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A small-molecule approach to studying invasive mechanisms of Toxoplasma gondii.

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasma gondii is the most common protozoan parasite of humans. Infection with T. gondii can lead to life-threatening disease as a result of repeated cycles of host cell invasion, parasite replication, and host cell lysis. Relatively little is known about the invasive mechanisms of T. gondii and related parasites within the Phylum Apicomplexa (including Plasmodium spp., the causative agents of malaria), due to difficulties associated with studying genes essential to invasion in haploid obligate intracellular organisms. To circumvent this problem, we have developed a high-throughput microscope-based assay, which we have used to screen a collection of 12,160 structurally diverse small molecules for inhibitors of T. gondii invasion. A total of 24 noncytotoxic invasion inhibitors were identified. Secondary assays demonstrated that different inhibitors perturb different aspects of invasion, including gliding motility, secretion of host cell adhesins from apical organelles (the micronemes), and extension of a unique tubulin-based structure at the anterior of the parasite (the conoid). Unexpectedly, the screen also identified six small molecules that dramatically enhance invasion, gliding motility, and microneme secretion. The small molecules identified here reveal a previously unrecognized complexity in the control of parasite motility and microneme secretion, and they constitute a set of useful probes for dissecting the invasive mechanisms of T. gondii and related parasites. Small-molecule-based approaches provide a powerful means to address experimentally challenging problems in host-pathogen interaction, while simultaneously identifying new potential targets for drug development.

SUBMITTER: Carey KL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC409936 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundToxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed zoonosis. Most infections appear asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, but toxoplasmosis can be fatal in fetuses and immunocompromised adults. There is an urgent need to research and develop effective and low-toxicity anti-T. gondii drugs because of some defects in current clinical anti-T. gondii drugs, such as limited efficacy, serious side effects and drug resistance.MethodsIn this study, 152 autophagy related compounds were evaluated as anti-T. gondii drugs. The activity of β-galactosidase assay based on luminescence was used to determine the inhibitory effect on parasite growth. At the same time, MTS assay was used to further detect the effects of compounds with over 60% inhibition rate on host cell viability. The invasion, intracellular proliferation, egress and gliding abilities of T. gondii were tested to assess the inhibitory effect of the chosen drugs on the distinct steps of the T. gondii lysis cycle.ResultsThe results showed that a total of 38 compounds inhibited parasite growth by more than 60%. After excluding the compounds affecting host cell activity, CGI-1746 and JH-II-127 were considered for drug reuse and further characterized. Both CGI-1746 and JH-II-127 inhibited tachyzoite growth by 60%, with IC50 values of 14.58 ± 1.52 and 5.88 ± 0.23 μM, respectively. TD50 values were 154.20 ± 20.15 and 76.39 ± 14.32 μM, respectively. Further research found that these two compounds significantly inhibited the intracellular proliferation of tachyzoites. Summarize the results, we demonstrated that CGI-1746 inhibited the invasion, egress and especially the gliding abilities of parasites, which is essential for the successful invasion of host cells, while JH-II-127 did not affect the invasion and gliding ability, but seriously damaged the morphology of mitochondria which may be related to the damage of mitochondrial electron transport chain.DiscussionTaken together, these findings suggest that both CGI-1746 and JH-II-127 could be potentially repurposed as anti-T. gondii drugs, lays the groundwork for future therapeutic strategies.

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A small-molecule approach to studying invasive mechanisms of Toxoplasma gondii.

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