Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yihui Song, Xiaoke Yang, Bin Yu
Summary: Drug repurposing is an attractive strategy for finding new indications for existing drugs. Three approved antidepressants have shown potential in clinical trials for cancer treatment. By conducting further medicinal chemistry research, several TCP-based inhibitors of the histone lysine specific demethylase 1 enzyme have been discovered, showing promise for cancer treatment. Repurposing antidepressants could be a promising strategy for cancer treatment.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Qiaoli Shi, Fei Xia, Qixin Wang, Fulong Liao, Qiuyan Guo, Chengchao Xu, Jigang Wang
Summary: The discovery of artemisinin, inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, has revolutionized the treatment of malaria and has the potential to be used in the treatment of other diseases as well. It has provided guidance for the development of traditional Chinese medicine.
FRONTIERS OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Zhonghua Li, Tingting Qin, Zhongrui Li, Xuan Zhao, Xinhui Zhang, Taoqian Zhao, Nian Yang, Jinxin Miao, Jinlian Ma, Zhenqiang Zhang
Summary: In this study, a highly water-soluble erlotinib analog 5k was developed with significantly enhanced inhibitory activity against LSD1, demonstrating effectiveness in inhibiting tumor growth in MGC-803 cells and xenograft mouse model, indicating its potential as a novel candidate for the treatment of LSD1-overexpressing cancers.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Dina Dorrigiv, Pierre-Alexandre Goyette, Amelie St-Georges-Robillard, Anne-Marie Mes-Masson, Thomas Gervais
Summary: A major challenge in cancer treatment is predicting patients' responses to drugs. 3D tumor models such as spheroids and ex vivo tumor explants are appropriate preclinical models, but they have limitations in terms of longevity and throughput. To address this, a computer-controlled drug screening platform is presented to enable multiplexed delivery of biochemical reagents to 3D tumor models. The platform allows testing of multiple treatment conditions on over a hundred tumor models and is compatible with clinical histopathology practice.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia Lesko, Alexander Triebl, Elvira Stacher-Priehse, Nicole Fink-Neuboeck, Joerg Lindenmann, Freyja-Maria Smolle-Juettner, Harald C. Koefeler, Andelko Hrzenjak, Horst Olschewski, Katharina Leithner
Summary: This study investigates the dynamics of phospholipids in lung cancer tissue by analyzing de novo biosynthesis of glycerophospholipids using stable isotopic labeling. The results suggest increased turnover of PE in lung cancer tissue compared to normal lung tissue, supported by enhanced expression of PE biosynthesis genes and decreased expression of PC and PI biosynthesis genes. These findings provide insights into metabolic alterations in lung cancer and suggest potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
EXPERIMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tianduanyi Wang, Otto I. Pulkkinen, Tero Aittokallio
Summary: Most drug molecules have the ability to modulate multiple target proteins, which can lead to both therapeutic effects and unwanted side effects. Evaluating the selectivity of a compound is an important factor in drug development and repurposing efforts. Traditional methods for characterizing selectivity fall short in quantifying how selective a compound is against a particular target protein. In this study, we propose an optimization-based selectivity scoring method that allows for the identification of potent and selective compounds against given kinase targets. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this method in finding highly selective compounds in computational experiments using a large-scale kinase inhibitor dataset.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maureen J. Donlin, Marvin J. Meyers
Summary: Fungal diseases are a major concern in public health, but the development of new antifungals is limited compared to other disease classes. Repurposing existing drugs as antifungals is an approach to quickly provide new treatment options. However, the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of these drug candidates are often suboptimal for fungal diseases. This review discusses the current antifungal drug pipeline and recent strategies to optimize existing drugs into novel molecules with unique modes of action.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Vincent Gauthier, Alice Lemarquand, Emmanuel Caplain, Nicolas Wilkie-Chancellier, Stephane Serfaty
Summary: In response to alternative non-animal testing, biosensors specifically designed for monitoring ex vivo skin explants present a challenge in studying physiological-like behavior and optimizing new topical products. The article introduces a proof-of-concept biosensor that couples a thickness shear-mode transducer with human skin explants, allowing for monitoring the viscoelastic properties of the skin. A mechanical model based on fractional calculus is used to extract complex shear modulus and microstructural evolutions. Preliminary results demonstrate the sensor's sensitivity in probing skin viscoelasticity in a life-like state and the effects of culture medium, as well as the identification of mechanical breaches in the skin barrier after the use of peeling products.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kaihu Li, Penghui Zhang, Yong Zhu, Mauro Alini, Sibylle Grad, Zhen Li
Summary: The study successfully established an ex vivo inflammation and degeneration model using osteochondral explants from the human femoral head, which can be utilized for investigating the mechanism of inflammatory OA and screening new drugs for OA treatment.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Sabya Sachi Das, Amit Kumar Dubey, Priya Ranjan Prasad Verma, Sandeep Kumar Singh, Shubhankar Kumar Singh
Summary: The study found that quercetin-loaded nanoemulsion (QTNE) has the potential antileishmanial activity against both promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of Leishmania donovani. It achieves this by enhancing intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide, affecting membrane integrity and phosphatidylserine release, disrupting parasite DNA, and modulating immune function. Additionally, QTNE demonstrates high biocompatibility with healthy cells.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Annelies Van den Bergh, Patrice Guillon, Mark von Itzstein, Benjamin Bailly, Larissa Dirr
Summary: This study developed an in vitro medium-throughput screening assay to identify novel anti-HMPV drug candidates. Out of 2,400 compounds, 11 candidates were identified with inhibitory activity against HMPV infection. The mode of action of five candidates with low cytotoxicity was further described. Among them, the mycophenolic acid series displayed the highest levels of inhibition. It has significant potential for drug repurposing.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Xiting Wang, Meng Liu, Yiling Zhang, Shuangshuang He, Caimeng Qin, Yu Li, Tao Lu
Summary: The study discusses the importance of using computational methods to predict ATC classification in drug repurposing and discovery research, proposes the DeepATC model, and optimizes the prediction model using a deep learning framework. The results show that DeepATC exhibits superior model performance and achieves excellent performance in transcriptome data and drug-target interaction tasks.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Victor Martin, Liliana Grenho, Maria H. Fernandes, Pedro S. Gomes
Summary: This study assessed the response of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells to sarecycline, showing increased metabolic activity, enhanced osteoblastic differentiation, and modulation of Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch signaling pathways. An ex vivo model also demonstrated increased collagen deposition, extended migration areas of osteogenesis, and increased bone mineral content, suggesting the potential of sarecycline for bone healing/regeneration enhancement.
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL METABOLISM
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Daniel M. Freed, Josh Sommer, Nindo Punturi
Summary: The development of effective and personalized treatment options for rare cancers like chordoma faces challenges due to limited genomic impact and low mutation burden. However, as our understanding of oncogenic mechanisms matures, new therapeutic opportunities arise beyond the tumor's genome. This review discusses how advanced tools and approaches are uncovering vulnerabilities in chordoma and highlights the identification and evaluation of new therapeutic hypotheses for this rare cancer through emerging observations and convergence with other cancers.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chandrashekhar U. Murade, Samata Chaudhuri, Ibtissem Nabti, Hala Fahs, Fatima S. M. Refai, Xin Xie, Yanthe E. Pearson, Kristin C. Gunsalus, George T. Shubeita
Summary: The study developed a probe that can rapidly and sensitively screen for novel intercalating drugs in chemical libraries, as well as directly observe the interaction between drugs and DNA in cells. This method helps accelerate the discovery of new DNA-intercalating drugs and also identified previously unknown intercalating compounds in approved drug libraries.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Camino Gutierrez-Corbo, Barbara Dominguez-Asenjo, Yolanda Perez-Pertejo, Carlos Garcia-Estrada, Felio J. Bello, Rafael Balana-Fouce, Rosa M. Reguera
Summary: Diseases caused by trypanosomatids are a serious public health concern in low-income endemic countries. Leishmaniasis, caused by different species of Leishmania, can be transmitted to humans through the bite of infected sandflies. Sexual reproduction has been confirmed in these parasites, and the formation of hybrids can contribute to their virulence, drug resistance, and adaptation to the host immune system. This study investigates the capability of intraclonal and interspecies genetic exchange in Leishmania parasites and demonstrates the feasibility of obtaining hybrids between different tropisms. Ploidy analysis, kDNA content, growth rate, and infection capacity provide important insights into sexual reproduction in these parasites.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Rebeca Dominguez-Santos, Katarina Kosalkova, Isabel-Clara Sanchez-Orejas, Carlos Barreiro, Yolanda Perez-Pertejo, Rosa M. Reguera, Rafael Balana-Fouce, Carlos Garcia-Estrada
Summary: This article describes the use of the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum in the industrial production of penicillin and highlights the role of AdoMet synthetase in both primary and secondary metabolism in this process.
Article
Parasitology
Elora Valderas-Garcia, Cecile Haberli, Maria Alvarez-Bardon, Nerea Escala, Veronica Castilla-Gomez de Aguero, Jennifer de la Vega, Esther del Olmo, Rafael Balana-Fouce, Jennifer Keiser, Maria Martinez-Valladares
Summary: This study evaluated the potential anthelmintic activity of three series of compounds against two gastrointestinal nematodes. Two compounds showed activity against the adult stage of the parasites, suggesting they could be a starting point for further compound synthesis.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elora Valderas-Garcia, Nerea Escala, Maria Alvarez-Bardon, Veronica Castilla-Gomez de Aguero, Maria Cambra-Pelleja, Laura Gonzalez del Palacio, Raquel Vallejo Garcia, Jennifer de la Vega, Arturo San Feliciano, Esther del Olmo, Maria Martinez-Valladares, Rafael Balana-Fouce
Summary: The control of gastrointestinal nematodes in livestock is becoming increasingly difficult due to limited drug options and the development of resistance. In this study, the potential toxicity and anthelmintic efficacy of three compounds were tested in mice and Mongolian gerbils infected with Haemonchus contortus. The benzimidazole derivative, 2aBZ, showed promising results in reducing the percentage of pre-adults in gerbil stomachs and the number of eggs shed in sheep feces. Overall, 2aBZ could be considered a promising candidate for the treatment of helminth infections in small ruminants.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Estela Melcon-Fernandez, Giulio Galli, Carlos Garcia-Estrada, Rafael Balana-Fouce, Rosa M. Reguera, Yolanda Perez-Pertejo
Summary: Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites, which is prevalent in East Africa, Asia, South America, and the Mediterranean Basin. The current pharmacological control of the disease is limited by the availability of old, poorly adherent drugs with adverse effects and low oral bioavailability. Resistance to first-line drugs has emerged due to misuse. However, recent research has identified nifuratel, a drug used for vaginal infections, as a promising candidate for repurposing due to its efficacy against leishmaniasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nerea Escala, Elora Valderas-Garcia, Maria alvarez Bardon, Veronica Castilla Gomez de Aguero, Jose Luis Lopez-Perez, Francisco A. Rojo-Vazquez, Arturo San Feliciano, Maria Martinez-Valladares, Rafael Balana-Fouce, Esther del Olmo
Summary: Helminth infections are a common parasitic disease that affects animals and humans globally. This study focuses on designing and obtaining new benzimidazole derivatives to evaluate their in vitro ovicidal and larvicidal activities. Among the tested compounds, benzamide derivative BZ 42 exhibits the best ovicidal activity, while amide derivative BZ 39 shows both ovicidal and larvicidal activities.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos Garcia-Estrada, Yolanda Perez-Pertejo, Barbara Dominguez-Asenjo, Vanderlan Nogueira Holanda, Sankaranarayanan Murugesan, Maria Martinez-Valladares, Rafael Balana-Fouce, Rosa M. Reguera
Summary: Due to the lack of specific vaccines, neglected tropical diseases caused by trypanosomatids, such as sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, rely solely on pharmacological treatments. The current drugs have drawbacks including adverse effects, parenteral administration, chemical instability, and high costs. However, the discovery of new drugs for these diseases is rare due to the lack of interest from big pharmaceutical companies. Nitroheterocyclic compounds, such as benznidazole and nifurtimox, have provided potent effects against Chagas disease, and fexinidazole has been developed as a new drug against African trypanosomiasis. Despite being initially discarded due to their mutagenic potential, nitroheterocycles now show promise as a source of inspiration for developing oral drugs to replace existing ones.
Article
Microbiology
Javier Merino Goyenechea, Veronica Castilla Gomez de Agueero, Jesus Palacios Alberti, Rafael Balana Fouce, Maria Martinez Valladares
Summary: Canine leishmaniasis is a major protozoan disease in dogs, caused by Leishmania infantum, which leads to severe health deterioration. The disease is highly prevalent in Spain, especially in coastal regions, but its presence has been spreading to other areas and cases have been reported in wildlife. This study documents the presence of wolves infected with leishmaniasis in the Sierra de la Culebra in northwestern Spain using PCR amplification of L. infantum DNA from various non-invasive samples. The positivity rate was found to be 46.1% regardless of the origin of the samples.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Josephine Geertsen Keller, Kamilla Vandso Petersen, Karol Mizielinski, Celine Thiesen, Lotte Bjergbaek, Rosa M. Reguera, Yolanda Perez-Pertejo, Rafael Balana-Fouce, Angela Trejo, Carme Masdeu, Concepcion Alonso, Birgitta R. Knudsen, Cinzia Tesauro
Summary: With the increasing demand for effective compounds against cancer and pathogen-borne diseases, new tools for investigating the enzymatic activity of biomarkers are necessary. A rolling circle amplification-based method has been developed for fast and easy screening of compounds against type 1 topoisomerases. These tools have proven to be sensitive and directly quantitative, opening up possibilities for new diagnostic and drug screening protocols in research and clinical settings.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Veronica Castilla Gomez de Aguero, Elora Valderas-Garcia, Laura Gonzalez del Palacio, F. Javier Giraldez, Rafael Balana-Fouce, Maria Martinez-Valladares
Summary: The goal of this study was to characterize IgA levels in naturally infected sheep of different breeds and explore their association with infection risk, age, and breed. Results showed that age was the determinant factor for infection risk, while breed had no impact. In addition, nasal secretions exhibited high sensitivity in detecting infection, especially in young animals.