A high throughput screen for next-generation leads targeting malaria parasite transmission

Nat Commun. 2018 Sep 18;9(1):3805. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05777-2.

Abstract

Spread of parasite resistance to artemisinin threatens current frontline antimalarial therapies, highlighting the need for new drugs with alternative modes of action. Since only 0.2-1% of asexual parasites differentiate into sexual, transmission-competent forms, targeting this natural bottleneck provides a tangible route to interrupt disease transmission and mitigate resistance selection. Here we present a high-throughput screen of gametogenesis against a ~70,000 compound diversity library, identifying seventeen drug-like molecules that target transmission. Hit molecules possess varied activity profiles including male-specific, dual acting male-female and dual-asexual-sexual, with one promising N-((4-hydroxychroman-4-yl)methyl)-sulphonamide scaffold found to have sub-micromolar activity in vitro and in vivo efficacy. Development of leads with modes of action focussed on the sexual stages of malaria parasite development provide a previously unexplored base from which future therapeutics can be developed, capable of preventing parasite transmission through the population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / analysis*
  • Antimalarials / chemistry
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical*
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Gametogenesis / drug effects
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods*
  • Humans
  • Malaria / parasitology*
  • Malaria / transmission*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Parasites / drug effects
  • Parasites / physiology*
  • Phenotype
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antimalarials