Pratap Vydyam, Meenal Chand, Sovitj Pou, Rolf W. Winter, Katherine M. Liebman, Aaron Nilsen, J. Stone Doggett, Michael K. Riscoe and Choukri Ben Mamoun*,
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Endochin-like quinolones (ELQs) define a class of small molecule antimicrobials that target the mitochondrial electron transport chain of various human parasites by inhibiting their cytochrome bc1 complexes. The compounds have shown potent activity against a wide range of protozoan parasites, including the intraerythrocytic parasites Plasmodium and Babesia, the agents of human malaria and babesiosis, respectively. First-generation ELQ compounds were previously found to reduce infection by Babesia microti and Babesia duncani in animal models of human babesiosis but achieved a radical cure only in combination with atovaquone and required further optimization to address pharmacological limitations. Here, we report the identification of two second-generation 3-biaryl ELQ compounds, ELQ-596 and ELQ-650, with potent antibabesial activity in vitro and favorable pharmacological properties. In particular, ELQ-598, a prodrug of ELQ-596, demonstrated high efficacy as an orally administered monotherapy at 10 mg/kg. The compound achieved radical cure in both the chronic model of B. microti-induced babesiosis in immunocompromised mice and the lethal infection model induced by B. duncani in immunocompetent mice. Given its high potency, favorable physicochemical properties, and low toxicity profile, ELQ-596 represents a promising drug for the treatment of human babesiosis.
期刊介绍:
ACS Infectious Diseases will be the first journal to highlight chemistry and its role in this multidisciplinary and collaborative research area. The journal will cover a diverse array of topics including, but not limited to:
* Discovery and development of new antimicrobial agents — identified through target- or phenotypic-based approaches as well as compounds that induce synergy with antimicrobials.
* Characterization and validation of drug target or pathways — use of single target and genome-wide knockdown and knockouts, biochemical studies, structural biology, new technologies to facilitate characterization and prioritization of potential drug targets.
* Mechanism of drug resistance — fundamental research that advances our understanding of resistance; strategies to prevent resistance.
* Mechanisms of action — use of genetic, metabolomic, and activity- and affinity-based protein profiling to elucidate the mechanism of action of clinical and experimental antimicrobial agents.
* Host-pathogen interactions — tools for studying host-pathogen interactions, cellular biochemistry of hosts and pathogens, and molecular interactions of pathogens with host microbiota.
* Small molecule vaccine adjuvants for infectious disease.
* Viral and bacterial biochemistry and molecular biology.