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  1. Article ; Online: Development of a target identification approach using native mass spectrometry

    Miaomiao Liu / Wesley C. Van Voorhis / Ronald J. Quinn

    Scientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    2021  Volume 12

    Abstract: Abstract A key step in the development of new pharmaceutical drugs is the identification of the molecular target and distinguishing this from all other gene products that respond indirectly to the drug. Target identification remains a crucial process and ...

    Abstract Abstract A key step in the development of new pharmaceutical drugs is the identification of the molecular target and distinguishing this from all other gene products that respond indirectly to the drug. Target identification remains a crucial process and a current bottleneck for advancing hits through the discovery pipeline. Here we report a method, that takes advantage of the specific detection of protein–ligand complexes by native mass spectrometry (MS) to probe the protein partner of a ligand in an untargeted method. The key advantage is that it uses unmodified small molecules for binding and, thereby, it does not require labelled ligands and is not limited by the chemistry required to tag the molecule. We demonstrate the use of native MS to identify known ligand–protein interactions in a protein mixture under various experimental conditions. A protein–ligand complex was successfully detected between parthenolide and thioredoxin (PfTrx) in a five-protein mixture, as well as when parthenolide was mixed in a bacterial cell lysate spiked with PfTrx. We provide preliminary data that native MS could be used to identify binding targets for any small molecule.
    Keywords Medicine ; R ; Science ; Q
    Subject code 500
    Language English
    Publishing date 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Nature Portfolio
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  2. Article ; Online: The Gut-Wrenching Effects of Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis in Children

    Mayuri Prabakaran / Lyssa J. Weible / Joshua D. Champlain / Ryan Ye Jiang / Katalina Biondi / Ana A. Weil / Wesley C. Van Voorhis / Kayode K. Ojo

    Microorganisms, Vol 11, Iss 2323, p

    2023  Volume 2323

    Abstract: Cryptosporidium species and Giardia duodenalis are infectious intestinal protozoan pathogens that cause alarming rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Children are more likely to have clinical symptoms due to their less developed immune systems and ...

    Abstract Cryptosporidium species and Giardia duodenalis are infectious intestinal protozoan pathogens that cause alarming rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Children are more likely to have clinical symptoms due to their less developed immune systems and factors such as undernutrition, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The severity of the symptoms and clinical manifestations in children may vary from asymptomatic to life-threatening depending on the Cryptosporidium species/ G. duodenalis strains and the resulting complex stepwise interactions between the parasite, the host nutritional and immunologic status, and the gut microbiome profile. Structural damages inflicted by both parasites to epithelial cells in the large and small intestines could severely impair children’s gut health, including the ability to absorb nutrients, resulting in stunted growth, diminished neurocognitive development, and other long-term effects. Clinically approved cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis drugs have broad antimicrobial effects that have incomprehensible impacts on growing children’s gut health.
    Keywords children’s gut health ; gut microbiota ; cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis ; undernutrition ; immunocompromised ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5
    Subject code 360
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-09-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  3. Article ; Online: Structural changes in the SARS-CoV-2 spike E406W mutant escaping a clinical monoclonal antibody cocktail

    Amin Addetia / Young-Jun Park / Tyler Starr / Allison J. Greaney / Kaitlin R. Sprouse / John E. Bowen / Sasha W. Tiles / Wesley C. Van Voorhis / Jesse D. Bloom / Davide Corti / Alexandra C. Walls / David Veesler

    Cell Reports, Vol 42, Iss 6, Pp 112621- (2023)

    2023  

    Abstract: Summary: Continued evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is eroding antibody responses elicited by prior vaccination and infection. The SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) E406W mutation abrogates neutralization ... ...

    Abstract Summary: Continued evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is eroding antibody responses elicited by prior vaccination and infection. The SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) E406W mutation abrogates neutralization mediated by the REGEN-COV therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) COVID-19 cocktail and the AZD1061 (COV2-2130) mAb. Here, we show that this mutation remodels the receptor-binding site allosterically, thereby altering the epitopes recognized by these three mAbs and vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies while remaining functional. Our results demonstrate the spectacular structural and functional plasticity of the SARS-CoV-2 RBD, which is continuously evolving in emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, including currently circulating strains that are accumulating mutations in the antigenic sites remodeled by the E406W substitution.
    Keywords CP: Immunology ; CP: Microbiology ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5
    Subject code 570
    Language English
    Publishing date 2023-06-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Elsevier
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  4. Article ; Online: Vaccine-Linked Chemotherapy Approach

    Dennis Imhof / William Robert Pownall / Carling Schlange / Camille Monney / Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora / Kayode K. Ojo / Wesley C. Van Voorhis / Anna Oevermann / Andrew Hemphill

    Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Vol

    Additive Effects of Combining the Listeria monocytogenes-Based Vaccine Lm3Dx_NcSAG1 With the Bumped Kinase Inhibitor BKI-1748 Against Neospora caninum Infection in Mice

    2022  Volume 9

    Abstract: The apicomplexan parasite Neospora (N.) caninum causes neosporosis in numerous host species. There is no marketed vaccine and no licensed drug for the prevention and/or treatment of neosporosis. Vaccine development against this parasite has encountered ... ...

    Abstract The apicomplexan parasite Neospora (N.) caninum causes neosporosis in numerous host species. There is no marketed vaccine and no licensed drug for the prevention and/or treatment of neosporosis. Vaccine development against this parasite has encountered significant obstacles, probably due to pregnancy-induced immunomodulation hampering efficacy, which has stimulated the search for potential drug therapies that could be applied to limit the effects of neosporosis in dams as well as in offspring. We here investigated, in a pregnant neosporosis mouse model, the safety and efficacy of a combined vaccination-drug treatment approach. Mice were vaccinated intramuscularly with 1 × 107 CFU of our recently generated Listeria (L.) monocytogenes vaccine vector expressing the major N. caninum tachyzoite surface antigen NcSAG1 (Lm3Dx_SAG1). Following mating and experimental subcutaneous infection with 1 × 105N. caninum (NcSpain-7) tachyzoites on day 7 of pregnancy, drug treatments were initiated using the bumped kinase inhibitor BKI-1748 at 20 mg/kg/day for 5 days. In parallel, other experimental groups were either just vaccinated or only treated. Dams and offspring were followed-up until day 25 post-partum, after which all mice were euthanized. None of the treatments induced adverse effects and neither of the treatments affected fertility or litter sizes. Cerebral infection in dams as assessed by real-time PCR was significantly reduced in the vaccinated and BKI-1748 treated groups, but was not reduced significantly in the group receiving the combination. However, in non-pregnant mice, all three treatment groups exhibited significantly reduced parasite burdens. Both, vaccination as well BKI-1748 as single treatment increased pup survival to 44 and 48%, respectively, while the combination treatment led to survival of 86% of all pups. Vertical transmission in the combination group was 23% compared to 46 and 50% in the groups receiving only BKI-treatment or the vaccine, respectively. In the dams, IgG titers were significantly ...
    Keywords neosporosis ; vaccine ; vaccine-linked chemotherapy ; bumped kinase inhibitor ; pregnancy ; vertical transmission ; Veterinary medicine ; SF600-1100
    Subject code 630
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-06-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  5. Article ; Online: Common Molecular Targets of a Quinolone Based Bumped Kinase Inhibitor in Neospora caninum and Danio rerio

    Joachim Müller / Nicoleta Anghel / Dennis Imhof / Kai Hänggeli / Anne-Christine Uldry / Sophie Braga-Lagache / Manfred Heller / Kayode K. Ojo / Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora / Wesley C. Van Voorhis / Andrew Hemphill

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 23, Iss 2381, p

    2022  Volume 2381

    Abstract: Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite closely related to Toxoplasma gondii , and causes abortions, stillbirths and/or fetal malformations in livestock. Target-based drug development has led to the synthesis of calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 ... ...

    Abstract Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite closely related to Toxoplasma gondii , and causes abortions, stillbirths and/or fetal malformations in livestock. Target-based drug development has led to the synthesis of calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 inhibitors, collectively named bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs). Previous studies have shown that several BKIs have excellent efficacy against neosporosis in vitro and in vivo. However, several members of this class of compounds impair fertility in pregnant mouse models and cause embryonic malformation in a zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) model. Similar to the first-generation antiprotozoal drug quinine, some BKIs have a quinoline core structure. To identify common targets in both organisms, we performed differential affinity chromatography with cell-free extracts from N. caninum tachyzoites and D. rerio embryos using the 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxamide (AC) compound BKI-1748 and quinine columns coupled to epoxy-activated sepharose followed by mass spectrometry. BKI-binding proteins of interest were identified in eluates from columns coupled to BKI-1748, or in eluates from BKI-1748 as well as quinine columns. In N. caninum , 12 proteins were bound specifically to BKI-1748 alone, and 105 proteins, including NcCDPK1, were bound to both BKI-1748 and quinine. For D. rerio , the corresponding numbers were 13 and 98 binding proteins, respectively. In both organisms, a majority of BKI-1748 binding proteins was involved in RNA binding and modification, in particular, splicing. Moreover, both datasets contained proteins involved in DNA binding or modification and key steps of intermediate metabolism. These results suggest that BKI-1748 interacts with not only specific targets in apicomplexans, such as CDPK1, but also with targets in other eukaryotes, which are involved in common, essential pathways.
    Keywords affinity chromatography ; binding proteins ; proteomics ; side effects ; splicing ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5 ; Chemistry ; QD1-999
    Language English
    Publishing date 2022-02-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  6. Article ; Online: Evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of clofazimine in cryptosporidiosis (CRYPTOFAZ)

    Patrick Nachipo / David Hermann / Gerald Quinnan / Melita A. Gordon / Wesley C. Van Voorhis / Pui-Ying Iroh Tam

    Trials, Vol 19, Iss 1, Pp 1-

    study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

    2018  Volume 11

    Abstract: Abstract Background Cryptosporidium infection and diarrhea (cryptosporidiosis) is a life-threatening infection in persons with HIV and also in children of 6–18 months of age in the developing world. To date, only nitazoxanide is licensed for treatment of ...

    Abstract Abstract Background Cryptosporidium infection and diarrhea (cryptosporidiosis) is a life-threatening infection in persons with HIV and also in children of 6–18 months of age in the developing world. To date, only nitazoxanide is licensed for treatment of cryptosporidiosis, and only in persons after the first year of life and with healthy immune systems. Clofazimine (CFZ: Lamprene®), an established drug that has been used for leprosy for more than 50 years, recently has been described as effective against Cryptosporidium in vitro and in mouse infections. The efficacy and pharmacokinetics of CFZ in vivo, in HIV-infected patients with cryptosporidial diarrhea are not known. Methods CRYPTOFAZ includes a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety, tolerability and Cryptosporidium inhibitory activity of orally administered CFZ in subjects with HIV infection and chronic diarrhea with Cryptosporidium. An additional open label aspect of the study will compare the pharmacokinetics (PK) of orally administered CFZ in HIV-infected individuals with and without Cryptosporidium-associated diarrhea. The study will recruit a total of 66 subjects. Study participants will be given either CFZ or a placebo for 5 days while in hospital and will be followed up after discharge. Cryptosporidium will be diagnosed by quantitative PCR as the definitive test and by stool ELISA, which will also be used to quantify the shedding of Cryptosporidium in stool. PK will be studied on plasma and stool samples. Primary endpoints include reduction in the number of Cryptosporidium shed in stools over a 5-day period and compared to placebo recipients and the PK of CFZ in plasma assessed by area under the curve, peak plasma concentration, and half-life (T ½) determined after the last dose. Discussion This study provides an opportunity to explore a possible treatment option for HIV-infected patients with cryptosporidial diarrhea, who, as of now in Malawi and most of sub-Saharan Africa, do not have a definitive treatment apart from ...
    Keywords Cryptosporidium ; Diarrhea ; HIV ; Clofazimine ; Lamprene ; Immunosuppression ; Medicine (General) ; R5-920
    Subject code 360
    Language English
    Publishing date 2018-08-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher BMC
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  7. Article ; Online: Taming the Boys for Global Good

    Ryan Choi / Samantha A. Michaels / Emmanuel C. Onu / Matthew A. Hulverson / Aparajita Saha / Morenike E. Coker / Janis C. Weeks / Wesley C. Van Voorhis / Kayode K. Ojo

    Molecules, Vol 25, Iss 2773, p

    Contraceptive Strategy to Stop Malaria Transmission

    2020  Volume 2773

    Abstract: Transmission of human malaria parasites ( Plasmodium spp.) by Anopheles mosquitoes is a continuous process that presents a formidable challenge for effective control of the disease. Infectious gametocytes continue to circulate in humans for up to four ... ...

    Abstract Transmission of human malaria parasites ( Plasmodium spp.) by Anopheles mosquitoes is a continuous process that presents a formidable challenge for effective control of the disease. Infectious gametocytes continue to circulate in humans for up to four weeks after antimalarial drug treatment, permitting prolonged transmission to mosquitoes even after clinical cure. Almost all reported malaria cases are transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, and therefore decreasing the rate of Plasmodium transmission from humans to mosquitoes with novel transmission-blocking remedies would be an important complement to other interventions in reducing malaria incidence.
    Keywords malaria ; Plasmodium spp ; transmission reducing interventions ; bumped kinase inhibitors ; calcium-dependent protein kinase inhibitors ; Organic chemistry ; QD241-441
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-06-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  8. Article ; Online: Neospora caninum

    Pablo Winzer / Joachim Müller / Dennis Imhof / Dominic Ritler / Anne-Christine Uldry / Sophie Braga-Lagache / Manfred Heller / Kayode K. Ojo / Wesley C. Van Voorhis / Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora / Andrew Hemphill

    Microorganisms, Vol 8, Iss 801, p

    Differential Proteome of Multinucleated Complexes Induced by the Bumped Kinase Inhibitor BKI-1294

    2020  Volume 801

    Abstract: Background: the apicomplexan parasite Neospora caninum causes important reproductive problems in farm animals, most notably in cattle. After infection via oocysts or tissue cysts, rapidly dividing tachyzoites infect various tissues and organs, and in ... ...

    Abstract Background: the apicomplexan parasite Neospora caninum causes important reproductive problems in farm animals, most notably in cattle. After infection via oocysts or tissue cysts, rapidly dividing tachyzoites infect various tissues and organs, and in immunocompetent hosts, they differentiate into slowly dividing bradyzoites, which form tissue cysts and constitute a resting stage persisting within infected tissues. Bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs) of calcium dependent protein kinase 1 are promising drug candidates for the treatment of Neospora infections. BKI-1294 exposure of cell cultures infected with N. caninum tachyzoites results in the formation of massive multinucleated complexes (MNCs) containing numerous newly formed zoites, which remain viable for extended periods of time under drug pressure in vitro. MNC and tachyzoites exhibit considerable antigenic and structural differences. Methods: Using shotgun mass spectrometry, we compared the proteomes of tachyzoites to BKI-1294 induced MNCs, and analyzed the mRNA expression levels of selected genes in both stages. Results: More than half of the identified proteins are downregulated in MNCs as compared to tachyzoites. Only 12 proteins are upregulated, the majority of them containing SAG1 related sequence (SRS) domains, and some also known to be expressed in bradyzoites Conclusions: MNCs exhibit a proteome different from tachyzoites, share some bradyzoite-like features, but may constitute a third stage, which remains viable and ensures survival under adverse conditions such as drug pressure. We propose the term “baryzoites” for this stage (from Greek βαρυσ = massive, bulky, heavy, inert).
    Keywords antigenic variation ; chemotherapy ; drug adaptation ; drug resistance ; Biology (General) ; QH301-705.5
    Subject code 572
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-05-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  9. Article ; Online: The Impact of BKI-1294 Therapy in Mice Infected With the Apicomplexan Parasite Neospora caninum and Re-infected During Pregnancy

    Pablo Winzer / Dennis Imhof / Nicoleta Anghel / Dominic Ritler / Joachim Müller / Ghalia Boubaker / Adriana Aguado-Martinez / Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora / Kayode K. Ojo / Wesley C. VanVoorhis / Andrew Hemphill

    Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Vol

    2020  Volume 7

    Abstract: Exposure of Neospora caninum tachyzoites to BKI-1294 in vitro results in the formation of long-lived multinucleated complexes (MNCs). However, in vivo treatment of BALB/c mice with BKI-1294 shortly after N. caninum infection during pregnancy was safe and ...

    Abstract Exposure of Neospora caninum tachyzoites to BKI-1294 in vitro results in the formation of long-lived multinucleated complexes (MNCs). However, in vivo treatment of BALB/c mice with BKI-1294 shortly after N. caninum infection during pregnancy was safe and profoundly reduced pup mortality and vertical transmission. We hypothesized that the formation of MNCs could trigger immune responses that contribute to BKI efficacy in vivo. In this study, mice were first vaccinated with a sublethal dose of N. caninum tachyzoites and were treated with BKI-1294. We then investigated the effects of these treatments after mating and re-infection during pregnancy. Effects on fertility, pup survival, vertical transmission, and parasite load in dams were evaluated. Cytokines in sera or splenocyte culture supernatants were assessed by either ELISA or the Luminex™ 200 system, and humoral immune responses against tachyzoite and MNC antigens were compared by ELISA, Western blotting and immunoproteomics. Our results showed that BKI-1294 treatment of live-vaccinated mice reduced the cerebral parasite load in the dams, but resulted in higher neonatal pup mortality and vertical transmission. In live-vaccinated mice, cytokine levels, most notably IFN-y, IL-10, and IL-12, were consistently lower in BKI-1294 treated animals compared to non-treated mice. In addition, comparative Western blotting identified two protein bands in MNC extracts that were only recognized by sera of live-vaccinated mice treated with BKI-1294, and were not found in tachyzoite extracts. We conclude that treatment of live-vaccinated mice with BKI-1294 influenced the cellular and humoral immune responses against infection, affected the safety of the live-vaccine, and decreased protection against re-infection and vertical transmission during pregnancy.
    Keywords neosporosis ; mouse model ; bumped kinase inhibitor ; calcium-dependent protein kinase ; immune response ; live-vaccine ; Veterinary medicine ; SF600-1100
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-10-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  10. Article ; Online: Neospora caninum

    Pablo Winzer / Nicoleta Anghel / Dennis Imhof / Vreni Balmer / Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora / Kayode K. Ojo / Wesley C. Van Voorhis / Joachim Müller / Andrew Hemphill

    Pathogens, Vol 9, Iss 382, p

    Structure and Fate of Multinucleated Complexes Induced by the Bumped Kinase Inhibitor BKI-1294

    2020  Volume 382

    Abstract: Background: Bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs) are potential drugs for neosporosis treatment in farm animals. BKI-1294 exposure results in the formation of multinucleated complexes (MNCs), which remain viable in vitro under constant drug pressure. We ... ...

    Abstract Background: Bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs) are potential drugs for neosporosis treatment in farm animals. BKI-1294 exposure results in the formation of multinucleated complexes (MNCs), which remain viable in vitro under constant drug pressure. We investigated the formation of BKI-1294 induced MNCs, the re-emergence of viable tachyzoites following drug removal, and the localization of CDPK1, the molecular target of BKIs. Methods: N. caninum tachyzoites and MNCs were studied by TEM and immunofluorescence using antibodies directed against CDPK1, and against NcSAG1 and IMC1 as markers for tachyzoites and newly formed zoites, respectively. Results: After six days of drug exposure, MNCs lacked SAG1 surface expression but remained intracellular, and formed numerous zoites incapable of disjoining from each other. Following drug removal, proliferation continued, and zoites lacking NcSAG1 emerged from the periphery of these complexes, forming infective tachyzoites after 10 days. In intracellular tachyzoites, CDPK1 was evenly distributed but shifted towards the apical part once parasites were extracellular. This shift was not affected by BKI-1294. Conclusions: CDPK1 has a dynamic distribution depending on whether parasites are located within a host cell or outside. During MNC-to-tachyzoite reconversion newly formed tachyzoites are generated directly from MNCs through zoites of unknown surface antigen composition. Further in vivo studies are needed to determine if MNCs could lead to a persistent reservoir of infection after BKI treatment.
    Keywords bumped kinase inhibitor ; calcium-dependent protein kinase ; immunofluorescence ; immunogold labeling ; inner membrane complex ; neosporosis ; Medicine ; R
    Subject code 500
    Language English
    Publishing date 2020-05-01T00:00:00Z
    Publisher MDPI AG
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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