scholarly journals Mapping the malaria parasite drug-able genome using in vitro evolution and chemogenomics

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie N. Cowell ◽  
Eva S. Istvan ◽  
Amanda K. Lukens ◽  
Maria G. Gomez-Lorenzo ◽  
Manu Vanaerschot ◽  
...  

AbstractChemogenetic characterization through in vitro evolution combined with whole genome analysis is a powerful tool to discover novel antimalarial drug targets and identify drug resistance genes. Our comprehensive genome analysis of 262 Plasmodium falciparum parasites treated with 37 diverse compounds reveals how the parasite evolves to evade the action of small molecule growth inhibitors. This detailed data set revealed 159 gene amplifications and 148 nonsynonymous changes in 83 genes which developed during resistance acquisition. Using a new algorithm, we show that gene amplifications contribute to 1/3 of drug resistance acquisition events. In addition to confirming known multidrug resistance mechanisms, we discovered novel multidrug resistance genes. Furthermore, we identified promising new drug target-inhibitor pairs to advance the malaria elimination campaign, including: thymidylate synthase and a benzoquinazolinone, farnesyltransferase and a pyrimidinedione, and a dipeptidylpeptidase and an arylurea. This deep exploration of the P. falciparum resistome and drug-able genome will guide future drug discovery and structural biology efforts, while also advancing our understanding of resistance mechanisms of the deadliest malaria parasite.One Sentence SummaryWhole genome sequencing reveals how Plasmodium falciparum evolves resistance to diverse compounds and identifies new antimalarial drug targets.

Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 359 (6372) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie N. Cowell ◽  
Eva S. Istvan ◽  
Amanda K. Lukens ◽  
Maria G. Gomez-Lorenzo ◽  
Manu Vanaerschot ◽  
...  

Chemogenetic characterization through in vitro evolution combined with whole-genome analysis can identify antimalarial drug targets and drug-resistance genes. We performed a genome analysis of 262 Plasmodium falciparum parasites resistant to 37 diverse compounds. We found 159 gene amplifications and 148 nonsynonymous changes in 83 genes associated with drug-resistance acquisition, where gene amplifications contributed to one-third of resistance acquisition events. Beyond confirming previously identified multidrug-resistance mechanisms, we discovered hitherto unrecognized drug target–inhibitor pairs, including thymidylate synthase and a benzoquinazolinone, farnesyltransferase and a pyrimidinedione, and a dipeptidylpeptidase and an arylurea. This exploration of the P. falciparum resistome and druggable genome will likely guide drug discovery and structural biology efforts, while also advancing our understanding of resistance mechanisms available to the malaria parasite.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Jado ◽  
Michelle Dow ◽  
Krypton Carolino ◽  
Gregory J. Fonseca ◽  
Trey Ideker ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTRobust methods are needed for determining the mechanism of action and mechanism of resistance for small molecules that are active against human cells. In microbes, in vitro evolution and whole genome analysis (IVIEWGA) is the preferred method for target deconvolution and for revealing resistance mechanisms. To investigate the method’s applicability to human cells we evolved resistance to five different anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, gemcitabine, etoposide, topotecan, and paclitaxel) using a near-haploid cell line (HAP-1). Resultant clones (N=28) were compared to their isogenic parents via whole genome and whole exome sequencing (WES). High frequency alleles predicted to change protein sequence, or alleles which appeared in the same gene for multiple independent selections with the same compound were identified in only 21 genes: The set included clinically-relevant resistance genes or known drug targets (TOP1, TOP2A, DCK, WDR33, SLCO3A1), as well as new genes (SLC13A4). In addition, some lines carried structural variants that encompassed additional known resistance genes (ABCB1, WWOX and RRM1). Gene expression knockdown and knockout experiments (via shRNA and CRISPR-Cαs9 respectively) of 10 validation targets showed a high degree of specificity and accuracy in our calls and demonstrates that the same drug resistance mechanisms found in diverse clinical samples can be evolved, identified and studied in an isogenic background. Our data show that in vitro evolution and whole genome analysis is a promising method for target identification as well as for identifying resistance mechanisms.


2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 2393-2396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Ciach ◽  
Kathleen Zong ◽  
Kevin C. Kain ◽  
Ian Crandall

ABSTRACT Quinoline resistance in malaria is frequently compared with P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance (mdr) in mammalian cells. We have previously reported that nonylphenolethoxylates, such as NP30, are potential Plasmodium falciparum P-glycoprotein substrates and drug efflux inhibitors. We used in vitro assays to compare the ability of verapamil and NP30 to sensitize two parasite isolates to four quinolines: chloroquine (CQ), mefloquine (MF), quinine (QN), and quinidine (QD). NP30 was able to sensitize (reversal, >80%) P. falciparum to MF, QN, QD, and, to a lesser extent, CQ. The presence of 2 μM verapamil had no effect on mefloquine resistance; however, the presence of verapamil modulated the activities of QN and QD in a manner parallel to that observed for CQ. Genetic analysis of putative quinoline resistance genes did not suggest an association between known point mutations in pfcrt and pfmdr1 and NP30 sensitization activity. We conclude that the sensitization action of NP30 is distinct both phenotypically and genotypically from that of verapamil.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Pedro Gil ◽  
Cláudia Fançony

The capacity of the lethal Plasmodium falciparum parasite to develop resistance against anti-malarial drugs represents a central challenge in the global control and elimination of malaria. Historically, the action of drug transporters is known to play a pivotal role in the capacity of the parasite to evade drug action. MRPs (Multidrug Resistance Protein) are known in many phylogenetically diverse groups to be related to drug resistance by being able to handle a large range of substrates, including important endogenous substances as glutathione and its conjugates. P. falciparum MRPs are associated with in vivo and in vitro altered drug response, and might be important factors for the development of multi-drug resistance phenotypes, a latent possibility in the present, and future, combination therapy environment. Information on P. falciparum MRPs is scattered in the literature, with no specialized review available. We herein address this issue by reviewing the present state of knowledge.


2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 7032-7040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Wurtz ◽  
Bécaye Fall ◽  
Aurélie Pascual ◽  
Mansour Fall ◽  
Eric Baret ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe involvement ofPfmdr1(Plasmodium falciparummultidrug resistance 1) polymorphisms in antimalarial drug resistance is still debated. Here, we evaluate the association between polymorphisms inPfmdr1(N86Y, Y184F, S1034C, N1042D, and D1246Y) andPfcrt(K76T) andin vitroresponses to chloroquine (CQ), mefloquine (MQ), lumefantrine (LMF), quinine (QN), monodesethylamodiaquine (MDAQ), and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in 174Plasmodium falciparumisolates from Dakar, Senegal. ThePfmdr186Y mutation was identified in 14.9% of the samples, and the 184F mutation was identified in 71.8% of the isolates. No 1034C, 1042N, or 1246Y mutations were detected. ThePfmdr186Y mutation was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to MDAQ (P= 0.0023), LMF (P= 0.0001), DHA (P= 0.0387), and MQ (P= 0.00002). The N86Y mutation was not associated with CQ (P= 0.214) or QN (P= 0.287) responses. ThePfmdr1184F mutation was not associated with various susceptibility responses to the 6 antimalarial drugs (P= 0.168 for CQ, 0.778 for MDAQ, 0.324 for LMF, 0.961 for DHA, 0.084 for QN, and 0.298 for MQ). ThePfmdr186Y-Y184 haplotype was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to MDAQ (P= 0.0136), LMF (P= 0.0019), and MQ (P= 0.0001). The additionalPfmdr186Y mutation increased significantly thein vitrosusceptibility to MDAQ (P< 0.0001), LMF (P< 0.0001), MQ (P< 0.0001), and QN (P= 0.0026) in wild-typePfcrtK76 parasites. The additionalPfmdr186Y mutation significantly increased thein vitrosusceptibility to CQ (P= 0.0179) inPfcrt76T CQ-resistant parasites.


Author(s):  
Mariko Kanai ◽  
Tomas Yeo ◽  
Victor Asua ◽  
Philip J. Rosenthal ◽  
David A. Fidock ◽  
...  

Research efforts to combat antimalarial drug resistance rely on quick, robust, and sensitive methods to genetically characterize Plasmodium falciparum parasites. We developed a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based genotyping method that can assess 33 drug resistance-conferring SNPs in dhfr, dhps, pfmdr1, pfcrt, and k13 in nine PCR reactions, performed directly from P. falciparum cultures or infected blood. We also optimized multiplexed fragment analysis and gel electrophoresis-based microsatellite typing methods using a set of five markers that can distinguish 12 laboratory strains of diverse geographical and temporal origin. We demonstrate how these methods can be applied to screen for the multidrug-resistant KEL1/PLA1/PfPailin (KelPP) lineage that has been sweeping across the Greater Mekong Subregion, verify parasite in vitro SNP-editing, identify novel recombinant genetic cross progeny, or cluster strains to infer their geographical origins. Results were compared with Illumina-based whole-genome sequence analysis that provides the most detailed sequence information but is cost-prohibitive. These adaptable, simple, and inexpensive methods can be easily implemented into routine genotyping of P. falciparum parasites in both laboratory and field settings.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fawad Ali ◽  
Hira Wali ◽  
Saadia Jan ◽  
Muneeba Aslam ◽  
Imtiaz Ahmad ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Plasmodium falciparum is an obligate intracellular parasite of humans that causes malaria. P. falciparum is a major public health threat to human life responsible for high mortality. Currently, the risk of multi-drug resistance of P. falciparum is rapidly increasing. There is a need to address new anti-malarial therapeutics strategies to combat the drug-resistance threat.Methods: We retrieved the P. falciparum essential proteins from the recently published studies. Pathogen essential proteins were initially scanned against human host and its gut microbiome proteome sets by comparative proteomics analyses. The human host non-homologs essential proteins of P. falciparum were additionally analyzed for druggability potential via in silico methods to possibly identify novel therapeutic targets.Results: The analyses identified six P. falciparum essential and human host non-homolog proteins that follow the key druggability features. These druggable targets have not catalogued so far in the Drugbank repository. These prioritized proteins seem novel and promising drug targets against P. falciparum due to their key protein-protein interactions features in pathogen-specific biological pathways and to hold appropriate drug-like molecule binding pockets. Conclusion: The prioritized protein targets may worthy to test in malarial drug discovery program to overcome the anti-malarial resistance issues. The in-vitro and in-vivo studies might be promising for additional validation of these prioritized lists of drug targets against malaria.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clement K.M. Tsui ◽  
Flavia Sorrentino ◽  
Narula Gagandeep ◽  
Alfonso Mendoza Losanna ◽  
Ruben Gonzalez Rio ◽  
...  

Abstract Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the etiological agent of tuberculosis, is one of the most devastating infectious agents in the world. It causes chronic lung diseases to one third of the world’s population. Chemo-genetic characterization through in vitro evolution combined with whole genome sequencing analysis can identify novel drug targets and drug resistance genes in Mtb. We performed a genome analysis of 53 Mtb mutants resistant to 15 different hit compounds. We found nonsynonymous mutations/indels in 30 genes that may be associated with drug resistance acquisitions. Beyond confirming previously identified drug resistance mechanisms such as rpoB and lead targets reported in novel anti-tuberculosis drug screenings such as mmpL3, ethA, mbtA, we discovered several unrecognized candidate drug targets including prrB and TB18.5. The exploration of the M. tuberculosis chemical mutant genomes could help novel drug discovery and structural biology of compounds and asscoiated mechanisms of action relevant to tuberculosis treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fawad Ali ◽  
Hira Wali ◽  
Saadia Jan ◽  
Asad Zia ◽  
Muneeba Aslam ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Plasmodium falciparum is an obligate intracellular parasite of humans that causes malaria. Falciparum malaria is a major public health threat to human life responsible for high mortality. Currently, the risk of multi-drug resistance of P. falciparum is rapidly increasing. There is a need to address new anti-malarial therapeutics strategies to combat the drug-resistance threat. Methods The P. falciparum essential proteins were retrieved from the recently published studies. These proteins were initially scanned against human host and its gut microbiome proteome sets by comparative proteomics analyses. The human host non-homologs essential proteins of P. falciparum were additionally analysed for druggability potential via in silico methods to possibly identify novel therapeutic targets. Finally, the PfAp4AH target was prioritized for pharmacophore modelling based virtual screening and molecular docking analyses to identify potent inhibitors from drug-like compounds databases. Results The analyses identified six P. falciparum essential and human host non-homolog proteins that follow the key druggability features. These druggable targets have not been catalogued so far in the Drugbank repository. These prioritized proteins seem novel and promising drug targets against P. falciparum due to their key protein–protein interactions features in pathogen-specific biological pathways and to hold appropriate drug-like molecule binding pockets. The pharmacophore features based virtual screening of Pharmit resource predicted a lead compound i.e. MolPort-045–917-542 as a promising inhibitor of PfAp4AH among prioritized targets. Conclusion The prioritized protein targets may worthy to test in malarial drug discovery programme to overcome the anti-malarial resistance issues. The in-vitro and in-vivo studies might be promising for additional validation of these prioritized lists of drug targets against malaria.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 117863611880852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Cowell ◽  
Elizabeth Winzeler

Plasmodium parasites, the causative agent of malaria infections, rapidly evolve drug resistance and escape detection by the human immune response via the incredible mutability of its genome. Understanding the genetic mechanisms by which Plasmodium parasites develop antimalarial resistance is essential to understanding why most drugs fail in the clinic and designing the next generation of therapies. A systematic genomic analysis of 262 Plasmodium falciparum clones with stable in vitro resistance to 37 diverse compounds with potent antimalarial activity was undertaken with the main goal of identifying new drug targets. Despite several challenges inherent to this method of in vitro drug resistance generation followed by whole genome sequencing, the study was able to identify a likely drug target or resistance gene for every compound for which resistant parasites could be generated. Known and novel P falciparum resistance mediators were discovered along with several new promising antimalarial drug targets. Surprisingly, gene amplification events contributed to one-third of the drug resistance acquisition events. The study can serve as a model for drug discovery and resistance analyses in other similar microbial pathogens amenable to in vitro culture.


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