Due to their critical involvement in the execution of the malaria parasite developmental pattern both in the mosquito vector and in the human host, Plasmodium calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are considered promising candidates for the development of new tools to block malaria transmission. We report here that the phenothiazine trifluoperazine non-competitively inhibits Plasmodium falciparum CDPK4 in the micromolar range while other calmodulin antagonists only marginally affect the enzyme activity, and we propose the inhibition mechanism. Our results demonstrate that selective enzyme inhibition is achievable by targeting its calmodulin-like domain. This observation could be exploited for the discovery of innovative phenothiazine-based CDPK inhibitors of potential medical interest.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986611797642742 | DOI Listing |
Molecules
January 2025
Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea.
This study investigates the antimalarial potential of extracts and compounds from various plants used in traditional Korean medicine, in response to the increasing resistance of to standard treatments such as chloroquine and artemisinin. The antimalarial activity screening was conducted on 151 extracts, identifying the top seven candidates, including (50% ethanol and 100% methanol extract), , (hot water and 50% ethanol extract), , and . Among these, was identified as the top priority for further analysis due to its high antimalarial activity and high yield of bioactive compounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona), Rosselló 149-153, Barcelona, 08036, Spain.
We recently characterized the potent antiplasmodial activity of the aggregated protein dye YAT2150, whose presumed mode of action is the inhibition of protein aggregation in the malaria parasite. Using single-dose and ramping methods, assays were done to select Plasmodium falciparum parasites resistant to YAT2150 concentrations ranging from 3× to 0.25× the in vitro IC of the compound (in the two-digit nM range) and performed a cross-resistance assessment in P.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS Pathog
January 2025
Malaria Functional Genomics Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America.
Malaria is a complex parasitic disease caused by species of Plasmodium parasites. Infection with the parasites can lead to a spectrum of symptoms and disease severity, influenced by various parasite, host, and environmental factors. There have been some successes in developing vaccines against the disease recently, but the vaccine efficacies require improvement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS Pathog
January 2025
Department of Clinical Microbiology and Applied Technology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Expansion of atypical memory B cells (aMBCs) was demonstrated in malaria-exposed individuals. To date, the generation of P. vivax-specific aMBCs and their function in protective humoral immune responses is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMalar J
January 2025
Department of Pharmacology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
Background: The Plasmodium proteasome emerges as a promising target for anti-malarial drug development due to its potential activity against multiple life cycle stages.
Methods: In this investigation, a comparative analysis was conducted on the structural features of the β5 subunit in the 20S proteasomes of both Plasmodium and humans.
Results: The findings underscore the structural diversity inherent in both proteasomes.
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