening campaigns against the Plasmodium asexual parasite, including our own, identified the aryl amino acetamide hit scaffold. In a prior study, we identified the STAR-related lipid transfer protein (PfSTART1) as the molecular target of this antimalarial chemotype. In this study, we combined structural elements from the different aryl acetamide hit subtypes and explored the structure-activity relationship. It was shown that the inclusion of an endocyclic nitrogen, to generate the tool compound WJM-715, improved aqueous solubility and modestly improved metabolic stability in rat hepatocytes. Metabolic stability in human liver microsomes remains a challenge for future development of the aryl acetamide class, which was underscored by modest systemic exposure and a short half-life in mice. The optimized aryl acetamide analogs were cross resistant to parasites with mutations in PfSTART1, but not to other drug-resistant mutations, and showed potent binding to recombinant PfSTART1 by biophysical analysis, further supporting PfSTART1 as the likely molecular target. The optimized aryl acetamide analogue, WJM-715 will be a useful tool for further investigating the druggability of PfSTART1 across the lifecycle of the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | | | - Madeline G Dans
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Katie Loi
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Gabrielle M Watson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Kate J Fairhurst
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA; Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123, Allschwi, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mrittika Chowdury
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia; Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Tania F de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia; Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Gong Chen
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Dandan Yan
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Susan A Charman
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Delphine Baud
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephen Brand
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul F Jackson
- Global Public Health, Janssen R&D LLC, La Jolla, 92121, USA
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
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2
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Hellingman A, Sifoniou K, Buser T, Thommen BT, Walz A, Passecker A, Collins J, Hupfeld M, Wittlin S, Witmer K, Brancucci NMB. Next Generation Chemiluminescent Probes for Antimalarial Drug Discovery. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1286-1297. [PMID: 38556981 PMCID: PMC11019541 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is caused by parasites of the Plasmodium genus and remains one of the most pressing human health problems. The spread of parasites resistant to or partially resistant to single or multiple drugs, including frontline antimalarial artemisinin and its derivatives, poses a serious threat to current and future malaria control efforts. In vitro drug assays are important for identifying new antimalarial compounds and monitoring drug resistance. Due to its robustness and ease of use, the [3H]-hypoxanthine incorporation assay is still considered a gold standard and is widely applied, despite limited sensitivity and the dependence on radioactive material. Here, we present a first-of-its-kind chemiluminescence-based antimalarial drug screening assay. The effect of compounds on P. falciparum is monitored by using a dioxetane-based substrate (AquaSpark β-D-galactoside) that emits high-intensity luminescence upon removal of a protective group (β-D-galactoside) by a transgenic β-galactosidase reporter enzyme. This biosensor enables highly sensitive, robust, and cost-effective detection of asexual, intraerythrocytic P. falciparum parasites without the need for parasite enrichment, washing, or purification steps. We are convinced that the ultralow detection limit of less than 100 parasites of the presented biosensor system will become instrumental in malaria research, including but not limited to drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Hellingman
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kleopatra Sifoniou
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tamara Buser
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Basil T. Thommen
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Annabelle Walz
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Armin Passecker
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Sergio Wittlin
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin Witmer
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
- NEMIS
Technologies AG, 8804 Au, ZH, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas M. B. Brancucci
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
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3
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Mambwe D, Coertzen D, Leshabane M, Mulubwa M, Njoroge M, Gibhard L, Girling G, Wicht KJ, Lee MCS, Wittlin S, Moreira DRM, Birkholtz LM, Chibale K. hERG, Plasmodium Life Cycle, and Cross Resistance Profiling of New Azabenzimidazole Analogues of Astemizole. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:463-469. [PMID: 38628794 PMCID: PMC11017395 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Toward addressing the cardiotoxicity liability associated with the antimalarial drug astemizole (AST, hERG IC50 = 0.0042 μM) and its derivatives, we designed and synthesized analogues based on compound 1 (Pf NF54 IC50 = 0.012 μM; hERG IC50 = 0.63 μM), our previously identified 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole AST analogue. Compound 11 retained in vitro multistage antiplasmodium activity (ABS PfNF54 IC50 = 0.017 μM; gametocytes PfiGc/PfLGc IC50 = 1.24/1.39 μM, and liver-stage PbHepG2 IC50 = 2.30 μM), good microsomal metabolic stability (MLM CLint < 11 μL·min-1·mg-1, EH < 0.33), and solubility (150 μM). It shows a ∼6-fold and >6000-fold higher selectivity against human ether-á-go-go-related gene higher selectively potential over hERG relative to 1 and AST, respectively. Despite the excellent in vitro antiplasmodium activity profile, in vivo efficacy in the Plasmodium berghei mouse infection model was diminished, attributable to suboptimal oral bioavailability (F = 14.9%) at 10 mg·kg-1 resulting from poor permeability (log D7.4 = -0.82). No cross-resistance was observed against 44 common Pf mutant lines, suggesting activity via a novel mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dickson Mambwe
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dina Coertzen
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Meta Leshabane
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Mwila Mulubwa
- Drug
Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug
Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- Drug
Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gareth Girling
- Wellcome
Sanger Institute, Wellcome
Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn J. Wicht
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marcus C. S. Lee
- Wellcome
Sanger Institute, Wellcome
Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
- Biological
Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss
Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University
of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
- Drug
Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa
- South
African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research
Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute
of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
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4
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Ren R, Wang X, Leas DA, Scheurer C, Hoevel S, Cal M, Chen G, Zhong L, Katneni K, Pham T, Patil R, Sil D, Walters MJ, Schulze TT, Neville AJ, Dong Y, Wittlin S, Kaiser M, Davis PH, Charman SA, Vennerstrom JL. Antimalarial Dibenzannulated Medium-Ring Keto Lactams. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1964-1980. [PMID: 37695781 PMCID: PMC10860121 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
We discovered dibenzannulated medium-ring keto lactams (11,12-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,g]azonine-6,13-diones) as a new antimalarial chemotype. Most of these had chromatographic LogD7.4 values ranging from <0 to 3 and good kinetic solubilities (12.5 to >100 μg/mL at pH 6.5). The more polar compounds in the series (LogD7.4 values of <2) had the best metabolic stability (CLint values of <50 μL/min/mg protein in human liver microsomes). Most of the compounds had relatively low cytotoxicity, with IC50 values >30 μM, and there was no correlation between antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity. The four most potent compounds had Plasmodium falciparum IC50 values of 4.2 to 9.4 nM and in vitro selectivity indices of 670 to >12,000. They were more than 4 orders-of-magnitude less potent against three other protozoal pathogens (Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania donovani) but did have relatively high potency against Toxoplasma gondii, with IC50 values ranging from 80 to 200 nM. These keto lactams are converted into their poorly soluble 4(1H)-quinolone transannular condensation products in vitro in culture medium and in vivo in mouse blood. The similar antiplasmodial potencies of three keto lactam-quinolone pairs suggest that the quinolones likely contribute to the antimalarial activity of the lactams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongguo Ren
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Xiaofang Wang
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Derek A Leas
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Christian Scheurer
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Hoevel
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Monica Cal
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gong Chen
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Longjin Zhong
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Kasiram Katneni
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Thao Pham
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Rahul Patil
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Diptesh Sil
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Matthias J Walters
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - Thomas T Schulze
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
| | - Andrew J Neville
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - Yuxiang Dong
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Paul H Davis
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - Susan A Charman
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jonathan L Vennerstrom
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
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5
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Mäser P, Bernhard S, Brun R, Burri C, Gagneux S, Hetzel MW, Kaiser M, Lengeler C, Pluschke G, Reus E, Rottmann M, Utzinger J, Warryn L, Wittlin S, Keiser J. Key Contributions by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Towards New and Better Drugs for Tropical Diseases. Chimia (Aarau) 2023; 77:593-602. [PMID: 38047835 DOI: 10.2533/chimia.2023.593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Thanks to its expertise in clinical research, epidemiology, infectious diseases, microbiology, parasitology, public health, translational research and tropical medicine, coupled with deeply rooted partnerships with institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) has been a key contributor in many drug research and development consortia involving academia, pharma and product development partnerships. Our know-how of the maintenance of parasites and their life-cycles in the laboratory, plus our strong ties to research centres and disease control programme managers in LMICs with access to field sites and laboratories, have enabled systems for drug efficacy testing in vitro and in vivo, clinical research, and modelling to support the experimental approaches. Thus, Swiss TPH has made fundamental contributions towards the development of new drugs - and the better use of old drugs - for neglected tropical diseases and infectious diseases of poverty, such as Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, food-borne trematodiasis (e.g. clonorchiasis, fascioliasis and opisthorchiasis), human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, malaria, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis and tuberculosis. In this article, we show case the success stories of molecules to which Swiss TPH has made a substantial contribution regarding their use as anti-infective compounds with the ultimate aim to improve people's health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Mäser
- Dept. Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sonja Bernhard
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Reto Brun
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Burri
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sébastien Gagneux
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Manuel W Hetzel
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Lengeler
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gerd Pluschke
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elisabeth Reus
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Rottmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Louisa Warryn
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.
- University of Basel, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
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6
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Ling DB, Nguyen W, Looker O, Razook Z, McCann K, Barry AE, Scheurer C, Wittlin S, Famodimu MT, Delves MJ, Bullen HE, Crabb BS, Sleebs BE, Gilson PR. A Pyridyl-Furan Series Developed from the Open Global Health Library Block Red Blood Cell Invasion and Protein Trafficking in Plasmodium falciparum through Potential Inhibition of the Parasite's PI4KIIIB Enzyme. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1695-1710. [PMID: 37639221 PMCID: PMC10496428 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
With the resistance increasing to current antimalarial medicines, there is an urgent need to discover new drug targets and to develop new medicines against these targets. We therefore screened the Open Global Health Library of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, of 250 compounds against the asexual blood stage of the deadliest malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, from which eight inhibitors with low micromolar potency were found. Due to its combined potencies against parasite growth and inhibition of red blood cell invasion, the pyridyl-furan compound OGHL250 was prioritized for further optimization. The potency of the series lead compound (WEHI-518) was improved 250-fold to low nanomolar levels against parasite blood-stage growth. Parasites selected for resistance to a related compound, MMV396797, were also resistant to WEHI-518 as well as KDU731, an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol kinase PfPI4KIIIB, suggesting that this kinase is the target of the pyridyl-furan series. Inhibition of PfPI4KIIIB blocks multiple stages of the parasite's life cycle and other potent inhibitors are currently under preclinical development. MMV396797-resistant parasites possess an E1316D mutation in PfPKI4IIIB that clusters with known resistance mutations of other inhibitors of the kinase. Building upon earlier studies that showed that PfPI4KIIIB inhibitors block the development of the invasive merozoite parasite stage, we show that members of the pyridyl-furan series also block invasion and/or the conversion of merozoites into ring-stage intracellular parasites through inhibition of protein secretion and export into red blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawson B. Ling
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of
Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria3052,
Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The
University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - Oliver Looker
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
| | - Zahra Razook
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and
Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University,
Waurn Ponds, Victoria3216, Australia
| | - Kirsty McCann
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and
Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University,
Waurn Ponds, Victoria3216, Australia
| | - Alyssa E. Barry
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and
Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University,
Waurn Ponds, Victoria3216, Australia
| | - Christian Scheurer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health
Institute, Allschwil, 4123Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel,
4001Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health
Institute, Allschwil, 4123Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel,
4001Switzerland
| | - Mufuliat Toyin Famodimu
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious
Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Kepel
Street, London, WC1E 7HT, U.K.
| | - Michael J Delves
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious
Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Kepel
Street, London, WC1E 7HT, U.K.
| | - Hayley E. Bullen
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology,
Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria3800,
Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of
Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria3052,
Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The
University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
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7
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Davies H, Bergmann B, Walloch P, Nerlich C, Hansen C, Wittlin S, Spielmann T, Treeck M, Beitz E. The Plasmodium Lactate/H + Transporter PfFNT Is Essential and Druggable In Vivo. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0035623. [PMID: 37428074 PMCID: PMC10433847 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00356-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites in the blood stage express a single transmembrane transport protein for the release of the glycolytic end product l-lactate/H+ from the cell. This transporter is a member of the strictly microbial formate-nitrite transporter (FNT) family and a novel putative drug target. Small, drug-like FNT inhibitors potently block lactate transport and kill Plasmodium falciparum parasites in culture. The protein structure of Plasmodium falciparum FNT (PfFNT) in complex with the inhibitor has been resolved and confirms its previously predicted binding site and its mode of action as a substrate analog. Here, we investigated the mutational plasticity and essentiality of the PfFNT target on a genetic level, and established its in vivo druggability using mouse malaria models. We found that, besides a previously identified PfFNT G107S resistance mutation, selection of parasites at 3 × IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) gave rise to two new point mutations affecting inhibitor binding: G21E and V196L. Conditional knockout and mutation of the PfFNT gene showed essentiality in the blood stage, whereas no phenotypic defects in sexual development were observed. PfFNT inhibitors mainly targeted the trophozoite stage and exhibited high potency in P. berghei- and P. falciparum-infected mice. Their in vivo activity profiles were comparable to that of artesunate, demonstrating strong potential for the further development of PfFNT inhibitors as novel antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heledd Davies
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bärbel Bergmann
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Walloch
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Cornelius Nerlich
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christian Hansen
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Spielmann
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Treeck
- Signalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Eric Beitz
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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8
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Imlay LS, Lawong AK, Gahalawat S, Kumar A, Xing C, Mittal N, Wittlin S, Churchyard A, Niederstrasser H, Crespo-Fernandez B, Posner BA, Gamo FJ, Baum J, Winzeler EA, LALEU B, Ready JM, Phillips MA. Fast-Killing Tyrosine Amide (( S)-SW228703) with Blood- and Liver-Stage Antimalarial Activity Associated with the Cyclic Amine Resistance Locus ( PfCARL). ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:527-539. [PMID: 36763526 PMCID: PMC10053980 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Current malaria treatments are threatened by drug resistance, and new drugs are urgently needed. In a phenotypic screen for new antimalarials, we identified (S)-SW228703 ((S)-SW703), a tyrosine amide with asexual blood and liver stage activity and a fast-killing profile. Resistance to (S)-SW703 is associated with mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum cyclic amine resistance locus (PfCARL) and P. falciparum acetyl CoA transporter (PfACT), similarly to several other compounds that share features such as fast activity and liver-stage activity. Compounds with these resistance mechanisms are thought to act in the ER, though their targets are unknown. The tyramine of (S)-SW703 is shared with some reported PfCARL-associated compounds; however, we observed that strict S-stereochemistry was required for the activity of (S)-SW703, suggesting differences in the mechanism of action or binding mode. (S)-SW703 provides a new chemical series with broad activity for multiple life-cycle stages and a fast-killing mechanism of action, available for lead optimization to generate new treatments for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah S. Imlay
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Aloysus K. Lawong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Suraksha Gahalawat
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Chao Xing
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Nimisha Mittal
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Hanspeter Niederstrasser
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | | | - Bruce A. Posner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | | | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A. Winzeler
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Benoît LALEU
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Joseph M. Ready
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Margaret A. Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
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9
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Nguyen W, Dans MG, Currie I, Awalt JK, Bailey BL, Lumb C, Ngo A, Favuzza P, Palandri J, Ramesh S, Penington J, Jarman KE, Mukherjee P, Chakraborty A, Maier AG, van Dooren GG, Papenfuss T, Wittlin S, Churchyard A, Baum J, Winzeler EA, Baud D, Brand S, Jackson PF, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE. 7- N-Substituted-3-oxadiazole Quinolones with Potent Antimalarial Activity Target the Cytochrome bc1 Complex. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:668-691. [PMID: 36853190 PMCID: PMC10012268 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
The development of new antimalarials is required because of the threat of resistance to current antimalarial therapies. To discover new antimalarial chemotypes, we screened the Janssen Jumpstarter library against the P. falciparum asexual parasite and identified the 7-N-substituted-3-oxadiazole quinolone hit class. We established the structure-activity relationship and optimized the antimalarial potency. The optimized analog WJM228 (17) showed robust metabolic stability in vitro, although the aqueous solubility was limited. Forward genetic resistance studies uncovered that WJM228 targets the Qo site of cytochrome b (cyt b), an important component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) that is essential for pyrimidine biosynthesis and an established antimalarial target. Profiling against drug-resistant parasites confirmed that WJM228 confers resistance to the Qo site but not Qi site mutations, and in a biosensor assay, it was shown to impact the ETC via inhibition of cyt b. Consistent with other cyt b targeted antimalarials, WJM228 prevented pre-erythrocytic parasite and male gamete development and reduced asexual parasitemia in a P. berghei mouse model of malaria. Correcting the limited aqueous solubility and the high susceptibility to cyt b Qo site resistant parasites found in the clinic will be major obstacles in the future development of the 3-oxadiazole quinolone antimalarial class.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Madeline G Dans
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Iain Currie
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Jon Kyle Awalt
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brodie L Bailey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Chris Lumb
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Anna Ngo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Paola Favuzza
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Josephine Palandri
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Saishyam Ramesh
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Penington
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | | | | | - Alexander G Maier
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Giel G van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Tony Papenfuss
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ U.K
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ U.K.,School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2031, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0760, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Delphine Baud
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva 1215, Switzerland
| | - Stephen Brand
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva 1215, Switzerland
| | - Paul F Jackson
- Global Public Health, Janssen R&D LLC, La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
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10
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Walz A, Duffey M, Aljayyoussi G, Sax S, Leroy D, Besson D, Burrows JN, Cherkaoui-Rbati MH, Gobeau N, Westwood MA, Siethoff C, Gamo FJ, Mäser P, Wittlin S. The Parasite Reduction Ratio (PRR) Assay Version 2: Standardized Assessment of Plasmodium falciparum Viability after Antimalarial Treatment In Vitro. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16020163. [PMID: 37009844 PMCID: PMC9959027 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
With artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites emerging in Africa, the need for new antimalarial chemotypes is persistently high. The ideal pharmacodynamic parameters of a candidate drug are a rapid onset of action and a fast rate of parasite killing or clearance. To determine these parameters, it is essential to discriminate viable from nonviable parasites, which is complicated by the fact that viable parasites can be metabolically inactive, whilst dying parasites can still be metabolically active and morphologically unaffected. Standard growth inhibition assays, read out via microscopy or [3H] hypoxanthine incorporation, cannot reliably discriminate between viable and nonviable parasites. Conversely, the in vitro parasite reduction ratio (PRR) assay is able to measure viable parasites with high sensitivity. It provides valuable pharmacodynamic parameters, such as PRR, 99.9% parasite clearance time (PCT99.9%) and lag phase. Here we report the development of the PRR assay version 2 (V2), which comes with a shorter assay duration, optimized quality controls and an objective, automated analysis pipeline that systematically estimates PRR, PCT99.9% and lag time and returns meaningful secondary parameters such as the maximal killing rate of a drug (Emax) at the assayed concentration. These parameters can be fed directly into pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models, hence aiding and standardizing lead selection, optimization, and dose prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Walz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maëlle Duffey
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ghaith Aljayyoussi
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Sibylle Sax
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Didier Leroy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Pascal Mäser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-61-284-81-36
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11
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Mambwe D, Korkor CM, Mabhula A, Ngqumba Z, Cloete C, Kumar M, Barros PL, Leshabane M, Coertzen D, Taylor D, Gibhard L, Njoroge M, Lawrence N, Reader J, Moreira DR, Birkholtz LM, Wittlin S, Egan TJ, Chibale K. Novel 3-Trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole Analogues of Astemizole with Multi-stage Antiplasmodium Activity and In Vivo Efficacy in a Plasmodium berghei Mouse Malaria Infection Model. J Med Chem 2022; 65:16695-16715. [PMID: 36507890 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Iterative medicinal chemistry optimization of an ester-containing astemizole (AST) analogue 1 with an associated metabolic instability liability led to the identification of a highly potent 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole analogue 23 (PfNF54 IC50 = 0.012 μM; PfK1 IC50 = 0.040 μM) displaying high microsomal metabolic stability (HLM CLint < 11.6 μL·min-1·mg-1) and > 1000-fold higher selectivity over hERG compared to AST. In addition to asexual blood stage activity, the compound also shows activity against liver and gametocyte life cycle stages and demonstrates in vivo efficacy in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice at 4 × 50 mg·kg-1 oral dose. Preliminary interrogation of the mode of action using live-cell microscopy and cellular heme speciation revealed that 23 could be affecting multiple processes in the parasitic digestive vacuole, with the possibility of a novel target at play in the organelles associated with it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dickson Mambwe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Constance M Korkor
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Amanda Mabhula
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Zama Ngqumba
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Cleavon Cloete
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Malkeet Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Paula Ladeia Barros
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, CEP 40296-710 Salvador, Brazil
| | - Meta Leshabane
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Dina Coertzen
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Dale Taylor
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Nina Lawrence
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Diogo Rodrigo Moreira
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, CEP 40296-710 Salvador, Brazil
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics & Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timothy J Egan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), DMPK & Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa.,South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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12
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Laleu B, Rubiano K, Yeo T, Hallyburton I, Anderson M, Crespo‐Fernandez B, Gamo F, Antonova‐Koch Y, Orjuela‐Sanchez P, Wittlin S, Jana GP, Maity BC, Chenu E, Duffy J, Sjö P, Waterson D, Winzeler E, Guantai E, Fidock DA, Hansson TG. Exploring a Tetrahydroquinoline Antimalarial Hit from the Medicines for Malaria Pathogen Box and Identification of its Mode of Resistance as PfeEF2. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202200393. [PMID: 36129427 PMCID: PMC9827907 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
New antimalarial treatments with novel mechanism of action are needed to tackle Plasmodium falciparum infections that are resistant to first-line therapeutics. Here we report the exploration of MMV692140 (2) from the Pathogen Box, a collection of 400 compounds that was made available by Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) in 2015. Compound 2 was profiled in in vitro models of malaria and was found to be active against multiple life-cycle stages of Plasmodium parasites. The mode of resistance, and putatively its mode of action, was identified as Plasmodium falciparum translation elongation factor 2 (PfeEF2), which is responsible for the GTP-dependent translocation of the ribosome along mRNA. The compound maintains activity against a series of drug-resistant parasite strains. The structural motif of the tetrahydroquinoline (2) was explored in a chemistry program with its structure-activity relationships examined, resulting in the identification of an analog with 30-fold improvement of antimalarial asexual blood stage potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Laleu
- Medicines for Malaria VentureInternational Centre CointrinRoute de Pré-Bois 20, P.O. Box 18261215Geneva 15Switzerland
| | - Kelly Rubiano
- Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew York, NY10032USA,Current addressDepartment of Molecular MicrobiologyWashington University School of MedicineSaint LouisMO63110USA
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew York, NY10032USA
| | - Irene Hallyburton
- Drug Discovery UnitWellcome Centre for Anti-infective ResearchUniversity of DundeeDow StreetDundeeDD1 5EHUK
| | - Mark Anderson
- Drug Discovery UnitWellcome Centre for Anti-infective ResearchUniversity of DundeeDow StreetDundeeDD1 5EHUK
| | | | | | - Yevgeniya Antonova‐Koch
- Department of PediatricsSchool of MedicineUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCA92093USA,Current addressCalibrA Division of Scripps Research11119 North Torrey Pines RoadLa JolaCA92037USA
| | - Pamela Orjuela‐Sanchez
- Department of PediatricsSchool of MedicineUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCA92093USA,Current addressNovartis Institute for Tropical Diseases5959 Horton Street, 8th floorEmeryvilleCS94608USA
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteSocinstrasse 574002BaselSwitzerland,University of Basel4002BaselSwitzerland
| | - Gouranga P. Jana
- TCG Lifesciences Private LimitedBlock BN, Plot 7 Salt-lake Electronics Complex, Sector VKolkata700091West BengalIndia
| | - Bikash C. Maity
- TCG Lifesciences Private LimitedBlock BN, Plot 7 Salt-lake Electronics Complex, Sector VKolkata700091West BengalIndia
| | - Elodie Chenu
- Medicines for Malaria VentureInternational Centre CointrinRoute de Pré-Bois 20, P.O. Box 18261215Geneva 15Switzerland
| | - James Duffy
- Medicines for Malaria VentureInternational Centre CointrinRoute de Pré-Bois 20, P.O. Box 18261215Geneva 15Switzerland
| | - Peter Sjö
- Medicines for Malaria VentureInternational Centre CointrinRoute de Pré-Bois 20, P.O. Box 18261215Geneva 15Switzerland
| | - David Waterson
- Medicines for Malaria VentureInternational Centre CointrinRoute de Pré-Bois 20, P.O. Box 18261215Geneva 15Switzerland
| | - Elizabeth Winzeler
- Department of PediatricsSchool of MedicineUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCA92093USA
| | - Eric Guantai
- Department of PharmacyFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Nairobi00202-NairobiKenya
| | - David A. Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & ImmunologyColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew York, NY10032USA,Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew York, NY10032USA
| | - Thomas G. Hansson
- Medicines for Malaria VentureInternational Centre CointrinRoute de Pré-Bois 20, P.O. Box 18261215Geneva 15Switzerland
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13
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Lowe MA, Cardenas A, Valentin JP, Zhu Z, Abendroth J, Castro JL, Class R, Delaunois A, Fleurance R, Gerets H, Gryshkova V, King L, Lorimer DD, MacCoss M, Rowley JH, Rosseels ML, Royer L, Taylor RD, Wong M, Zaccheo O, Chavan VP, Ghule GA, Tapkir BK, Burrows JN, Duffey M, Rottmann M, Wittlin S, Angulo-Barturen I, Jiménez-Díaz MB, Striepen J, Fairhurst KJ, Yeo T, Fidock DA, Cowman AF, Favuzza P, Crespo-Fernandez B, Gamo FJ, Goldberg DE, Soldati-Favre D, Laleu B, de Haro T. Discovery and Characterization of Potent, Efficacious, Orally Available Antimalarial Plasmepsin X Inhibitors and Preclinical Safety Assessment of UCB7362. J Med Chem 2022; 65:14121-14143. [PMID: 36216349 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Plasmepsin X (PMX) is an essential aspartyl protease controlling malaria parasite egress and invasion of erythrocytes, development of functional liver merozoites (prophylactic activity), and blocking transmission to mosquitoes, making it a potential multistage drug target. We report the optimization of an aspartyl protease binding scaffold and the discovery of potent, orally active PMX inhibitors with in vivo antimalarial efficacy. Incorporation of safety evaluation early in the characterization of PMX inhibitors precluded compounds with a long human half-life (t1/2) to be developed. Optimization focused on improving the off-target safety profile led to the identification of UCB7362 that had an improved in vitro and in vivo safety profile but a shorter predicted human t1/2. UCB7362 is estimated to achieve 9 log 10 unit reduction in asexual blood-stage parasites with once-daily dosing of 50 mg for 7 days. This work demonstrates the potential to deliver PMX inhibitors with in vivo efficacy to treat malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Zhaoning Zhu
- UCB, 216 Bath Road, Slough SL1 3WE, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Abendroth
- UCB, 7869 NE Day Road West, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110, United States
| | | | - Reiner Class
- UCB, Chem. du Foriest 1, 1420 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
| | | | | | - Helga Gerets
- UCB, Chem. du Foriest 1, 1420 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
| | | | - Lloyd King
- UCB, 216 Bath Road, Slough SL1 3WE, United Kingdom
| | - Donald D Lorimer
- UCB, 7869 NE Day Road West, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110, United States
| | - Malcolm MacCoss
- Bohicket Pharma Consulting LLC, 2556 Seabrook Island Road, Seabrook Island, South Carolina 29455, United States
| | | | | | - Leandro Royer
- UCB, Chem. du Foriest 1, 1420 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
| | | | - Melanie Wong
- UCB, 216 Bath Road, Slough SL1 3WE, United Kingdom
| | | | - Vishal P Chavan
- Sai Life Sciences Limited, Plot DS-7, IKP Knowledge Park, Genome Valley, Turkapally, Hyderabad 500078, Telangana, India
| | - Gokul A Ghule
- Sai Life Sciences Limited, Plot DS-7, IKP Knowledge Park, Genome Valley, Turkapally, Hyderabad 500078, Telangana, India
| | - Bapusaheb K Tapkir
- Sai Life Sciences Limited, Plot DS-7, IKP Knowledge Park, Genome Valley, Turkapally, Hyderabad 500078, Telangana, India
| | - Jeremy N Burrows
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maëlle Duffey
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Rottmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Iñigo Angulo-Barturen
- The Art of Discovery, SL Biscay Science and Technology Park, Astondo Bidea, BIC Bizkaia Building, no. 612, Derio 48160, Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - María Belén Jiménez-Díaz
- The Art of Discovery, SL Biscay Science and Technology Park, Astondo Bidea, BIC Bizkaia Building, no. 612, Derio 48160, Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Josefine Striepen
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Kate J Fairhurst
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Paola Favuzza
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | | | | | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, CMU, 1 rue Michel-Servet, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
| | - Benoît Laleu
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
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14
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Xie SC, Metcalfe RD, Dunn E, Morton CJ, Huang SC, Puhalovich T, Du Y, Wittlin S, Nie S, Luth MR, Ma L, Kim MS, Pasaje CFA, Kumpornsin K, Giannangelo C, Houghton FJ, Churchyard A, Famodimu MT, Barry DC, Gillett DL, Dey S, Kosasih CC, Newman W, Niles JC, Lee MC, Baum J, Ottilie S, Winzeler EA, Creek DJ, Williamson N, Parker MW, Brand SL, Langston SP, Dick LR, Griffin MD, Gould AE, Tilley L. Reaction hijacking of tyrosine tRNA synthetase as a new whole-of-life-cycle antimalarial strategy. Science 2022; 376:1074-1079. [PMID: 35653481 PMCID: PMC7613620 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn0611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Aminoacyl transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetases (aaRSs) are attractive drug targets, and we present class I and II aaRSs as previously unrecognized targets for adenosine 5'-monophosphate-mimicking nucleoside sulfamates. The target enzyme catalyzes the formation of an inhibitory amino acid-sulfamate conjugate through a reaction-hijacking mechanism. We identified adenosine 5'-sulfamate as a broad-specificity compound that hijacks a range of aaRSs and ML901 as a specific reagent a specific reagent that hijacks a single aaRS in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, namely tyrosine RS (PfYRS). ML901 exerts whole-life-cycle-killing activity with low nanomolar potency and single-dose efficacy in a mouse model of malaria. X-ray crystallographic studies of plasmodium and human YRSs reveal differential flexibility of a loop over the catalytic site that underpins differential susceptibility to reaction hijacking by ML901.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley C. Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Riley D. Metcalfe
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Elyse Dunn
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Craig J. Morton
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Shih-Chung Huang
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Tanya Puhalovich
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Yawei Du
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland,University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shuai Nie
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Madeline R. Luth
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Liting Ma
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Mi-Sook Kim
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | | | - Krittikorn Kumpornsin
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Carlo Giannangelo
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Fiona J. Houghton
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - Daniel C. Barry
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - David L. Gillett
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Sumanta Dey
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Clara C. Kosasih
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - William Newman
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jacquin C. Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, United States
| | - Marcus C.S. Lee
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Nicholas Williamson
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Michael W. Parker
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia,St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, VIC 3065, Australia
| | - Stephen L. Brand
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, PO Box 1826, 20, Route de Pré-Bois, 1215, Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Steven P. Langston
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Lawrence R. Dick
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia,Seofon Consulting, 30 Tucker Street, Natick, Massachusetts 01760, USA
| | - Michael D.W. Griffin
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Alexandra E. Gould
- Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA,For correspondence. Alexandra E. Gould, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA, (Chemistry) and Leann Tilley, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia. (Biology)
| | - Leann Tilley
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia,For correspondence. Alexandra E. Gould, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA, (Chemistry) and Leann Tilley, Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia. (Biology)
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15
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de Vries LE, Jansen PAM, Barcelo C, Munro J, Verhoef JMJ, Pasaje CFA, Rubiano K, Striepen J, Abla N, Berning L, Bolscher JM, Demarta-Gatsi C, Henderson RWM, Huijs T, Koolen KMJ, Tumwebaze PK, Yeo T, Aguiar ACC, Angulo-Barturen I, Churchyard A, Baum J, Fernández BC, Fuchs A, Gamo FJ, Guido RVC, Jiménez-Diaz MB, Pereira DB, Rochford R, Roesch C, Sanz LM, Trevitt G, Witkowski B, Wittlin S, Cooper RA, Rosenthal PJ, Sauerwein RW, Schalkwijk J, Hermkens PHH, Bonnert RV, Campo B, Fidock DA, Llinás M, Niles JC, Kooij TWA, Dechering KJ. Preclinical characterization and target validation of the antimalarial pantothenamide MMV693183. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2158. [PMID: 35444200 PMCID: PMC9021288 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29688-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance and a dire lack of transmission-blocking antimalarials hamper malaria elimination. Here, we present the pantothenamide MMV693183 as a first-in-class acetyl-CoA synthetase (AcAS) inhibitor to enter preclinical development. Our studies demonstrate attractive drug-like properties and in vivo efficacy in a humanized mouse model of Plasmodium falciparum infection. The compound shows single digit nanomolar in vitro activity against P. falciparum and P. vivax clinical isolates, and potently blocks P. falciparum transmission to Anopheles mosquitoes. Genetic and biochemical studies identify AcAS as the target of the MMV693183-derived antimetabolite, CoA-MMV693183. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling predict that a single 30 mg oral dose is sufficient to cure a malaria infection in humans. Toxicology studies in rats indicate a > 30-fold safety margin in relation to the predicted human efficacious exposure. In conclusion, MMV693183 represents a promising candidate for further (pre)clinical development with a novel mode of action for treatment of malaria and blocking transmission. Here, de Vries et al. perform a pre-clinical characterization of the antimalarial compound MMV693183: the compound targets acetyl-CoA synthetase, has efficacy in humanized mice against Plasmodium falciparum infection, blocks transmission to mosquito vectors, is safe in rats, and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling informs about a potential oral human dosing regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E de Vries
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick A M Jansen
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Justin Munro
- Department of Chemistry and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Julie M J Verhoef
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kelly Rubiano
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Josefine Striepen
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nada Abla
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Luuk Berning
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Tonnie Huijs
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna C C Aguiar
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Aline Fuchs
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Rafael V C Guido
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Dhelio B Pereira
- Research Center for Tropical Medicine of Rondonia, Porto Velho, Brazil
| | - Rosemary Rochford
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Camille Roesch
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.,Malaria Translational Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris & Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Laura M Sanz
- Global Health, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Benoit Witkowski
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.,Malaria Translational Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris & Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roland A Cooper
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, USA
| | - Philip J Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Schalkwijk
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Chemistry and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Taco W A Kooij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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16
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Dong Y, Sonawane Y, Maher SP, Zeeman AM, Chaumeau V, Vantaux A, Cooper CA, Chiu FCK, Ryan E, McLaren J, Chen G, Wittlin S, Witkowski B, Nosten F, Sriraghavan K, Kyle DE, Kocken CHM, Charman SA, Vennerstrom JL. Metabolic, Pharmacokinetic, and Activity Profile of the Liver Stage Antimalarial (RC-12). ACS Omega 2022; 7:12401-12411. [PMID: 35449901 PMCID: PMC9016807 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The catechol derivative RC-12 (WR 27653) (1) is one of the few non-8-aminoquinolines with good activity against hypnozoites in the gold-standard Plasmodium cynomolgi-rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) model, but in a small clinical trial, it had no efficacy against Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites. In an attempt to better understand the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of 1 and to identify potential active metabolites, we now describe the phase I metabolism, rat pharmacokinetics, and in vitro liver-stage activity of 1 and its metabolites. Compound 1 had a distinct metabolic profile in human vs monkey liver microsomes, and the data suggested that the O-desmethyl, combined O-desmethyl/N-desethyl, and N,N-didesethyl metabolites (or a combination thereof) could potentially account for the superior liver stage antimalarial efficacy of 1 in rhesus monkeys vs that seen in humans. Indeed, the rate of metabolism was considerably lower in human liver microsomes in comparison to rhesus monkey microsomes, as was the formation of the combined O-desmethyl/N-desethyl metabolite, which was the only metabolite tested that had any activity against liver-stage P. vivax; however, it was not consistently active against liver-stage P. cynomolgi. As 1 and all but one of its identified Phase I metabolites had no in vitro activity against P. vivax or P. cynomolgi liver-stage malaria parasites, we suggest that there may be additional unidentified active metabolites of 1 or that the exposure of 1 achieved in the reported unsuccessful clinical trial of this drug candidate was insufficient to kill the P. vivax hypnozoites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Dong
- College
of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical
Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Yogesh Sonawane
- College
of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical
Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Steven P. Maher
- Center
for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 370 Coverdell
Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Anne-Marie Zeeman
- Department
of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research
Centre, P.O. Box 3306, 2280 GH Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Victor Chaumeau
- Shoklo
Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit,
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Road, Mae Sot, Tak 63110, Thailand
- Centre for
Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Research building, University of Oxford
Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7DQ, U.K.
| | - Amélie Vantaux
- Malaria
Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur
du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, P.O. Box 983, Phnom
Penh 120 210, Cambodia
| | - Caitlin A. Cooper
- Center
for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 370 Coverdell
Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Francis C. K. Chiu
- Centre
for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Eileen Ryan
- Centre
for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jenna McLaren
- Centre
for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Gong Chen
- Centre
for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Department
of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Benoît Witkowski
- Malaria
Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur
du Cambodge, 5 Boulevard Monivong, P.O. Box 983, Phnom
Penh 120 210, Cambodia
| | - François Nosten
- Shoklo
Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit,
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 68/30 Bantung Road, Mae Sot, Tak 63110, Thailand
- Centre for
Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Research building, University of Oxford
Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7DQ, U.K.
| | - Kamaraj Sriraghavan
- College
of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical
Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Dennis E. Kyle
- Center
for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, 370 Coverdell
Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Clemens H. M. Kocken
- Department
of Parasitology, Biomedical Primate Research
Centre, P.O. Box 3306, 2280 GH Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Susan A. Charman
- Centre
for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jonathan L. Vennerstrom
- College
of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical
Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
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17
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Hitz E, Wiedemar N, Passecker A, Graça BAS, Scheurer C, Wittlin S, Brancucci NMB, Vakonakis I, Mäser P, Voss TS. The 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 is an essential upstream activator of protein kinase A in malaria parasites. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001483. [PMID: 34879056 PMCID: PMC8687544 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signalling is essential for the proliferation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria blood stage parasites. The mechanisms regulating the activity of the catalytic subunit PfPKAc, however, are only partially understood, and PfPKAc function has not been investigated in gametocytes, the sexual blood stage forms that are essential for malaria transmission. By studying a conditional PfPKAc knockdown (cKD) mutant, we confirm the essential role for PfPKAc in erythrocyte invasion by merozoites and show that PfPKAc is involved in regulating gametocyte deformability. We furthermore demonstrate that overexpression of PfPKAc is lethal and kills parasites at the early phase of schizogony. Strikingly, whole genome sequencing (WGS) of parasite mutants selected to tolerate increased PfPKAc expression levels identified missense mutations exclusively in the gene encoding the parasite orthologue of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PfPDK1). Using targeted mutagenesis, we demonstrate that PfPDK1 is required to activate PfPKAc and that T189 in the PfPKAc activation loop is the crucial target residue in this process. In summary, our results corroborate the importance of tight regulation of PfPKA signalling for parasite survival and imply that PfPDK1 acts as a crucial upstream regulator in this pathway and potential new drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Hitz
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Natalie Wiedemar
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Armin Passecker
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Beatriz A. S. Graça
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Scheurer
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas M. B. Brancucci
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ioannis Vakonakis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Till S. Voss
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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18
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Boss C, Wittlin S. Our Exciting Journey to ACT-451840. Chimia (Aarau) 2021; 75:916-922. [PMID: 34798913 DOI: 10.2533/chimia.2021.916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe our work resulting in the selection of ACT-451840 ( 38 ) as a novel antimalarial drug with a novel mode of action. The compound was broadly characterized in vitro as well as in vivo in rat PK experiments as well as two different mouse malaria models. In the P. berghei infected mouse model cure could be achieved at oral doses of 300 mg/kg over 3 consecutive days. ACT-451840 was clinically investigated up to an experimental human malaria infection model, where therapeutic effects could be shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Boss
- Drug Discovery and Preclinical Development, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland,
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland;,
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19
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Abstract
Paul Ehrlich coined the term "magic bullet" to describe how a drug kills the parasite inside its human host without harming the host itself. Ehrlich concluded that the drug must have a greater affinity to the parasite than to human cells. Today, the specificity of drug action is understood in terms of the drug target. An ideal target is a protein that is essential for the proliferation of the pathogen but absent in human cells. Examples are the enzymes of folate synthesis or of the nonmevalonate pathway in the malaria parasites. However, there are other ways how a drug can kill selectively. Of particular relevance is the specific activation of a prodrug inside the pathogen but not in the host, as this is how the current frontrunners of parasite chemotherapy work. Artemisinins for malaria, fexinidazole for human African trypanosomiasis, benznidazole for Chagas' disease, metronidazole for intestinal protozoa: these molecules are "magic bombs" that are triggered selectively. They are prodrugs that need to be activated by chemical reduction, i.e., the acquisition of an electron, which occurs in the parasite. Such a mode of action is shared by the novel antimalarial peroxides arterolane and artefenomel, which are activated by reduction of the endoperoxide bond with ferrous heme as the likely electron donor, a metabolic end-product of Plasmodium falciparum. Here we provide an overview on the molecular basis of selectivity of antiparasitic drug action with particular reference to the ozonides, the new generation of antimalarial peroxides designed by Jonathan Vennerstrom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Wittlin
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
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20
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Laleu B, Akao Y, Ochida A, Duffy S, Lucantoni L, Shackleford DM, Chen G, Katneni K, Chiu FCK, White KL, Chen X, Sturm A, Dechering KJ, Crespo B, Sanz LM, Wang B, Wittlin S, Charman SA, Avery VM, Cho N, Kamaura M. Discovery and Structure-Activity Relationships of Quinazolinone-2-carboxamide Derivatives as Novel Orally Efficacious Antimalarials. J Med Chem 2021; 64:12582-12602. [PMID: 34437804 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A phenotypic high-throughput screen allowed discovery of quinazolinone-2-carboxamide derivatives as a novel antimalarial scaffold. Structure-activity relationship studies led to identification of a potent inhibitor 19f, 95-fold more potent than the original hit compound, active against laboratory-resistant strains of malaria. Profiling of 19f suggested a fast in vitro killing profile. In vivo activity in a murine model of human malaria in a dose-dependent manner constitutes a concomitant benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Laleu
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yuichiro Akao
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Atsuko Ochida
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Sandra Duffy
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Brisbane Innovation Park, Don Young Road, Nathan 4111, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leonardo Lucantoni
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Brisbane Innovation Park, Don Young Road, Nathan 4111, Queensland, Australia
| | - David M Shackleford
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Gong Chen
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Kasiram Katneni
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Francis C K Chiu
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Karen L White
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Xue Chen
- WuXi AppTec (Wuhan) Company Ltd., 666 Gaoxin Avenue, Donghu New Technology Development Area, Wuhan 430075, China
| | - Angelika Sturm
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Transistorweg 5-C02, 6534 AT Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Koen J Dechering
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Transistorweg 5-C02, 6534 AT Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Benigno Crespo
- Global Health, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura M Sanz
- Global Health, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Binglin Wang
- WuXi AppTec (Wuhan) Company Ltd., 666 Gaoxin Avenue, Donghu New Technology Development Area, Wuhan 430075, China
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Susan A Charman
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Brisbane Innovation Park, Don Young Road, Nathan 4111, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nobuo Cho
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kamaura
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-8555, Japan
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21
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Murithi JM, Pascal C, Bath J, Boulenc X, Gnädig NF, Pasaje CFA, Rubiano K, Yeo T, Mok S, Klieber S, Desert P, Jiménez-Díaz MB, Marfurt J, Rouillier M, Cherkaoui-Rbati MH, Gobeau N, Wittlin S, Uhlemann AC, Price RN, Wirjanata G, Noviyanti R, Tumwebaze P, Cooper RA, Rosenthal PJ, Sanz LM, Gamo FJ, Joseph J, Singh S, Bashyam S, Augereau JM, Giraud E, Bozec T, Vermat T, Tuffal G, Guillon JM, Menegotto J, Sallé L, Louit G, Cabanis MJ, Nicolas MF, Doubovetzky M, Merino R, Bessila N, Angulo-Barturen I, Baud D, Bebrevska L, Escudié F, Niles JC, Blasco B, Campbell S, Courtemanche G, Fraisse L, Pellet A, Fidock DA, Leroy D. The antimalarial MMV688533 provides potential for single-dose cures with a high barrier to Plasmodium falciparum parasite resistance. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/603/eabg6013. [PMID: 34290058 PMCID: PMC8530196 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abg6013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to first-line antimalarials creates an imperative to identify and develop potent preclinical candidates with distinct modes of action. Here, we report the identification of MMV688533, an acylguanidine that was developed following a whole-cell screen with compounds known to hit high-value targets in human cells. MMV688533 displays fast parasite clearance in vitro and is not cross-resistant with known antimalarials. In a P. falciparum NSG mouse model, MMV688533 displays a long-lasting pharmacokinetic profile and excellent safety. Selection studies reveal a low propensity for resistance, with modest loss of potency mediated by point mutations in PfACG1 and PfEHD. These proteins are implicated in intracellular trafficking, lipid utilization, and endocytosis, suggesting interference with these pathways as a potential mode of action. This preclinical candidate may offer the potential for a single low-dose cure for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M. Murithi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cécile Pascal
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Jade Bath
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Nina F. Gnädig
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Kelly Rubiano
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sachel Mok
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sylvie Klieber
- Sanofi R&D, Translational Medicine & Early Development, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Jutta Marfurt
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Sergio Wittlin
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,Universität Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Catrin Uhlemann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ric N. Price
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Grennady Wirjanata
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | | | | | - Roland A. Cooper
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, USA
| | | | - Laura M. Sanz
- Global Health Pharma Research Unit, GSK, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Elie Giraud
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Tanguy Bozec
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Thierry Vermat
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Gilles Tuffal
- Sanofi R&D, Translational Medicine & Early Development, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Jérôme Menegotto
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Laurent Sallé
- Sanofi R&D, Translational Medicine & Early Development, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Marie-José Cabanis
- Sanofi R&D, Translational Medicine & Early Development, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Rita Merino
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Nadir Bessila
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Jacquin C. Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Laurent Fraisse
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Alain Pellet
- Sanofi, Infectious Diseases Therapeutic Area, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - David A. Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Corresponding author. (D.A.F.); (D.L.)
| | - Didier Leroy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland.,Corresponding author. (D.A.F.); (D.L.)
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22
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Shackleford DM, Chiu FCK, Katneni K, Blundell S, McLaren J, Wang X, Zhou L, Sriraghavan K, Alker AM, Hunziker D, Scheurer C, Zhao Q, Dong Y, Möhrle JJ, Abla N, Matile H, Wittlin S, Vennerstrom JL, Charman SA. Cytochrome P450-Mediated Metabolism and CYP Inhibition for the Synthetic Peroxide Antimalarial OZ439. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1885-1893. [PMID: 34101429 PMCID: PMC8802618 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00225] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OZ439 is a potent synthetic ozonide evaluated for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. The metabolite profile of OZ439 was characterized in vitro using human liver microsomes combined with LC/MS-MS, chemical derivatization, and metabolite synthesis. The primary biotransformations were monohydroxylation at the three distal carbon atoms of the spiroadamantane substructure, with minor contributions from N-oxidation of the morpholine nitrogen and deethylation cleavage of the morpholine ring. Secondary transformations resulted in the formation of dihydroxylation metabolites and metabolites containing both monohydroxylation and morpholine N-oxidation. With the exception of two minor metabolites, none of the other metabolites had appreciable antimalarial activity. Reaction phenotyping indicated that CYP3A4 is the enzyme responsible for the metabolism of OZ439, and it was found to inhibit CYP3A via both direct and mechanism-based inhibition. Elucidation of the metabolic pathways and kinetics will assist with efforts to predict potential metabolic drug-drug interactions and support physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Shackleford
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Francis C K Chiu
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Kasiram Katneni
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Scott Blundell
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jenna McLaren
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Xiaofang Wang
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Lin Zhou
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Kamaraj Sriraghavan
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - André M Alker
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Hunziker
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Scheurer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Qingjie Zhao
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Yuxiang Dong
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Jörg J Möhrle
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, CH-1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Nada Abla
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, CH-1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Hugues Matile
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan L Vennerstrom
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States
| | - Susan A Charman
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University (Parkville Campus), 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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23
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Leas DA, Sanford AG, Wu J, Cal M, Kaiser M, Wittlin S, Hemsley RM, Darner EB, Lui LM, Davis PH, Vennerstrom JL. Diaryl Ureas as an Antiprotozoal Chemotype. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1578-1583. [PMID: 33971090 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We now describe the physicochemical profiling, in vitro ADME, and antiparasitic activity of eight N,N'-diarylureas to assess their potential as a broad-spectrum antiprotozoal chemotype. Chromatographic LogD7.4 values ranged from 2.5 to 4.5; kinetic aq. solubilities were ≤6.3 μg/mL, and plasma protein binding ranged from 95 to 99%. All of the compounds had low intrinsic clearance values in human, but not mouse, liver microsomes. Although no N,N'-diarylurea had submicromolar potency against Trypanosoma cruzi, two had submicromolar potencies against Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, and five had submicromolar potencies against Leishmania donovani. Plasmodium falciparum appeared to be the most susceptible to growth inhibition by this compound series. Most of the N,N'-diarylureas had antiprotozoal selectivities ≥10. One N,N'-diarylurea had demonstrable activity in mouse models of malaria and toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek A. Leas
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Austin G. Sanford
- Department of Pathology & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5900, United States
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - Jianbo Wu
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Monica Cal
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- University of Basel, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ryan M. Hemsley
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - Elyssa B. Darner
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - LeeAnna M. Lui
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - Paul H. Davis
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68182, United States
| | - Jonathan L. Vennerstrom
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986125 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
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24
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Okaniwa M, Shibata A, Ochida A, Akao Y, White KL, Shackleford DM, Duffy S, Lucantoni L, Dey S, Striepen J, Yeo T, Mok S, Aguiar ACC, Sturm A, Crespo B, Sanz LM, Churchyard A, Baum J, Pereira DB, Guido RVC, Dechering KJ, Wittlin S, Uhlemann AC, Fidock DA, Niles JC, Avery VM, Charman SA, Laleu B. Repositioning and Characterization of 1-(Pyridin-4-yl)pyrrolidin-2-one Derivatives as Plasmodium Cytoplasmic Prolyl-tRNA Synthetase Inhibitors. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1680-1689. [PMID: 33929818 PMCID: PMC8204304 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
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Prolyl-tRNA synthetase
(PRS) is a clinically validated antimalarial
target. Screening of a set of PRS ATP-site binders, initially designed
for human indications, led to identification of 1-(pyridin-4-yl)pyrrolidin-2-one
derivatives representing a novel antimalarial scaffold. Evidence designates
cytoplasmic PRS as the drug target. The frontrunner 1 and its active enantiomer 1-S exhibited low-double-digit nanomolar activity against resistant Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) laboratory strains
and development of liver schizonts. No cross-resistance with strains
resistant to other known antimalarials was noted. In addition, a similar
level of growth inhibition was observed against clinical field isolates
of Pf and P. vivax. The slow killing
profile and the relative high propensity to develop resistance in vitro (minimum inoculum resistance of 8 × 105 parasites at a selection pressure of 3 × IC50) constitute unfavorable features for treatment of malaria. However,
potent blood stage and antischizontal activity are compelling for
causal prophylaxis which does not require fast onset of action. Achieving
sufficient on-target selectivity appears to be particularly challenging
and should be the primary focus during the next steps of optimization
of this chemical series. Encouraging preliminary off-target profile
and oral efficacy in a humanized murine model of Pf malaria allowed us to conclude that 1-(pyridin-4-yl)pyrrolidin-2-one
derivatives represent a promising starting point for the identification
of novel antimalarial prophylactic agents that selectively target Plasmodium PRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Okaniwa
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Akira Shibata
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Atsuko Ochida
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Akao
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Karen L. White
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - David M. Shackleford
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Sandra Duffy
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Brisbane Innovation Park, Don Young Road, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Leonardo Lucantoni
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Brisbane Innovation Park, Don Young Road, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Sumanta Dey
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Josefine Striepen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Sachel Mok
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Anna Caroline C. Aguiar
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone, 1100, São Carlos, São Paulo 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Angelika Sturm
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Transistorweg 5-C02, 6534 AT Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Benigno Crespo
- Global Health, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Tres Cantos, Madrid 28760, Spain
| | - Laura M. Sanz
- Global Health, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, Tres Cantos, Madrid 28760, Spain
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Dhelio B. Pereira
- Tropical Medicine Research Center of Rondonia, Av. Guaporé, 215, Porto Velho, Rondonia 76812-329, Brazil
| | - Rafael V. C. Guido
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone, 1100, São Carlos, São Paulo 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Koen J. Dechering
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Transistorweg 5-C02, 6534 AT Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Catrin Uhlemann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - David A. Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Jacquin C. Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Vicky M. Avery
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Brisbane Innovation Park, Don Young Road, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Susan A. Charman
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Benoît Laleu
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
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25
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Palmer MJ, Deng X, Watts S, Krilov G, Gerasyuto A, Kokkonda S, El Mazouni F, White J, White KL, Striepen J, Bath J, Schindler KA, Yeo T, Shackleford DM, Mok S, Deni I, Lawong A, Huang A, Chen G, Wang W, Jayaseelan J, Katneni K, Patil R, Saunders J, Shahi SP, Chittimalla R, Angulo-Barturen I, Jiménez-Díaz MB, Wittlin S, Tumwebaze PK, Rosenthal PJ, Cooper RA, Aguiar ACC, Guido RVC, Pereira DB, Mittal N, Winzeler EA, Tomchick DR, Laleu B, Burrows JN, Rathod PK, Fidock DA, Charman SA, Phillips MA. Potent Antimalarials with Development Potential Identified by Structure-Guided Computational Optimization of a Pyrrole-Based Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Series. J Med Chem 2021; 64:6085-6136. [PMID: 33876936 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) has been clinically validated as a target for the development of new antimalarials. Experience with clinical candidate triazolopyrimidine DSM265 (1) suggested that DHODH inhibitors have great potential for use in prophylaxis, which represents an unmet need in the malaria drug discovery portfolio for endemic countries, particularly in areas of high transmission in Africa. We describe a structure-based computationally driven lead optimization program of a pyrrole-based series of DHODH inhibitors, leading to the discovery of two candidates for potential advancement to preclinical development. These compounds have improved physicochemical properties over prior series frontrunners and they show no time-dependent CYP inhibition, characteristic of earlier compounds. Frontrunners have potent antimalarial activity in vitro against blood and liver schizont stages and show good efficacy in Plasmodium falciparum SCID mouse models. They are equally active against P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax field isolates and are selective for Plasmodium DHODHs versus mammalian enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaoyi Deng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9135, United States
| | - Shawn Watts
- Schrodinger, Inc., 120 West 45th St, 17th Floor, New York, New York 100036-4041, United States
| | - Goran Krilov
- Schrodinger, Inc., 120 West 45th St, 17th Floor, New York, New York 100036-4041, United States
| | - Aleksey Gerasyuto
- Schrodinger, Inc., 120 West 45th St, 17th Floor, New York, New York 100036-4041, United States
| | - Sreekanth Kokkonda
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Farah El Mazouni
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9135, United States
| | - John White
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Karen L White
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Josefine Striepen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Jade Bath
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Kyra A Schindler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - David M Shackleford
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Sachel Mok
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Ioanna Deni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Aloysus Lawong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9135, United States
| | - Ann Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9135, United States
| | - Gong Chen
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Wen Wang
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Jaya Jayaseelan
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Kasiram Katneni
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Rahul Patil
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Jessica Saunders
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | | | | | - Iñigo Angulo-Barturen
- TAD, Biscay Science and Technology Park, Astondo Bidea, BIC Bizkaia Bd 612, Derio, 48160 Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - María Belén Jiménez-Díaz
- TAD, Biscay Science and Technology Park, Astondo Bidea, BIC Bizkaia Bd 612, Derio, 48160 Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Philip J Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Roland A Cooper
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California 94901, United States
| | | | - Rafael V C Guido
- University of Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, Sáo Carlos, SP 13560-970, Brazil
| | - Dhelio B Pereira
- Tropical Medicine Research Center of Rondonia, Av. Guaporé, 215, Porto Velho, RO 76812-329, Brazil
| | - Nimisha Mittal
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Diana R Tomchick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9135, United States
| | - Benoît Laleu
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Pradipsinh K Rathod
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Susan A Charman
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Margaret A Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9135, United States
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26
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Dziwornu GA, Coertzen D, Leshabane M, Korkor CM, Cloete CK, Njoroge M, Gibhard L, Lawrence N, Reader J, van der Watt M, Wittlin S, Birkholtz LM, Chibale K. Antimalarial Benzimidazole Derivatives Incorporating Phenolic Mannich Base Side Chains Inhibit Microtubule and Hemozoin Formation: Structure-Activity Relationship and In Vivo Oral Efficacy Studies. J Med Chem 2021; 64:5198-5215. [PMID: 33844521 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A novel series of antimalarial benzimidazole derivatives incorporating phenolic Mannich base side chains at the C2 position, which possess dual asexual blood and sexual stage activities, is presented. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the 1-benzylbenzimidazole analogues possessed submicromolar asexual blood and sexual stage activities in contrast to the 1H-benzimidazole analogues, which were only active against asexual blood stage (ABS) parasites. Further, the former demonstrated microtubule inhibitory activity in ABS parasites but more significantly in stage II/III gametocytes. In addition to being bona fide inhibitors of hemozoin formation, the 1H-benzimidazole analogues also showed inhibitory effects on microtubules. In vivo efficacy studies in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice revealed that the frontrunner compound 41 exhibited high efficacy (98% reduction in parasitemia) when dosed orally at 4 × 50 mg/kg. Generally, the compounds were noncytotoxic to mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dina Coertzen
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Meta Leshabane
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Constance M Korkor
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Cleavon K Cloete
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Nina Lawrence
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Mariëtte van der Watt
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel 4002, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel 4003, Switzerland
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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27
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Hitz E, Grüninger O, Passecker A, Wyss M, Scheurer C, Wittlin S, Beck HP, Brancucci NMB, Voss TS. The catalytic subunit of Plasmodium falciparum casein kinase 2 is essential for gametocytogenesis. Commun Biol 2021; 4:336. [PMID: 33712726 PMCID: PMC7954856 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01873-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a pleiotropic kinase phosphorylating substrates in different cellular compartments in eukaryotes. In the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, PfCK2 is vital for asexual proliferation of blood-stage parasites. Here, we applied CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing to investigate the function of the PfCK2α catalytic subunit in gametocytes, the sexual forms of the parasite that are essential for malaria transmission. We show that PfCK2α localizes to the nucleus and cytoplasm in asexual and sexual parasites alike. Conditional knockdown of PfCK2α expression prevented the transition of stage IV into transmission-competent stage V gametocytes, whereas the conditional knockout of pfck2a completely blocked gametocyte maturation already at an earlier stage of sexual differentiation. In summary, our results demonstrate that PfCK2α is not only essential for asexual but also sexual development of P. falciparum blood-stage parasites and encourage studies exploring PfCK2α as a potential target for dual-active antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Hitz
- grid.416786.a0000 0004 0587 0574Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland ,grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Olivia Grüninger
- grid.416786.a0000 0004 0587 0574Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland ,grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Armin Passecker
- grid.416786.a0000 0004 0587 0574Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland ,grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Wyss
- grid.416786.a0000 0004 0587 0574Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland ,grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Scheurer
- grid.416786.a0000 0004 0587 0574Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland ,grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- grid.416786.a0000 0004 0587 0574Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland ,grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Peter Beck
- grid.416786.a0000 0004 0587 0574Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland ,grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas M. B. Brancucci
- grid.416786.a0000 0004 0587 0574Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland ,grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Till S. Voss
- grid.416786.a0000 0004 0587 0574Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland ,grid.6612.30000 0004 1937 0642University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
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28
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Knaab TC, Held J, Burckhardt BB, Rubiano K, Okombo J, Yeo T, Mok S, Uhlemann AC, Lungerich B, Fischli C, Pessanha de Carvalho L, Mordmüller B, Wittlin S, Fidock DA, Kurz T. 3-Hydroxy-propanamidines, a New Class of Orally Active Antimalarials Targeting Plasmodium falciparum. J Med Chem 2021; 64:3035-3047. [PMID: 33666415 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
3-Hydroxypropanamidines are a new promising class of highly active antiplasmodial agents. The most active compound 22 exhibited excellent antiplasmodial in vitro activity with nanomolar inhibition of chloroquine-sensitive and multidrug-resistant parasite strains ofPlasmodium falciparum (with IC50 values of 5 and 12 nM against 3D7 and Dd2 strains, respectively) as well as low cytotoxicity in human cells. In addition, 22 showed strong in vivo activity in thePlasmodium berghei mouse model with a cure rate of 66% at 50 mg/kg and a cure rate of 33% at 30 mg/kg in the Peters test after once daily oral administration for 4 consecutive days. A quick onset of action was indicated by the fast drug absorption shown in mice. The new lead compound was also characterized by a high barrier to resistance and inhibited the heme detoxification machinery in P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja C Knaab
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstraße 1, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Jana Held
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, Tübingen 72074, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné B.P.: 242, Gabon
| | - Bjoern B Burckhardt
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstraße 1, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Kelly Rubiano
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, New York, United States
| | - John Okombo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, New York, United States
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, New York, United States
| | - Sachel Mok
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, New York, United States
| | - Anne-Catrin Uhlemann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, New York, United States
| | - Beate Lungerich
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstraße 1, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Christoph Fischli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstraße 57, Basel 4002, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel CH-4003, Switzerland
| | - Lais Pessanha de Carvalho
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, Tübingen 72074, Germany
| | - Benjamin Mordmüller
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, Tübingen 72074, Germany.,Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné B.P.: 242, Gabon
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstraße 57, Basel 4002, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel CH-4003, Switzerland
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, New York, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York 10032, New York, United States
| | - Thomas Kurz
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstraße 1, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
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29
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Lawong A, Gahalawat S, Okombo J, Striepen J, Yeo T, Mok S, Deni I, Bridgford JL, Niederstrasser H, Zhou A, Posner B, Wittlin S, Gamo FJ, Crespo B, Churchyard A, Baum J, Mittal N, Winzeler E, Laleu B, Palmer MJ, Charman SA, Fidock DA, Ready JM, Phillips MA. Novel Antimalarial Tetrazoles and Amides Active against the Hemoglobin Degradation Pathway in Plasmodium falciparum. J Med Chem 2021; 64:2739-2761. [PMID: 33620219 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Malaria control programs continue to be threatened by drug resistance. To identify new antimalarials, we conducted a phenotypic screen and identified a novel tetrazole-based series that shows fast-kill kinetics and a relatively low propensity to develop high-level resistance. Preliminary structure-activity relationships were established including identification of a subseries of related amides with antiplasmodial activity. Assaying parasites with resistance to antimalarials led us to test whether the series had a similar mechanism of action to chloroquine (CQ). Treatment of synchronized Plasmodium falciparum parasites with active analogues revealed a pattern of intracellular inhibition of hemozoin (Hz) formation reminiscent of CQ's action. Drug selections yielded only modest resistance that was associated with amplification of the multidrug resistance gene 1 (pfmdr1). Thus, we have identified a novel chemical series that targets the historically druggable heme polymerization pathway and that can form the basis of future optimization efforts to develop a new malaria treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aloysus Lawong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Suraksha Gahalawat
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - John Okombo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Josefine Striepen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Sachel Mok
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Ioanna Deni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Jessica L Bridgford
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Hanspeter Niederstrasser
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Anwu Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Bruce Posner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Benigno Crespo
- Medicines Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ South Kensington, U.K
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ South Kensington, U.K
| | - Nimisha Mittal
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Elizabeth Winzeler
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Benoît Laleu
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Susan A Charman
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Joseph M Ready
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Margaret A Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
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30
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Le Manach C, Dam J, Woodland JG, Kaur G, Khonde LP, Brunschwig C, Njoroge M, Wicht KJ, Horatscheck A, Paquet T, Boyle GA, Gibhard L, Taylor D, Lawrence N, Yeo T, Mok S, Eastman RT, Dorjsuren D, Talley DC, Guo H, Simeonov A, Reader J, van der Watt M, Erlank E, Venter N, Zawada JW, Aswat A, Nardini L, Coetzer TL, Lauterbach SB, Bezuidenhout BC, Theron A, Mancama D, Koekemoer LL, Birkholtz LM, Wittlin S, Delves M, Ottilie S, Winzeler EA, von Geldern TW, Smith D, Fidock DA, Street LJ, Basarab GS, Duffy J, Chibale K. Identification and Profiling of a Novel Diazaspiro[3.4]octane Chemical Series Active against Multiple Stages of the Human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum and Optimization Efforts. J Med Chem 2021; 64:2291-2309. [PMID: 33573376 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A novel diazaspiro[3.4]octane series was identified from a Plasmodium falciparum whole-cell high-throughput screening campaign. Hits displayed activity against multiple stages of the parasite lifecycle, which together with a novel sp3-rich scaffold provided an attractive starting point for a hit-to-lead medicinal chemistry optimization and biological profiling program. Structure-activity-relationship studies led to the identification of compounds that showed low nanomolar asexual blood-stage activity (<50 nM) together with strong gametocyte sterilizing properties that translated to transmission-blocking activity in the standard membrane feeding assay. Mechanistic studies through resistance selection with one of the analogues followed by whole-genome sequencing implicated the P. falciparum cyclic amine resistance locus in the mode of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Le Manach
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Jean Dam
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - John G Woodland
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Gurminder Kaur
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Lutete P Khonde
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Christel Brunschwig
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Kathryn J Wicht
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - André Horatscheck
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Tanya Paquet
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Grant A Boyle
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Dale Taylor
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Nina Lawrence
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Sachel Mok
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Richard T Eastman
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Dorjbal Dorjsuren
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Daniel C Talley
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Hui Guo
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Anton Simeonov
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Mariëtte van der Watt
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Erica Erlank
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2192, South Africa
| | - Nelius Venter
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2192, South Africa
| | - Jacek W Zawada
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2192, South Africa
| | - Ayesha Aswat
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2192, South Africa
| | - Luisa Nardini
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2192, South Africa
| | - Theresa L Coetzer
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Sonja B Lauterbach
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Belinda C Bezuidenhout
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Anjo Theron
- Biosciences, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Dalu Mancama
- Biosciences, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Lizette L Koekemoer
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa.,Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2192, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael Delves
- Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, U.K
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-076, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-076, United States
| | | | | | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Leslie J Street
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Gregory S Basarab
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - James Duffy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, P.O. Box 1826, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,South African Medical Research Council, Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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31
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Horatscheck A, Andrijevic A, Nchinda AT, Le Manach C, Paquet T, Khonde LP, Dam J, Pawar K, Taylor D, Lawrence N, Brunschwig C, Gibhard L, Njoroge M, Reader J, van der Watt M, Wicht K, de Sousa ACC, Okombo J, Maepa K, Egan TJ, Birkholtz LM, Basarab GS, Wittlin S, Fish PV, Street LJ, Duffy J, Chibale K. Correction to "Identification of 2,4-Disubstituted Imidazopyridines as Hemozoin Formation Inhibitors with Fast-Killing Kinetics and In Vivo Efficacy in the Plasmodium falciparum NSG Mouse Model". J Med Chem 2021; 64:1762. [PMID: 33508187 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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32
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Cheuka PM, Centani L, Arendse LB, Fienberg S, Wambua L, Renga SS, Dziwornu GA, Kumar M, Lawrence N, Taylor D, Wittlin S, Coertzen D, Reader J, van der Watt M, Birkholtz LM, Chibale K. New Amidated 3,6-Diphenylated Imidazopyridazines with Potent Antiplasmodium Activity Are Dual Inhibitors of Plasmodium Phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase and cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:34-46. [PMID: 33319990 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies on 3,6-diphenylated imidazopyridazines have demonstrated impressive in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy in mouse models of malaria infection. Herein, we report the synthesis and antiplasmodium evaluation of a new series of amidated analogues and demonstrate that these compounds potently inhibit Plasmodium phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase (PI4K) type IIIβ while moderately inhibiting cyclic guanidine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG) activity in vitro. Using in silico docking, we predict key binding interactions for these analogues within the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding site of PI4K and PKG, paving the way for structure-based optimization of imidazopyridazines targeting both Plasmodium PI4K and PKG. While several derivatives showed low nanomolar antiplasmodium activity (IC50 < 100 nM), some compounds, including piperazine analogue 28, resulted in strong dual PI4K and PKG inhibition. The compounds also demonstrated transmission-blocking potential, evident from their potent inhibition of early- and late-stage gametocytes. Finally, the current compounds generally showed improved aqueous solubility and reduced hERG (human ether-a-go-go-related gene) channel inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Mubanga Cheuka
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zambia, Great East Road Campus, P.O Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Luyanda Centani
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Lauren B. Arendse
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) and South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Stephen Fienberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) and South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Lynn Wambua
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Shoneeze S. Renga
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Godwin Akpeko Dziwornu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Malkeet Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Nina Lawrence
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Dale Taylor
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dina Coertzen
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Mariette van der Watt
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) and South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
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33
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Horatscheck A, Andrijevic A, Nchinda AT, Le Manach C, Paquet T, Khonde LP, Dam J, Pawar K, Taylor D, Lawrence N, Brunschwig C, Gibhard L, Njoroge M, Reader J, van der Watt M, Wicht K, de Sousa ACC, Okombo J, Maepa K, Egan TJ, Birkholtz LM, Basarab GS, Wittlin S, Fish PV, Street LJ, Duffy J, Chibale K. Identification of 2,4-Disubstituted Imidazopyridines as Hemozoin Formation Inhibitors with Fast-Killing Kinetics and In Vivo Efficacy in the Plasmodium falciparum NSG Mouse Model. J Med Chem 2020; 63:13013-13030. [PMID: 33103428 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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
A series of 2,4-disubstituted imidazopyridines, originating from a SoftFocus Kinase library, was identified from a high throughput phenotypic screen against the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Hit compounds showed moderate asexual blood stage activity. During lead optimization, several issues were flagged such as cross-resistance against the multidrug-resistant K1 strain, in vitro cytotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity and were addressed through structure-activity and structure-property relationship studies. Pharmacokinetic properties were assessed in mice for compounds showing desirable in vitro activity, a selectivity window over cytotoxicity, and microsomal metabolic stability. Frontrunner compound 37 showed good exposure in mice combined with good in vitro activity against the malaria parasite, which translated into in vivo efficacy in the P. falciparum NOD-scid IL-2Rγnull (NSG) mouse model. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest inhibition of hemozoin formation as a contributing mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Horatscheck
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Ana Andrijevic
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Aloysius T Nchinda
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Claire Le Manach
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Tanya Paquet
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Lutete Peguy Khonde
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Jean Dam
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Kailash Pawar
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Dale Taylor
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Nina Lawrence
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Christel Brunschwig
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Mariëtte van der Watt
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Kathryn Wicht
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | | | - John Okombo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Keletso Maepa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Timothy J Egan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Gregory S Basarab
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute ,Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Paul V Fish
- Alzheimer's Research UK, UCL Drug Discovery Institute, The Cruciform Building, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Leslie J Street
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - James Duffy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, P.O. Box 1826, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Kelly Chibale
- South African Medical Research Council, Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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34
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Potluri V, Shandil RK, Gavara R, Sambasivam G, Campo B, Wittlin S, Narayanan S. Discovery of FNDR-20123, a histone deacetylase inhibitor for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Malar J 2020; 19:365. [PMID: 33046062 PMCID: PMC7549214 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03421-3] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Emergence of anti-malarial drug resistance and perpetual increase in malaria incidence necessitates the development of novel anti-malarials. Histone deacetylases (HDAC) has been shown to be a promising target for malaria, despite this, there are no HDAC inhibitors in clinical trials for malaria treatment. This can be attributed to the poor pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and selectivity of the HDAC inhibitors. Methods A collection of HDAC inhibitors were screened for anti-malarial activity, and the best candidate was profiled in parasite-killing kinetics, growth inhibition of sensitive and multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains and against gametocytes. Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion pharmacokinetics (ADME-PK) parameters of FNDR-20123 were determined, and in vivo efficacy was studied in a mouse model for Plasmodium falciparum infection. Results A compound library of HDAC inhibitors (180 in number) was screened for anti-malarial activity, of which FNDR-20123 was the most potent candidate. The compound had been shown to inhibit Plasmodium HDAC with IC50 of 31 nM and human HDAC with IC50 of 3 nM. The IC50 obtained for P. falciparum in asexual blood-stage assay was 42 nM. When compared to atovaquone and pyrimethamine, the killing profiles of FNDR-20123 were better than atovaquone and comparable to pyrimethamine. The IC50 values for the growth inhibition of sensitive and MDR strains were similar, indicating that there is no cross-resistance and a low risk of resistance development. The selected compound was also active against gametocytes, indicating a potential for transmission control: IC50 values being 190 nM for male and > 5 µM for female gametocytes. FNDR-20123 is a stable candidate in human/mouse/rat liver microsomes (> 75% remaining post 2-h incubation), exhibits low plasma protein binding (57% in humans) with no human Ether-à-go–go-Related Gene (hERG) liability (> 100 µM), and does not inhibit any of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms tested (IC50 > 25 µM). It also shows negligible cytotoxicity to HepG-2 and THP-1 cell lines. The oral pharmacokinetics in rats at 100 mg/kg body weight shows good exposures (Cmax = 1.1 µM) and half-life (T1/2 = 5.5 h). Furthermore, a 14-day toxicokinetic study at 100 mg/kg daily dose did not show any abnormality in body weight or gross organ pathology. FNDR-20123 is also able to reduce parasitaemia significantly in a mouse model for P. falciparum infection when dosed orally and subcutaneously. Conclusion FNDR-20123 may be a suitable candidate for the treatment of malaria, which can be further developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Potluri
- Foundation for Neglected Disease Research, Bengaluru, India
| | | | - R Gavara
- Anthem Biosciences Private Limited, Bengaluru, India
| | | | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
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35
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Schalkwijk J, Allman EL, Jansen PAM, de Vries LE, Verhoef JMJ, Jackowski S, Botman PNM, Beuckens-Schortinghuis CA, Koolen KMJ, Bolscher JM, Vos MW, Miller K, Reeves SA, Pett H, Trevitt G, Wittlin S, Scheurer C, Sax S, Fischli C, Angulo-Barturen I, Jiménez-Diaz MB, Josling G, Kooij TWA, Bonnert R, Campo B, Blaauw RH, Rutjes FPJT, Sauerwein RW, Llinás M, Hermkens PHH, Dechering KJ. Antimalarial pantothenamide metabolites target acetyl-coenzyme A biosynthesis in Plasmodium falciparum. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/510/eaas9917. [PMID: 31534021 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aas9917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Malaria eradication is critically dependent on new therapeutics that target resistant Plasmodium parasites and block transmission of the disease. Here, we report that pantothenamide bioisosteres were active against blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites and also blocked transmission of sexual stages to the mosquito vector. These compounds were resistant to degradation by serum pantetheinases, showed favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and cleared parasites in a humanized mouse model of P. falciparum infection. Metabolomics revealed that coenzyme A biosynthetic enzymes converted pantothenamides into coenzyme A analogs that interfered with parasite acetyl-coenzyme A anabolism. Resistant parasites generated in vitro showed mutations in acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase and acyl-coenzyme A synthetase 11. Introduction and reversion of these mutations in P. falciparum using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing confirmed the roles of these enzymes in the sensitivity of the malaria parasites to pantothenamides. These pantothenamide compounds with a new mode of action may have potential as drugs against malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Schalkwijk
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
| | - Erik L Allman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Patrick A M Jansen
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Laura E de Vries
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Julie M J Verhoef
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Karen Miller
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Stacy A Reeves
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Helmi Pett
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Scheurer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sibylle Sax
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Fischli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Gabrielle Josling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Taco W A Kooij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA.,Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
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36
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Kokkonda S, Deng X, White KL, El Mazouni F, White J, Shackleford DM, Katneni K, Chiu FCK, Barker H, McLaren J, Crighton E, Chen G, Angulo-Barturen I, Jimenez-Diaz MB, Ferrer S, Huertas-Valentin L, Martinez-Martinez MS, Lafuente-Monasterio MJ, Chittimalla R, Shahi SP, Wittlin S, Waterson D, Burrows JN, Matthews D, Tomchick D, Rathod PK, Palmer MJ, Charman SA, Phillips MA. Lead Optimization of a Pyrrole-Based Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Series for the Treatment of Malaria. J Med Chem 2020; 63:4929-4956. [PMID: 32248693 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Malaria puts at risk nearly half the world's population and causes high mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, while drug resistance threatens current therapies. The pyrimidine biosynthetic enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a validated target for malaria treatment based on our finding that triazolopyrimidine DSM265 (1) showed efficacy in clinical studies. Herein, we describe optimization of a pyrrole-based series identified using a target-based DHODH screen. Compounds with nanomolar potency versus Plasmodium DHODH and Plasmodium parasites were identified with good pharmacological properties. X-ray studies showed that the pyrroles bind an alternative enzyme conformation from 1 leading to improved species selectivity versus mammalian enzymes and equivalent activity on Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax DHODH. The best lead DSM502 (37) showed in vivo efficacy at similar levels of blood exposure to 1, although metabolic stability was reduced. Overall, the pyrrole-based DHODH inhibitors provide an attractive alternative scaffold for the development of new antimalarial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreekanth Kokkonda
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Xiaoyi Deng
- Departments of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9135, United States
| | - Karen L White
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Farah El Mazouni
- Departments of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9135, United States
| | - John White
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - David M Shackleford
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Kasiram Katneni
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Francis C K Chiu
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Helena Barker
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jenna McLaren
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Elly Crighton
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Gong Chen
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | | | | | - Santiago Ferrer
- GSK, Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Severo Ochoa, Madrid 28760, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Dave Matthews
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Diana Tomchick
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9135, United States
| | - Pradipsinh K Rathod
- Departments of Chemistry and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | | | - Susan A Charman
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Margaret A Phillips
- Departments of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9135, United States
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37
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Burgert L, Rottmann M, Wittlin S, Gobeau N, Krause A, Dingemanse J, Möhrle JJ, Penny MA. Ensemble modeling highlights importance of understanding parasite-host behavior in preclinical antimalarial drug development. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4410. [PMID: 32157151 PMCID: PMC7064600 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61304-8] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging drug resistance and high-attrition rates in early and late stage drug development necessitate accelerated development of antimalarial compounds. However, systematic and meaningful translation of drug efficacy and host-parasite dynamics between preclinical testing stages is missing. We developed an ensemble of mathematical within-host parasite growth and antimalarial action models, fitted to extensive data from four antimalarials with different modes of action, to assess host-parasite interactions in two preclinical drug testing systems of murine parasite P. berghei in mice, and human parasite P. falciparum in immune-deficient mice. We find properties of the host-parasite system, namely resource availability, parasite maturation and virulence, drive P. berghei dynamics and drug efficacy, whereas experimental constraints primarily influence P. falciparum infection and drug efficacy. Furthermore, uninvestigated parasite behavior such as dormancy influences parasite recrudescence following non-curative treatment and requires further investigation. Taken together, host-parasite interactions should be considered for meaningful translation of pharmacodynamic properties between murine systems and for predicting human efficacious treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Burgert
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Rottmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Andreas Krause
- Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Clinical Pharmacology, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Jasper Dingemanse
- Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Clinical Pharmacology, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Jörg J Möhrle
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Melissa A Penny
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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38
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Ahenkorah S, Coertzen D, Tong JX, Fridianto K, Wittlin S, Birkholtz LM, Tan KSW, Lam Y, Go ML, Haynes RK. Antimalarial N 1, N 3-Dialkyldioxonaphthoimidazoliums: Synthesis, Biological Activity, and Structure-activity Relationships. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:49-55. [PMID: 31938463 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we report the nanomolar potencies of N 1,N 3-dialkyldioxonaphthoimidazoliums against asexual forms of sensitive and resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Activity was dependent on the presence of the fused quinone-imidazolium entity and lipophilicity imparted by the N1/N3 alkyl residues on the scaffold. Gametocytocidal activity was also detected, with most members active at IC50 < 1 μM. A representative analog with good solubility, limited PAMPA permeability, and microsomal stability demonstrated oral efficacy on a humanized mouse model of P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dina Coertzen
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | | | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | | | | | - Richard K. Haynes
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, 2531 Potchefstroom, South Africa
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39
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Walz A, Leroy D, Andenmatten N, Mäser P, Wittlin S. Anti-malarial ozonides OZ439 and OZ609 tested at clinically relevant compound exposure parameters in a novel ring-stage survival assay. Malar J 2019; 18:427. [PMID: 31849323 PMCID: PMC6918666 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-3056-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Drug efficacy against kelch 13 mutant malaria parasites can be determined in vitro with the ring-stage survival assay (RSA). The conventional assay protocol reflects the exposure profile of dihydroartemisinin. Methods Taking into account that other anti-malarial peroxides, such as the synthetic ozonides OZ439 (artefenomel) and OZ609, have different pharmacokinetics, the RSA was adjusted to the concentration–time profile of these ozonides in humans and a novel, semi-automated readout was introduced. Results When tested at clinically relevant parameters, it was shown that OZ439 and OZ609 are active against the Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolate Cam3.IR539T. Conclusion If the in vitro RSA does indeed predict the potency of compounds against parasites with increased tolerance to artemisinin and its derivatives, then the herein presented data suggest that following drug-pulses of at least 48 h, OZ439 and OZ609 will be highly potent against kelch 13 mutant isolates, such as P. falciparum Cam3.IR539T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Walz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Didier Leroy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Andenmatten
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002, Basel, Switzerland. .,University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001, Basel, Switzerland.
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40
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Jourdan J, Walz A, Matile H, Schmidt A, Wu J, Wang X, Dong Y, Vennerstrom JL, Schmidt RS, Wittlin S, Mäser P. Stochastic Protein Alkylation by Antimalarial Peroxides. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:2067-2075. [PMID: 31626733 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Antimalarial peroxides such as the phytochemical artemisinin or the synthetic ozonides arterolane and artefenomel undergo reductive cleavage of the pharmacophoric peroxide bond by ferrous heme, released by parasite hemoglobin digestion. The generated carbon-centered radicals alkylate heme in an intramolecular reaction and proteins in an intermolecular reaction. Here, we determine the proteinaceous alkylation signatures of artemisinin and synthetic ozonides in Plasmodium falciparum using alkyne click chemistry probes to identify target proteins by affinity purification and mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Using stringent controls and purification procedures, we identified 25 P. falciparum proteins that were alkylated by the antimalarial peroxides in a peroxide-dependent manner, but the alkylation patterns were more random than we had anticipated. Moreover, there was little overlap in the alkylation signatures identified in this work and those disclosed in previous studies. Our findings suggest that alkylation of parasite proteins by antimalarial peroxides is likely to be a nonspecific, stochastic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joëlle Jourdan
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Annabelle Walz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hugues Matile
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Schmidt
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jianbo Wu
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Emile, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Xiaofang Wang
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Emile, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Yuxiang Dong
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Emile, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Jonathan L. Vennerstrom
- College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Emile, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-6125, United States
| | - Remo S. Schmidt
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
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41
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Baartzes N, Stringer T, Seldon R, Warner DF, Taylor D, Wittlin S, Chibale K, Smith GS. Bioisosteric ferrocenyl aminoquinoline-benzimidazole hybrids: Antimicrobial evaluation and mechanistic insights. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 180:121-133. [PMID: 31301563 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.06.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Phenyl- and bioisosteric ferrocenyl-derived aminoquinoline-benzimidazole hybrid compounds were synthesised and evaluated for their in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive NF54 and multi-drug resistant K1 strains of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. All compounds were active against the two strains, generally showing enhanced activity in the K1 strain, with resistance indices less than 1. Cytotoxicity studies using Chinese hamster ovarian cells revealed that the hybrids were relatively non-cytotoxic and demonstrated selective killing of the parasite. Based on favourable in vitro antiplasmodial and cytotoxicity data, the most active phenyl (4c) and ferrocenyl (5b) hybrids were tested in vivo against the rodent Plasmodium berghei mouse model. Both compounds caused a reduction in parasitemia relative to the control, with 5c displaying superior activity (92% reduction in parasitemia at 4 × 50 mg/kg oral doses). The most active phenyl and ferrocenyl derivatives showed inhibition of β-haematin formation in a NP-40 detergent-mediated assay, indicating a possible contributing mechanism of antiplasmodial action. The most active ferrocenyl hybrid did not display appreciable reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in a ROS-induced DNA cleavage gel electrophoresis study. The compounds were also screened for their in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The hybrids containing a more hydrophobic substituent had enhanced activity (<32.7 μM) compared to those with a less hydrophobic substituent (>62.5 μM).
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Affiliation(s)
- N Baartzes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - T Stringer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - R Seldon
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - D F Warner
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa; Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - D Taylor
- H3D, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - S Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - K Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council, Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - G S Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa.
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42
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Hooft van Huijsduijnen R, Wells T, Tanner M, Wittlin S. Two successful decades of Swiss collaborations to develop new anti-malarials. Malar J 2019; 18:94. [PMID: 30902051 PMCID: PMC6431002 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2728-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last two decades there has been a renaissance in the pipeline of new drugs targeting malaria, with the launch of new products that help save the lives of children throughout the world. In addition, there is a wealth of new molecules both entering and progressing through clinical development. These bring hope for a new generation of simpler and more effective cures that could overcome the emerging threat of drug resistance. In addition, there is hope that some of these medicines will have prophylactic activity and can be used to protect vulnerable populations, given the absence of a highly effective vaccine. Switzerland has played a key role in the development of these medicines. First, the country has a long history of understanding the biology of parasites and the pharmacology of drug responses through the leadership of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel. Second, the highly successful Swiss pharmaceutical industry brings, beyond excellence, a strong interest in neglected diseases, building on work at Hoffmann-La Roche in the last century and with more recent products from Novartis and other Swiss companies. Third, the emergence of product-development-partnerships, in this case led by the Medicines for Malaria Venture, based in Geneva, has helped to catalyze the development of new medicines and bring the community together within Switzerland and beyond. Finally, this progress would not have been possible without the engagement of the Swiss people and the support of the federal government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the State Secretariat of Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and the Swiss Republic and Canton of Geneva.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy Wells
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Route de Pré Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Marcel Tanner
- Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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43
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Okombo J, Brunschwig C, Singh K, Dziwornu GA, Barnard L, Njoroge M, Wittlin S, Chibale K. Antimalarial Pyrido[1,2- a]benzimidazole Derivatives with Mannich Base Side Chains: Synthesis, Pharmacological Evaluation, and Reactive Metabolite Trapping Studies. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:372-384. [PMID: 30608648 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A novel series of pyrido[1,2- a]benzimidazoles bearing Mannich base side chains and their metabolites were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antiplasmodium activity, microsomal metabolic stability, reactive metabolite (RM) formation, and in vivo antimalarial efficacy in a mouse model. Oral administration of one of the derivatives at 4 × 50 mg/kg reduced parasitemia by 95% in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice, with a mean survival period of 16 days post-treatment. The in vivo efficacy of these derivatives is likely a consequence of their active metabolites, two of which showed potent in vitro antiplasmodium activity against chloroquine-sensitive and multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum ( P. falciparum) strains. Rapid metabolism was observed for all the analogues with <40% of parent compound remaining after 30 min of incubation in liver microsomes. RM trapping studies detected glutathione adducts only in derivatives bearing 4-aminophenol moiety, with fragmentation signatures showing that this conjugation occurred on the phenyl ring of the Mannich base side chain. As with amodiaquine (AQ), interchanging the positions of the 4-hydroxyl and Mannich base side group or substituting the 4-hydroxyl with fluorine appeared to block bioactivation of the AQ-like derivatives though at the expense of antiplasmodium activity, which was significantly lowered.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Okombo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Christel Brunschwig
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Kawaljit Singh
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | | | - Linley Barnard
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel 4002, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel 4003, Switzerland
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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44
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Attram HD, Wittlin S, Chibale K. Incorporation of an intramolecular hydrogen bonding motif in the side chain of antimalarial benzimidazoles. Medchemcomm 2019; 10:450-455. [PMID: 31015908 DOI: 10.1039/c8md00608c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Analogues of a novel class of benzimidazoles with an intramolecular hydrogen bonding motif have been synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their antiplasmodium activity against chloroquine-sensitive (NF54) and multi-drug resistant (K1) strains of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Compounds were also screened for their cytotoxicity towards a mammalian Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cell line. Most of the compounds exhibited good antiplasmodium activity (PfNF54 IC50 <1 μM) and were relatively noncytotoxic. Moreover, towards establishing the possible mode of action of these molecules, inhibition of beta-hematin formation was investigated and two compounds were found to be inhibitors. Single crystal X-ray data confirmed the existence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrietta D Attram
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa . ; ; Tel: +27 21 6502553
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute , Socinstrasse 57 , 4002 Basel , Switzerland.,University of Basel , 4003 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa . ; ; Tel: +27 21 6502553.,South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit , Department of Chemistry , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa
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45
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Kumar M, Okombo J, Mambwe D, Taylor D, Lawrence N, Reader J, van der Watt M, Fontinha D, Sanches-Vaz M, Bezuidenhout BC, Lauterbach SB, Liebenberg D, Birkholtz LM, Coetzer TL, Prudêncio M, Egan TJ, Wittlin S, Chibale K. Multistage Antiplasmodium Activity of Astemizole Analogues and Inhibition of Hemozoin Formation as a Contributor to Their Mode of Action. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:303-315. [PMID: 30525439 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
A drug repositioning approach was leveraged to derivatize astemizole (AST), an antihistamine drug whose antimalarial activity was previously identified in a high-throughput screen. The multistage activity potential against the Plasmodium parasite's life cycle of the subsequent analogues was examined by evaluating against the parasite asexual blood, liver, and sexual gametocytic stages. In addition, the previously reported contribution of heme detoxification to the compound's mode of action was interrogated. Ten of the 17 derivatives showed half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of <0.1 μM against the chloroquine (CQ)-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum NF54 ( PfNF54) strain while maintaining submicromolar potency against the multidrug-resistant strain, PfK1, with most showing low likelihood of cross-resistance with CQ. Selected analogues ( PfNF54-IC50 < 0.1 μM) were tested for cytotoxicity on Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells and found to be highly selective (selectivity index > 100). Screening of AST and its analogues against gametocytes revealed their moderate activity (IC50: 1-5 μM) against late stage P. falciparum gametocytes, while the evaluation of activity against P. berghei liver stages identified one compound (3) with 3-fold greater activity than the parent AST compound. Mechanistic studies showed a strong correlation between in vitro inhibition of β-hematin formation by the AST derivatives and their antiplasmodium IC50s. Analyses of intracellular inhibition of hemozoin formation within the parasite further yielded signatures attributable to a possible perturbation of the heme detoxification machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malkeet Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - John Okombo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Dickson Mambwe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Dale Taylor
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Nina Lawrence
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Mariëtte van der Watt
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Diana Fontinha
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Margarida Sanches-Vaz
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Belinda C. Bezuidenhout
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Sonja B. Lauterbach
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Dale Liebenberg
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Theresa L. Coetzer
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Timothy J. Egan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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46
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Mayoka G, Njoroge M, Okombo J, Gibhard L, Sanches-Vaz M, Fontinha D, Birkholtz LM, Reader J, van der Watt M, Coetzer TL, Lauterbach S, Churchyard A, Bezuidenhout B, Egan TJ, Yeates C, Wittlin S, Prudêncio M, Chibale K. Structure–Activity Relationship Studies and Plasmodium Life Cycle Profiling Identifies Pan-Active N-Aryl-3-trifluoromethyl Pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles Which Are Efficacious in an in Vivo Mouse Model of Malaria. J Med Chem 2018; 62:1022-1035. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey Mayoka
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - John Okombo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Margarida Sanches-Vaz
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Diana Fontinha
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Lyn-Marie Birkholtz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Janette Reader
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Mariëtte van der Watt
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Theresa L. Coetzer
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Sonja Lauterbach
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Belinda Bezuidenhout
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Timothy J. Egan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Clive Yeates
- Inpharma
Consultancy, 6 Dudley Hill Close, Welwyn, Hertfordshire AL60QQ, U.K
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council, Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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47
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Grogg M, Hilvert D, Ebert MO, Beck AK, Seebach D, Kurth F, Dittrich PS, Sparr C, Wittlin S, Rottmann M, Mäser P. Cell Penetration, Herbicidal Activity, and in-vivo-Toxicity of Oligo-Arginine Derivatives and of Novel Guanidinium-Rich Compounds Derived from the Biopolymer Cyanophycin. Helv Chim Acta 2018; 101. [PMID: 30905972 DOI: 10.1002/hlca.201800112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Oligo-arginines are thoroughly studied cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs, Figures 1 and 2). Previous in-vitro investigations with the octaarginine salt of the phosphonate fosmidomycin (herbicide and anti-malaria drug) have shown a 40-fold parasitaemia inhibition with P. falciparum, compared to fosmidomycin alone (Figure 3). We have now tested this salt, as well as the corresponding phosphinate salt of the herbicide glufosinate, for herbicidal activity with whole plants by spray application, hoping for increased activities, i.e. decreased doses. However, both salts showed low herbicidal activity, indicating poor foliar uptake (Table 1). Another pronounced difference between in-vitro and in-vivo activity was demonstrated with various cell-penetrating octaarginine salts of fosmidomycin: intravenous injection to mice caused exitus of the animals within minutes, even at doses as low as 1.4 μmol/kg (Table 2). The results show that use of CPPs for drug delivery, for instance to cancer cells and tissues, must be considered with due care. The biopolymer cyanophycin is a poly-aspartic acid containing argininylated side chains (Figure 4); its building block is the dipeptide H-βAsp-αArg-OH (H-Adp-OH). To test and compare the biological properties with those of octaarginines we synthesized Adp8-derivatives (Figure 5). Intravenouse injection of H-Adp8-NH2 into the tail vein of mice with doses as high as 45 μmol/kg causes no symptoms whatsoever (Table 3), but H-Adp8-NH2 is not cell penetrating (HEK293 and MCF-7 cells, Figure 6). On the other hand, the fluorescently labeled octamers FAM-(Adp(OMe))8-NH2 and FAM-(Adp(NMe2))8-NH2 with ester and amide groups in the side chains exhibit mediocre to high cell-wall permeability (Figure 6), and are toxic (Table 3). Possible reasons for this behavior are discussed (Figure 7) and corresponding NMR spectra are presented (Figure 8).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Grogg
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marc-Olivier Ebert
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Albert K Beck
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Dieter Seebach
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Departement Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, ETH-Zürich, Hönggerberg HCI, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Felix Kurth
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, BSD H 368, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Petra S Dittrich
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, BSD H 368, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christof Sparr
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, St. Johanns-Ring 19, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Rottmann
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland
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48
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Cheuka PM, Lawrence N, Taylor D, Wittlin S, Chibale K. Antiplasmodial imidazopyridazines: structure-activity relationship studies lead to the identification of analogues with improved solubility and hERG profiles. Medchemcomm 2018; 9:1733-1745. [PMID: 30429978 PMCID: PMC6194489 DOI: 10.1039/c8md00382c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
3,6-Diarylated imidazopyridazines have recently been shown to possess good in vitro antiplasmodial and in vivo antimalarial activity. However, frontrunner compounds have been associated with poor solubility and a hERG (human ether-a-go-go-related gene) inhibition liability raising concerns for potential cardiotoxicity risks. Herein, we report the synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of new imidazopyridazines aimed at improving aqueous solubility and countering hERG inhibition while maintaining antiplasmodial potency. While we identified new analogues with potent antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 0.031 μM against the NF54 drug-sensitive strain, and IC50 = 0.0246 μM against the K1 multidrug resistant strain), hERG inhibition remained an issue. Excitingly, on the other hand, new analogues with a substantially improved hERG inhibition profile (IC50 = 7.83-32.3 μM) with sub-micromolar antiplasmodial activity (NF54, IC50 = 0.151-0.922 μM) were identified. Similarly, the introduced molecular features also resulted in analogues with moderate to high solubility (60-200 μM) while also displaying sub-micromolar antiplasmodial potency (NF54, IC50 = 0.136-0.99 μM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Mubanga Cheuka
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa . ; ; Tel: +27 21 6502553
| | - Nina Lawrence
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) , Division of Clinical Pharmacology , Department of Medicine , University of Cape Town , Observatory , Cape Town 7925 , South Africa
| | - Dale Taylor
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) , Division of Clinical Pharmacology , Department of Medicine , University of Cape Town , Observatory , Cape Town 7925 , South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute , Socinstrasse 57 , 4002 Basel , Switzerland
- University of Basel , 4003 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa . ; ; Tel: +27 21 6502553
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) , Division of Clinical Pharmacology , Department of Medicine , University of Cape Town , Observatory , Cape Town 7925 , South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit , University of Cape Town , Rondebosch 7701 , South Africa
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49
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Le Manach C, Paquet T, Wicht K, Nchinda AT, Brunschwig C, Njoroge M, Gibhard L, Taylor D, Lawrence N, Wittlin S, Eyermann CJ, Basarab GS, Duffy J, Fish PV, Street LJ, Chibale K. Antimalarial Lead-Optimization Studies on a 2,6-Imidazopyridine Series within a Constrained Chemical Space To Circumvent Atypical Dose–Response Curves against Multidrug Resistant Parasite Strains. J Med Chem 2018; 61:9371-9385. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Le Manach
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Tanya Paquet
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Kathryn Wicht
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Aloysius T. Nchinda
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Christel Brunschwig
- H3D, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Mathew Njoroge
- H3D, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Liezl Gibhard
- H3D, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Dale Taylor
- H3D, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Nina Lawrence
- H3D, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Charles J. Eyermann
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Gregory S. Basarab
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - James Duffy
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, PO Box 1826, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul V. Fish
- Alzheimer’s Research UK, UCL Drug Discovery Institute, The Cruciform Building, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Leslie J. Street
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Drug Discovery and Development Center (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council, Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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50
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Kaur G, Pavadai E, Wittlin S, Chibale K. 3D-QSAR Modeling and Synthesis of New Fusidic Acid Derivatives as Antiplasmodial Agents. J Chem Inf Model 2018; 58:1553-1560. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.8b00105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gurminder Kaur
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Elumalai Pavadai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
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