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

Delves, Michael J.; Miguel-Blanco, Celia; Matthews, Holly; Molina, Irene; Ruecker, Andrea; Yahiya, Sabrina; Straschil, Ursula; Abraham, Matthew; Luisa Leon, Maria; Fischer, Oliver J.; Rueda-Zubiaurre, Ainoa; Brandt, Jochen R.; Cortes, Alvaro; Barnard, Anna

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
2018
VL / 9 - BP / - EP /
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 similar to 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-4yl)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.

AccesS level

Gold DOAJ, Green published

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