Chemotherapeutics for Toxoplasma gondii: Molecular Biotargets, Binding Modes, and Structure-Activity Relationship Investigations

J Med Chem. 2021 Dec 23;64(24):17627-17655. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01569. Epub 2021 Dec 11.

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis, an infectious zoonotic disease caused by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is a major worldwide health problem. However, there are currently no effective options (chemotherapeutic drugs or prophylactic vaccines) for treating chronic latent toxoplasmosis infection. Accordingly, seeking more effective and safer chemotherapeutics for combating this disease remains a long-term and challenging objective. In this paper, we summarize possible molecular biotargets, with an emphasis on those that are druggable and promising, including, without limitation, calcium-dependent protein kinase 1, bifunctional thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase, and farnesyl diphosphate synthase. Meanwhile, as important components of medicinal chemistry, the binding modes and structure-activity relationship profiles of the corresponding inhibitors were also illuminated. We anticipate that this information will be helpful for further identification of more effective chemotherapeutic interventions to prevent and treat zoonotic infections caused by T. gondii.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Geranyltranstransferase / drug effects
  • Geranyltranstransferase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Multienzyme Complexes / drug effects
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Protein Kinases / drug effects
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / drug effects
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Thymidylate Synthase / drug effects
  • Thymidylate Synthase / metabolism
  • Toxoplasma / enzymology
  • Toxoplasmosis / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase
  • Thymidylate Synthase
  • Geranyltranstransferase
  • Protein Kinases
  • calcium-dependent protein kinase