Comparative assessment of the effects of bumped kinase inhibitors on early zebrafish embryo development and pregnancy in mice.

Bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs) are effective against a variety of apicomplexan parasites. Fifteen BKIs with promising in vitro efficacy against Neospora caninum tachyzoites, low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells, and no toxic effects in non-pregnant BALB/c mice were assessed in pregnant mice. Drugs were emulsified in corn oil and were applied by gavage for 5 days.

5-Aminopyrazole-4-Carboxamide-Based Compounds Prevent the Growth of Cryptosporidium parvum.

calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (CDPK1) is a promising target for drug development against cryptosporidiosis. We report a series of low-nanomolar CDPK1 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxamide (AC) scaffold inhibitors that also potently inhibit growth Correlation between anti-CDPK1 and growth inhibition, as previously reported for pyrazolopyrimidines, was not apparent. Nonetheless, lead AC compounds exhibited a substantial reduction of parasite burden in the neonatal mouse cryptosporidiosis model when dosed at 25 mg/kg.

Kinobead and Single-Shot LC-MS Profiling Identifies Selective PKD Inhibitors.

ATP-competitive protein kinase inhibitors are important research tools and therapeutic agents. Because there are >500 human kinases that contain highly conserved active sites, the development of selective inhibitors is extremely challenging. Methods to rapidly and efficiently profile kinase inhibitor targets in cell lysates are urgently needed to discover selective compounds and to elucidate the mechanisms of action for polypharmacological inhibitors.

5-Aminopyrazole-4-carboxamide analogues are selective inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum microgametocyte exflagellation and potential malaria transmission blocking agents.

Plasmodium falciparum calcium-dependent protein kinase 4 (PfCDPK4) is essential for the exflagellation of male gametocytes. Inhibition of PfCDPK4 is an effective way of blocking the transmission of malaria by mosquitoes. A series of 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxamide analogues are demonstrated to be potent inhibitors of PfCDPK4.

A novel protein kinase is essential in bloodstream Trypanosoma brucei.

Human African trypanosomiasis a fatal disease for which no vaccines exist and treatment regimens are difficult. Here, we evaluate a Trypanosoma brucei protein kinase, AEK1, as a potential drug target. Conditional knockouts confirmed AEK1 essentiality in bloodstream forms.

Bumped kinase inhibitor prohibits egression in Babesia bovis.

Babesiosis is a global zoonotic disease acquired by the bite of a Babesia-infected Ixodes tick or through blood transfusion with clinical relevance affecting humans and animals. In this study, we evaluated a series of small molecule compounds that have previously been shown to target specific apicomplexan enzymes in Plasmodium, Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium. The compounds, bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs), have strong therapeutic potential targeting apicomplexa-specific calcium dependent protein kinases (CDPKs).

SAR Studies of 5-Aminopyrazole-4-carboxamide Analogues as Potent and Selective Inhibitors of CDPK1.

We previously discovered compounds based on a 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxamide scaffold to be potent and selective inhibitors of CDPK1 from . The current work, through structure-activity relationship studies, led to the discovery of compounds ( and ) with improved characteristics over the starting inhibitor in terms of solubility, plasma exposure after oral administration in mice, or efficacy on parasite growth inhibition. Compounds and were further demonstrated to be more effective than in a mouse infection model and markedly reduced the amount of in the brain, spleen, and peritoneal fluid, and given at 20 mg/kg eliminated from the peritoneal fluid.

The gatekeeper residue and beyond: homologous calcium-dependent protein kinases as drug development targets for veterinarian Apicomplexa parasites.

Specific roles of individual CDPKs vary, but in general they mediate essential biological functions necessary for parasite survival. A comparative analysis of the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of Neospora caninum, Eimeria tenella and Babesia bovis calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) together with those of Plasmodium falciparum, Cryptosporidium parvum and Toxoplasma gondii was performed by screening against 333 bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs). Structural modelling and experimental data revealed that residues other than the gatekeeper influence compound-protein interactions resulting in distinct sensitivity profiles.

Development of potent and selective Plasmodium falciparum calcium-dependent protein kinase 4 (PfCDPK4) inhibitors that block the transmission of malaria to mosquitoes.

Malaria remains a major health concern for a large percentage of the world's population. While great strides have been made in reducing mortality due to malaria, new strategies and therapies are still needed. Therapies that are capable of blocking the transmission of Plasmodium parasites are particularly attractive, but only primaquine accomplishes this, and toxicity issues hamper its widespread use.

Novel C-9, 9'-O-acyl esters of (-)-carinol as free-radical scavengers and xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibitors: synthesis and biological evaluation.

New compounds with hydrophyllic esters of (-)-carinol were synthesized and evaluated as xanthine oxidase enzyme inhibitors and antioxidants. Aliphatic esterfication of C-9,9'-OH groups of (-)-carinol resulted in lowering antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities. However certain aromatic acyl esters considerably improved the xathine oxidase inhibition.