La sélection des meilleurs candidats médicament se base sur des choix multiparamétriques réunissant l’efficacité potentielle, les caractéristiques ADME et le profil de sécurité des nouvelles entités chimiques. En ce sens, la prédiction précoce de la pharmacocinétique est élémentaire pour orienter les prises de décision et donner un cap pertinent aux projets. En raison de son rôle central dans le devenir des médicaments, la clairance métabolique médiée principalement par le foie est l’un des paramètres les plus importants. L’objectif de ce projet était d’améliorer la prédiction de la clairance en se concentrant notamment sur les molécules présentant une bonne stabilité métabolique et qui sont de ce fait encore difficiles à étudier. Les travaux menés dans cette thèse nous ont permis d’étoffer nos connaissances sur les modèles hépatiques in vitro et les méthodes d’extrapolation usuelles mais aussi de découvrir et de développer de nouvelles stratégies de prédiction. Nous nous sommes concentrés en profondeur sur la clairance métabolique et à tout ce qui impacte les prédictions. Le modèle de co-culture microorganisée (MPCC) HepatopacTM qui permet de stabiliser les hépatocytes humains sur plusieurs semaines a ainsi été identifié comme une alternative judicieuse aux modèles de routine lorsque les molécules ne peuvent pas être étudiées en culture 2D classique. L’étude de la fraction libre plasmatique et l’intégration de nouvelles hypothèses physiologiques telles que la théorie de « l’uptake facilité par l’albumine » ont également participé à améliorer les prédictions. Compte tenu des performances du modèle HepatopacTM, nous avons développé une approche innovante basée sur le spotting de précision afin de produire tous types de co-cultures microorganisées. Les co-cultures fabriquées grâce à cette technique démontrent que la méthode est robuste, accessible et simple à mettre en œuvre. Notre méthode de spotting a ensuite été utilisée pour faire évoluer le modèle MPCC et l’ouvrir à de nouvelles applications. / The selection of the best drug candidates is based on multiparametric choices combining the potential efficacy, ADME characteristics and the safety profile of the new chemical entities. In this sense, the early prediction of pharmacokinetic is essential to guide decision-making and provide a relevant course for projects. Because of its central role in drug disposition, metabolic clearance mediated primarily by the liver is one of the most important parameters. The objective of this project was to improve clearance prediction by focusing on low clearance compounds that are still difficult to study. This work allowed us to expand our knowledge on in vitro liver models and usual extrapolation methods but also to discover and develop new prediction strategies. We focused on metabolic clearance and all parameters that impact the predictions. Micropatterned co-cultures (MPCCs) of primary human hepatocytes (HepatopacTM), which stabilizes hepatocytes over several weeks, has been identified as a judicious alternative to routine models when the molecules cannot be studied in conventional monolayer culture. The study of plasma protein binding and the integration of new physiological hypothesis such as the "Albumin-Facilitated Uptake" also contributed to improve the predictions. Given the performance of the HepatopacTM model, we have developed an innovative approach using a digital dispensing system to spot collagen and produce all types of micropatterned co-cultures. Co-cultures manufactured by this technique demonstrate that the method is robust, accessible and easy to use. Our spotting method was used to evolve the MPCC model and explore new applications.

Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most common form of adult muscular dystrophy (~1:8000) currently has no effective treatment. In DM1, expansion of a tri-nucleotide repeat in the 3' UTR of the DMPK gene results in DMPK mRNA hairpin structures, aggregating as insoluble ribonuclear foci. The resulting mis-regulation of important splicing factors, causes the inclusion of fetal exons in dozens of transcripts that contribute to the disease phenotype. In order to identify novel gene targets and kinase signalling pathways for potential therapeutics we have performed a high-throughput RNAi. RNA foci were visualized and quantified by in-situ hybridization. From our screen, we have identified a novel gene, PACT, as a modulator of foci integrity and that PACT knockdown can induce MBNL1 protein levels. The identified signalling complex represents a valid target for DM1 therapeutics. Our data further emphasizes the utility of RNAi screens in identifying disease-associated genes.

Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1), the most common form of adult muscular dystrophy (~1:8000) currently has no effective treatment. In DM1, expansion of a tri-nucleotide repeat in the 3' UTR of the DMPK gene results in DMPK mRNA hairpin structures, aggregating as insoluble ribonuclear foci. The resulting mis-regulation of important splicing factors, causes the inclusion of fetal exons in dozens of transcripts that contribute to the disease phenotype. In order to identify novel gene targets and kinase signalling pathways for potential therapeutics we have performed a high-throughput RNAi. RNA foci were visualized and quantified by in-situ hybridization. From our screen, we have identified a novel gene, PACT, as a modulator of foci integrity and that PACT knockdown can induce MBNL1 protein levels. The identified signalling complex represents a valid target for DM1 therapeutics. Our data further emphasizes the utility of RNAi screens in identifying disease-associated genes.

No description available.

O gene DMPK (Dystrophia Myotonica-Protein Kinase) humano está localizado no locus 19q13.3, sendo dividido em 15 éxons, com uma região polimórfica de repetições CTG em sua região 3’ não traduzida. Indivíduos normais apresentam de 5 a 34 repetições CTG. Indivíduos com alelos com mais de 50 repetições CTG apresentam distrofia miotônica tipo 1 (DM1), uma doença multissistêmica de herança autossômica dominante. Os sintomas incluem miotonia, fraqueza muscular progressiva, hipogonadismo, entre outros. Neste trabalho, a distribuição dos alelos do gene DMPK em indivíduos controles foi estabelecida em duas populações (brasileira e peruana), por meio de PCR convencional utilizando iniciadores fluorescentes e repeat-primed PCR. O protocolo confirmou 93 casos não relacionados de DM1 (76 brasileiros e 17 peruanos) após a análise de 224 amostras com suspeita clínica. A distribuição e as frequências dos alelos normais foram estabelecidas em ambas as populações e os alelos mais frequentes foram 5 (frequência = 0,326) e 13 (frequência = 0,545) repetições de CTG em brasileiros e peruanos, respectivamente. A frequência de alelos normais grandes (aqueles com mais de 45 repetições CTGs) foi de 9% e 4% em brasileiros e peruanos, respectivamente. Neste trabalho é descrita a análise molecular de DM1 na maior coorte brasileira até o momento e é o primeiro trabalho em que foi analisada a população peruana. A distribuição e a frequência de alelos normais também foram estabelecidas e alelos mutáveis foram detectados entre os indivíduos controles. / The human DMPK (Dystrophia Myotonica-Protein Kinase) gene is located at 19q13.3 locus, being organized into 15 exons, with a polymorphic tract of CTG repeats in its 3' untranslated region. Normal individuals have 5-34 CTG repeats. Individuals carrying alleles with more than 50 CTG repeats have myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), a multisystemic disease of autosomal dominant inheritance. Symptoms include myotonia, progressive muscle weakness, hypogonadism, among others. Disease prevalence is variable among populations and may be related to the frequency of large normal alleles (those with more than 18 CTG repeats). Here we determined here the distribution of alleles of DMPK gene in healthy and DM1 patients in Brazilian and Peruvian populations, through conventional PCR using fluorescent primers and repeat-primed PCR. This protocol confirmed 93 unrelated cases of DM1 (76 Brazilians and 17 Peruvians) following the analysis of 224 samples with clinical suspicion. Distribution and frequencies of normal alleles were also established in both populations and the most frequent alleles were 5 (frequency of 0.326) and 13 (frequency of 0.545) CTG repeats in Brazilians and Peruvians, respectively. Frequency of large normal alleles (those with more than 45 CTG repeats) was established to be 9% and 4% in Brazilians and Peruvians, respectively. This report describes molecular analysis of DM1 in the largest Brazilian cohort so far, and is the first to report any data in the Peruvian population. Distribution and frequency of normal alleles were also established and mutable alleles were detected among controls.

O gene DMPK (Dystrophia Myotonica-Protein Kinase) humano está localizado no locus 19q13.3, sendo dividido em 15 éxons, com uma região polimórfica de repetições CTG em sua região 3’ não traduzida. Indivíduos normais apresentam de 5 a 34 repetições CTG. Indivíduos com alelos com mais de 50 repetições CTG apresentam distrofia miotônica tipo 1 (DM1), uma doença multissistêmica de herança autossômica dominante. Os sintomas incluem miotonia, fraqueza muscular progressiva, hipogonadismo, entre outros. Neste trabalho, a distribuição dos alelos do gene DMPK em indivíduos controles foi estabelecida em duas populações (brasileira e peruana), por meio de PCR convencional utilizando iniciadores fluorescentes e repeat-primed PCR. O protocolo confirmou 93 casos não relacionados de DM1 (76 brasileiros e 17 peruanos) após a análise de 224 amostras com suspeita clínica. A distribuição e as frequências dos alelos normais foram estabelecidas em ambas as populações e os alelos mais frequentes foram 5 (frequência = 0,326) e 13 (frequência = 0,545) repetições de CTG em brasileiros e peruanos, respectivamente. A frequência de alelos normais grandes (aqueles com mais de 45 repetições CTGs) foi de 9% e 4% em brasileiros e peruanos, respectivamente. Neste trabalho é descrita a análise molecular de DM1 na maior coorte brasileira até o momento e é o primeiro trabalho em que foi analisada a população peruana. A distribuição e a frequência de alelos normais também foram estabelecidas e alelos mutáveis foram detectados entre os indivíduos controles. / The human DMPK (Dystrophia Myotonica-Protein Kinase) gene is located at 19q13.3 locus, being organized into 15 exons, with a polymorphic tract of CTG repeats in its 3' untranslated region. Normal individuals have 5-34 CTG repeats. Individuals carrying alleles with more than 50 CTG repeats have myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), a multisystemic disease of autosomal dominant inheritance. Symptoms include myotonia, progressive muscle weakness, hypogonadism, among others. Disease prevalence is variable among populations and may be related to the frequency of large normal alleles (those with more than 18 CTG repeats). Here we determined here the distribution of alleles of DMPK gene in healthy and DM1 patients in Brazilian and Peruvian populations, through conventional PCR using fluorescent primers and repeat-primed PCR. This protocol confirmed 93 unrelated cases of DM1 (76 Brazilians and 17 Peruvians) following the analysis of 224 samples with clinical suspicion. Distribution and frequencies of normal alleles were also established in both populations and the most frequent alleles were 5 (frequency of 0.326) and 13 (frequency of 0.545) CTG repeats in Brazilians and Peruvians, respectively. Frequency of large normal alleles (those with more than 45 CTG repeats) was established to be 9% and 4% in Brazilians and Peruvians, respectively. This report describes molecular analysis of DM1 in the largest Brazilian cohort so far, and is the first to report any data in the Peruvian population. Distribution and frequency of normal alleles were also established and mutable alleles were detected among controls.

O gene DMPK (Dystrophia Myotonica-Protein Kinase) humano está localizado no locus 19q13.3, sendo dividido em 15 éxons, com uma região polimórfica de repetições CTG em sua região 3’ não traduzida. Indivíduos normais apresentam de 5 a 34 repetições CTG. Indivíduos com alelos com mais de 50 repetições CTG apresentam distrofia miotônica tipo 1 (DM1), uma doença multissistêmica de herança autossômica dominante. Os sintomas incluem miotonia, fraqueza muscular progressiva, hipogonadismo, entre outros. Neste trabalho, a distribuição dos alelos do gene DMPK em indivíduos controles foi estabelecida em duas populações (brasileira e peruana), por meio de PCR convencional utilizando iniciadores fluorescentes e repeat-primed PCR. O protocolo confirmou 93 casos não relacionados de DM1 (76 brasileiros e 17 peruanos) após a análise de 224 amostras com suspeita clínica. A distribuição e as frequências dos alelos normais foram estabelecidas em ambas as populações e os alelos mais frequentes foram 5 (frequência = 0,326) e 13 (frequência = 0,545) repetições de CTG em brasileiros e peruanos, respectivamente. A frequência de alelos normais grandes (aqueles com mais de 45 repetições CTGs) foi de 9% e 4% em brasileiros e peruanos, respectivamente. Neste trabalho é descrita a análise molecular de DM1 na maior coorte brasileira até o momento e é o primeiro trabalho em que foi analisada a população peruana. A distribuição e a frequência de alelos normais também foram estabelecidas e alelos mutáveis foram detectados entre os indivíduos controles. / The human DMPK (Dystrophia Myotonica-Protein Kinase) gene is located at 19q13.3 locus, being organized into 15 exons, with a polymorphic tract of CTG repeats in its 3' untranslated region. Normal individuals have 5-34 CTG repeats. Individuals carrying alleles with more than 50 CTG repeats have myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), a multisystemic disease of autosomal dominant inheritance. Symptoms include myotonia, progressive muscle weakness, hypogonadism, among others. Disease prevalence is variable among populations and may be related to the frequency of large normal alleles (those with more than 18 CTG repeats). Here we determined here the distribution of alleles of DMPK gene in healthy and DM1 patients in Brazilian and Peruvian populations, through conventional PCR using fluorescent primers and repeat-primed PCR. This protocol confirmed 93 unrelated cases of DM1 (76 Brazilians and 17 Peruvians) following the analysis of 224 samples with clinical suspicion. Distribution and frequencies of normal alleles were also established in both populations and the most frequent alleles were 5 (frequency of 0.326) and 13 (frequency of 0.545) CTG repeats in Brazilians and Peruvians, respectively. Frequency of large normal alleles (those with more than 45 CTG repeats) was established to be 9% and 4% in Brazilians and Peruvians, respectively. This report describes molecular analysis of DM1 in the largest Brazilian cohort so far, and is the first to report any data in the Peruvian population. Distribution and frequency of normal alleles were also established and mutable alleles were detected among controls.

RNA localization, a regulated step of gene expression, is fundamentally important in development and differentiation. In multidisciplinary experiments, we discovered that RNA (mis)localization underlies the human disease myotonic dystrophy (DM). DM, the most prevalent adult muscular dystrophy, is caused independently by two alleles: DM1 is characterized by a (CTG)n expansion in the DM kinase (DMPK) gene 3' untranslated region while DM2 has a mutation in a small presumptive RNA binding protein. These analyses were guided by disease characteristics and have provided insights to DM's cytopathology, cell biology and molecular genetics. Examining muscle biopsies, it is demonstrated here that DM kinase mRNA is specifically subcellularly localized within normal human muscle and that DM kinase mRNA harboring the 3’UTR mutation (DM1) is mislocalized in DM patient muscle to cytoplasmic areas characteristic of DM disease pathology. Thus, the disease mutation alters the cellular distribution of the effected message. DMPK mRNA mislocalization causes altered DM kinase protein localization, correlates with novel phosphoprotein appearance and can account for DM’s diseased phenotype. While we were fortunate to access DM patient tissue to establish these key findings, the system does not lend itself to experimental manipulation. Hence, I established a disease- relevant tissue culture system, which recapitulates DMPK trafficking, Employing this system; I elucidate a complementary role for the DM2 gene product as a localization factor for DMPK mRNA (DM1 gene product). Comprehensive RNA-protein interaction experiments reveal the DM2 protein specifically and selectively recognizes a small, definitive area within the DMPK RNA 3'UTR. Detailed biochemical, cytological and functional experiments reveal 1) the DM2 protein colocalizes with DMPK mRNA, 2) the small area of the DMPK 3’UTR bound by pDM2 acts to properly localize a reporter construct and 3) disruption of the DM2 protein results in DMPK mRNA mislocalization. These data establish mRNA localization as a vital process underlying human disease etiology. Moreover, they reveal DM1 and DM2 gene products function in the same molecular pathway and that mutation of either causes DMPK mRNA mislocalization, leading to disease. These data have apparent application to several neuromuscular disorders and open a plethora of novel research avenues, both basic and applied. / text

The emergence of drug resistance towards existing drugs is a constant challenge in the fight against many diseases including Malaria and gonorrhoeae. To evade resistance, new targets must be engaged, and to do that, new structural classes of anti-infective must be prepared and evaluated. During the course of my PhD journey, I had the opportunity to investigate and optimize the antimalarial candidate (±)-2-3b, and salicylic acid (4-1a) as an anti-gonorrhea treatment. Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito-borne disease. In 2021, there were 247 million cases of malaria and the estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 619,000. Because of the rapid development of resistance to all current antimalarials, discovery of antimalarials with unexploited mechanisms of action is critical to reduce malaria mortality. In the Carlier group, our initial approach focused on discovery of inhibitors of the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway for isoprenoid precursor biosynthesis, since this pathway is essential for Plasmodium falciparum and absent in human. Application of the isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) chemical rescue screen to the compounds of the Malaria Box, a collection of 400 antimalaria candidates with unknown mechanisms of action, identified tetrahydro-β-carboline 2-1 (MMV008138) as an inhibitor of the MEP pathway. Chapter 2 of this work discusses similarity searching of the Novartis portion of the hit set (5K compounds), from the original 20K compound hit set of the Malaria Box, and identifying tetrahydro-β-carboline GNF-Pf-5009, designated as (±)-2-3b. Preparation of pure enantiomers, by resolution, demonstrated the pharmacological superiority of (R)-2-3b over (S)-2-3b, which was found to have good asexual blood stage (ABS) inhibition potency against malarial parasites P. falciparum, and low general cytotoxicity. However, (R)-2-3b was found not orally efficacious in a P. berghei mouse model of malaria. We concluded that the lack of oral efficacy of (R)-2-3b was due to its poor drug-like qualities, in particular its high molecular weight and low solubility. Chapter 3 of this work explores modifications of (R)-2-3b ((R)-3-5Aa) that were expected to improve its properties. We show that the new compounds (R)-3-5Gm and (R)-3-5Gk not only are more potent in vitro than (R)-2-3b ((R)-3-5Aa), but also have molecular weights < 500 g/mol. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. Due to the increased rates of infection as well as the prevalence of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae strains worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list N. gonorrhoeae at the highest possible threat level to public health. Dual therapy of azithromycin (AZM) and ceftriaxone has been the standard-of-care for treatment of gonococcal infections. However, due to increasing resistance to azithromycin (>33% in some regions) the CDC removed AZM from the treatment regimen for gonorrhea in 2020. Therefore, ceftriaxone remains the only recommended antibiotic for treatment of gonococcal infections. However, increasing resistance to this treatment option has been reported, consequently there is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutics against N. gonorrhoeae. Drug repurposing is a popular strategy that explores new therapeutic opportunities for approved drugs with available information on their pharmacokinetic data, dosages, and toxicity. Salicylic acid is a highly privileged chemical scaffold. Also, the use of salicylic acid to treat sexually transmitted diseases (including gonorrhea) was reported as early as the 19th century. Recently, Dr. Mohamed N. Seleem reported that salicylic acid (4-1a) exhibited modest activity against N. gonorrhoeae strains including the AZM-resistant strain (CDC-181). Chapter 4 of this work illustrates how the anti-gonococcal activity in this scaffold is easily lost by inopportune substitution. However, we found that substituted naphthyl analogs (4-3b,o,p) have superior activity to salicylic acid itself. In addition, the three analogs showed high selectivity, compared to AZM, against N. gonorrhoeae over the vaginal microbiota. / Doctor of Philosophy / In the fight against malaria and gonorrhea, two different diseases, we face one common challenge, which is the emergence of drug resistance towards existing drugs. Therefore, there is a pressing need for new antimalarial and anti-gonorrhea compounds with novel mechanisms of action. This dissertation encompasses my research on the investigation and optimization of the antimalarial candidate (±)-2-3b and Salicylic acid (4-1a) as anti-gonorrhea treatment. Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito-borne disease. It is transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. In 2021, there were 247 million cases of malaria and the estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 619,000. Children under 5 accounted for about 80% of all malaria deaths. In the Carlier group, compound 2-1 (MMV008138) was identified and thoroughly studied as antimalaria candidate. It was found to be effective in killing the malaria parasite, P. falciparum, in red blood cells, in vitro. However, when tested on P. berghei mouse model of malaria, it was found not effective. Chapter 2 of this work discusses the discovery of (±)-2-3b after searching for a structurally similar analog of 2-1. The compound (±)-2-3b can exist in two distinct spatial arrangements (enantiomers) R and S. After preparation of pure enantiomers, we confirmed the pharmacological superiority of (R)-2-3b over (S)-2-3b. The compound (R)-2-3b showed good activity in vitro against malarial parasites P. falciparum, and low general cytotoxicity. However when tested orally on P. berghei mouse model of malaria, it was found not effective. We concluded that the lack of oral efficacy of (R)-2-3b was due to its poor drug-like qualities, such as high molecular weight and low solubility. Chapter 3 of this work explore modifications of (R)-2-3b ((R)-3-5Aa) that will improve its properties. We show that the new compounds (R)-3-5Gm and (R)-3-5Gk not only are more active in vitro than (R)-2-3b ((R)-3-5Aa), but also have lower molecular weights (< 500 g/mol). Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list N. gonorrhoeae at the highest possible threat level to public health because of the increased rates of infection and the appearance of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae strains worldwide. Dual therapy of azithromycin (AZM) and ceftriaxone has been the standard-of-care for treatment of gonococcal infections. However, due to increasing resistance to azithromycin the CDC removed AZM from the treatment regimen. Therefore, ceftriaxone remains the only recommended antibiotic for treatment of gonococcal infections. However, increasing resistance to this treatment option has been reported. Drug repurposing is a popular strategy that explores new therapeutic opportunities for approved drugs with available information on their pharmacokinetic data, dosages, and toxicity. Salicylic acid is a highly privileged chemical scaffold that has been used to treat sexually transmitted diseases (including gonorrhea) since the 19th century. Chapter 4 of this work illustrates our efforts to enhance the potency of salicylic acid (4- 1a). I performed chemical modifications on (4-1a) and concluded that anti-gonococcal activity is easily lost by inopportune substitution. However, we found that substituted naphthyl analogs (4-3b,o,p) have superior activity to salicylic acid itself. In addition, the three analogs showed high selectivity, compared to AZM, against N. gonorrhoeae over the vaginal microbiota.

Malaria, a disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium, continues to be one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. The WHO reported over 627,000 deaths in 2020, and over 1 billion people are at risk of infection. Even though Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACT) are the current standard of care for malaria, the emergence of drug resistance generates a constant need to develop and synthesize new drugs. Tetrahydro-β-carboline acid (THβC) 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-2-ium-3-carboxylate (MMV008138) has promising antimalarial properties; it was discovered by screening the Malaria Box with the so-called IPP Rescue assay. This assay identified MMV008138 as an inhibitor of the MEP pathway, which produces essential isoprenoid precursors (IPP and DMAPP) in the malaria parasite P. falciparum (EC50 250 ± 70 nM, IPP rescue 100% @ 2.5 μM). Subsequent investigation revealed that (1R,3S)-configuration and 2',4'-dihalogen substitution were critical for the activity of this compound, and that substitution of the non-aromatic ring was not tolerated. To search for new antimalarial structures, our collaborator Dr. Max Totrov constructed a generalized 3D pharmacophore-based on MMV008138 and 92 of its analogs and used it for a virtual ligand screen (VLS) of the 13K compound hit set from which MMV008138 had been selected. This exercise identified TCMDC-140230, a THβC, 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-8-methyl-N-(2-(methylamino)ethyl)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carboxamide (undefined stereochemistry) reported having nearly the same potency of MMV008138. Synthesis of the stereoisomers of compound TCMDC-140230 was accomplished via Pictet-Spengler reaction of (S)- and (R)-7-methyl tryptophan methyl ester and 3,4-dichlorobenzaldehyde. The individual stereoisomeric esters were converted to the corresponding amides, but none of the stereoisomers of TCMDC-140230 were potent antimalarials (IC50 = 1,300 – 3,700 nM). However, a significant amount of oxidized byproduct 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-8-methyl-N-(2-(methylamino)ethyl)-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carboxamide (MMV1803522) was observed in the synthesis of (1S,3S)- and (1R,3R)-TCDMC-140230. This achiral β-carboline amide (PRC1584, IC50 = 108 ± 7 nM) proved more potent towards P. falciparum than MMV008138 and its toxicity was not reversed by co-application of IPP. Thus, the antimalarial target of MMV1803522 is distinct from that of MMV008138. Most importantly, MMV1803522 at 40 mg/kg/day (oral) cured P. berghei malaria infection in mice. The lead compound also was found to have a good safety profile. Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) has expressed interest in this compound which is now also known as MMV1803522. The results from these biological assays gave the insight to develop new analogs that have better asexual blood stage inhibition potency. Extensive structure-activity relationship studies were conducted by synthesizing analogs of the compound MMV1803522. The studies were mainly focused on analyzing the effect of aliphatic substitutions, how well the potency can be improved with different D-ring substitutions, and amide substitutions. In addition to this structural optimization, several metabolism studies were also conducted on this new lead compound. The potency study results of C1 alkyl-substituted analogs of MMV1803522 showed that aromatic substitutions are required at C1 for maintaining good inhibition potency. The heteroaryl substituents at C1 were found to be slightly less potent than the lead compound MMV1803522. Synthesis of analogs without C8 methyl group as in lead compound showed an EC50 < 100 nM is possible with a C8 hydrogen substitution. Most noteworthy is 3,4,5-trichlotophenyl-bearing compound 3.20a, which had an EC50 of 54 ± 8 nM. This compound is twice as potent as MMV1803522. Equipotent analogs to MMV1803522 were also synthesized with different amide substituents. The metabolism studies showed low solubility for compounds having an EC50 less than or close to 100 nM. Unfortunately, the intrinsic clearance rate of several selected compounds was found to be higher than MMV1803522. These results left us with scope for the development of new analog compounds. The emerging structure-activity relationship within this scaffold and outline of remaining challenges to improve potency sub-100 nM without compromising moderate solubility and good metabolic stability are in progress. / Doctor of Philosophy / Malaria is a global health problem that causes significant sickness and death annually in the developing world. The emergence of resistant parasite strains of malaria massively challenges efforts to eliminate this threat. To control the spread of malaria, there is a continuous need for the development of new antimalarial drugs that ideally offer a single-dose cure and new mechanism of action. One such promising target, called, Methyl Erythrytol Phosphate (MEP) pathway which produces IPP and DMAPP, are important isoprenoid precursors required in living beings. A compound MMV008138 was identified from a collection of compounds that exhibited antimalarial activity, the so-called "Malaria Box", and this compound was further analyzed for several biological assays. Unfortunately, MMV008138 was unsuccessful Since it was found toxic in mice when ingested orally. The efforts to develop structurally similar analogs of MMV008138 resulted in the accidental discovery of a compound that inhibits the parasites' growth much better than the former compound. This compound has a similar molecular structure to MMV008138, and the Medicines for Malaria organization (MMV) has designated it as MMV1803522. The newly obtained compound and its analogs were investigated and found to have promising potency to inhibit the growth of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Multiple biological assays were conducted and found that even though MMV1803522 is toxic to malarial parasites, it does not show toxicity to other cells. The studies in mice showed that it was not toxic orally. Also, it was found to be non-toxic towards several mammalian cell lines. The development of structurally similar analogs can help in improving the potency of the compound, make a better orally bioavailable compound, and improve oral efficacy. Analyzing these results will help to determine the mechanism of action of the compound.