Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) are currently the frontline treatment against Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but parasite resistance to artemisinin (ART) and its derivatives, core components of ACTs, is spreading in the Mekong countries. In this study, we report the synthesis of several novel artemisinin derivatives and evaluate their in vitro and in silico capacity to counteract Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistance. Furthermore, recognizing that the malaria parasite devotes considerable resources to minimizing the oxidative stress that it creates during its rapid consumption of hemoglobin and the release of heme, we sought to explore whether further augmentation of this oxidative toxicity might constitute an important addition to artemisinins. The present report demonstrates, in vitro, that FM-AZ, a newly synthesized artemisinin derivative, has a lower IC50 than artemisinin in P. falciparum and a rapid action in killing the parasites. The docking studies for important parasite protein targets, PfATP6 and PfHDP, complemented the in vitro results, explaining the superior IC50 values of FM-AZ in comparison with ART obtained for the ART-resistant strain. However, cross-resistance between FM-AZ and artemisinins was evidenced in vitro

Introduction : L'hémophilie est une maladie génétique de la coagulation due à un déficit en facteur VIII ou en facteur IX. Ces déficits sont responsables d'un déficit du complexe ténase intrinsèque (VIIIa-IXa). De plus, le complexe ténase extrinsèque (facteur tissulaire - VIIa) est physiologiquement rapidement inhibé par le TFPI lié au facteur Xa. Nous avons évalué la capacité d'une forme tronquée du facteur Xa (GDXa), dépourvue de domaine Gla à se lier au TFPI et à soulager l'inhibition physiologique du complexe ténase extrinsèque. Matériel et Méthodes : Dans une première partie, nous avons évalué la capacité du GDXa à restaurer la génération de thrombine de plasmas d'hémophiles A et B sévères sans et avec inhibiteurs. Nous avons également comparé les profils de génération de thrombine obtenus après addition du GDXa à ceux obtenus en présence d'anticorps neutralisants anti-TFPI ou anti-antithrombine. Enfin, nous avons comparé les cinétiques enzymatiques de neutralisation du facteur Xa et du GDXa par le TFPI et l'antithrombine. Dans une seconde partie, nous avons étudié in silico les interactions entre la chaîne lourde du facteur Xa et le TFPI pour détecter les zones d'interaction défavorables. Cette étude a identifié des acides aminés du facteur Xa qui pourraient être substitués pour optimiser l'interaction avec le TFPI. Les résultats in silico ont orienté nos choix de mutagenèse dirigée pour concevoir différents variants moléculaires du GDXa (R138F, R138G, R138I) où l'arginine 138 est substituée. Ces variants protéiques ont été produits de façon recombinante dans des cellules HEK293E. La capacité des différents variants à restaurer la génération de thrombine de plasmas d'hémophiles a été testée avec les surnageants de culture cellulaires correspondants. Résultats : Dans la première partie, nous avons montré que le GDXa est capable de restaurer la génération de thrombine de plasmas d'hémophiles A et B sans et avec inhibiteurs. Comparativement au facteur Xa, le GDXa montre une affinité moindre pour le TFPI tandis que les affinités du GDXa et du facteur Xa pour l'antithrombine sont identiques. Enfin, malgré une demi-vie courte, l'effet du GDXa sur la génération de thrombine est maintenu pendant au moins une heure. Dans la seconde partie, nous avons produit les différents variants R138F, R138G et R138I en cellules HEK293E et montré que les surnageants de culture cellulaire étaient capables de restaurer la génération de thrombine de plasmas d'hémophiles de façon plus efficace que le GDXa. Conclusion : Comme le GDXa est capable de restaurer la génération de thrombine de plasmas d'hémophiles, nos résultats suggèrent que le GDXa pourrait être une alternative efficace aux thérapeutiques hémostatiques court-circuitantes actuelles chez les hémophiles sans ou avec inhibiteurs. Les résultats obtenus renforcent l'hypothèse que l'activité pro-coagulante du GDXa serait liée à la formation d'un complexe GDXa-TFPI limitant la formation du complexe Xa-TFPI nécessaire à l'inhibition physiologique du complexe ténase extrinsèque. De plus, notre approche rationnelle basée sur une étude in silico visant à augmenter l'affinité du TFPI pour le GDXa a permis de produire différents variants moléculaires du GDXa dont l'activité procoagulante in vitro est augmentée par rapport au GDXa. / Background: Hemophilia is caused by deficiencies in coagulation factor VIII or IX, resulting in direct blockade of the intrinsic tenase complex and indirect blockade of the extrinsic tenase complex which is rapidly inhibited upon binding of factor Xa to tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). We evaluated the ability of Gla-domainless factor Xa (GDXa), a truncated form of factor Xa devoid of procoagulant properties, to bind to TFPI and to alleviate the physiological inhibition of the extrinsic tenase. Design and Methods: In the first part of this work, we evaluated the ability of GDXa to restore coagulation in plasmas from hemophilia A and B patients without and with inhibitors, using a thrombin generation assay triggered by a low concentration of tissue factor. We then compared its efficacy to generate thrombin to depletion of antithrombin or TFPI by specific antibodies. Finally, we compared the kinetics of neutralization of factor Xa and GDXa by antithrombin and TFPI. In the second part of this work, we realized an in silico study of the interactions between factor Xa heavy chain and TFPI. The aim was to detect unfavorable interactions and to identify amino-acid candidates for mutagenesis in order to increase affinity for TFPI. Taking into account the results of this in silico study, we produced by genic engienering different molecular variants of GDXa (R138F, R138G, R138I) where Arg138 was substituted by site directed mutagenesis. Proteins were produced in HEK293E cells. We tested dialyzed cell culture supernatants containing each variant to restore thrombin generation in plasmas from severe hemophilia patients. Results: In the first part of this work, we showed that GDXa was able to restore thrombin generation in plasma samples from hemophiliacs. This effect was observed for plasma from hemophilia A patients without or with inhibitors and for plasma from hemophilia B patients. GDXa had a lower affinity than factor Xa for TFPI whereas the affinities of both proteins for antithrombin were similar. Finally, despite a short half-life in plasma, the effect of GDXa on thrombin generation was sustained for at least one hour. In the second part of this work, we produced the different variants R138F, R138G et R138I in HEK293E cells and showed that cell culture supernatants were able to restore thrombin generation in a more efficient way than GDXa. Conclusions: As GDXa was able to restore thrombin generation in plasma from hemophilia patients, our results suggest that it may be an effective alternative to current treatments for hemophilia with or without inhibitors. Results sustained the hypothesis that GDXa coagulant activity is through TFPI binding and competition with factor Xa to bind TFPI resulting in limiting factor Xa-TFPI formation, which is essential for inhibition of extrinsic tenase complex. Furthermore, rational design of GDXa variants based on an in silico study lead to production of proteins whose coagulant activity is increased compared to GDXa."

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2017-06-20T11:50:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 10487656 bytes, checksum: 9f874336a1873756d7bc4d26e57ee76d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-20T11:50:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 10487656 bytes, checksum: 9f874336a1873756d7bc4d26e57ee76d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-13 / This work describes the synthesis, characterization and antifungal potential of twelve mesoionic derivatives from the 1,3-thiazolium-5-thiolate system. The compounds, totally unprecedented, were divided in two classes: one class derived from the mesoionic 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-4-(4-isopropylphenyl)-1,3-thyazolium-5- thiolate with ten substituted acetamides and other class derived from the mesoionic 2- (4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3-thyazolium-5-thiolate also with ten substituted acetamides. This compounds synthesis, which presented satisfactory yields (85 to 95 %), occurred in four stages: first the intermediary N-methyl-Carylglicine was synthesized via Strecker reaction with p-substituted aldehydes, followed by its aroylation to obtain N-methyl-N-aroyl-C-arylglicine, the next step was its cyclodehydration with acetic anhydride, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and cyclorevertion induced by CS2 to obtain the mesoionic compounds from the 1,3- thiazolium-5-thyolate as free base. Lastly, the mesoionic compounds were converted into his respective salts by the treatment with ten substituted acetamides. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic techniques IR, NMR 1H and NMR 13C, and their antifungal potential against five strains of Candida albicans were evaluated. Only four compounds exhibited efficient activity (MI-1-A3, MI-1-A4, MI- 1-A6 and MI-1-A7) with MIC between 256 – 512 μg mL-1. An in silico investigation of the mesoionic compounds, the substituted acetamides and the mesoionic derivatives was also made and the results showed that both mesoionic compounds and his derivatives are good candidates to be a drug while all substituted acetamides should present high toxicity. / Neste trabalho descreve-se a síntese, caracterização e potencial antifúngico de vinte derivados mesoiônicos do sistema 1,3-tiazólio-5-tiolato. Os compostos, inéditos, foram divididos em duas classes: uma classe de compostos derivados do mesoiônico 2-(4-clorofenil)-3-metil-4-(4-isopropilfenil)-1,3-tiazólio-5-tiolato com dez acetamidas substituídas e outra classe de compostos derivados do mesoiônico 2-(4-clorofenil)-3- metil-4-(4-metilfenil)-1,3-tiazólio-5-tiolato e também com dez acetamidas substituídas. A síntese desses compostos, que apresentou rendimentos satisfatórios (85 a 95 %), ocorreu em quatro etapas: primeiramente o intermediário N-metil-Carilglicina foi sintetizado via reação de Strecker com aldeídos p-substituídos, seguido de sua aroilação para obter o N-metil-N-aroil-C-arilglicina, seguida da ciclo desidratação com anidrido acético, cicloadição e cicloreversão 1,3-dipolar induzida por CS2 para obter os mesoiônicos do sistema 1,3-tiazólio-5-tiolato na forma de base livre. Por fim os mesoiônicos foram convertidos em seus respectivos sais através do tratamento com dez acetamidas substituídas. Todos os compostos, intermediários, mesoiônicos, acetamidas e derivados mesoiônicos, foram caracterizados por técnicas espectroscópicas de IV, RMN de 1H e 13C e avaliou-se o potencial antifúngico dos derivados mesoiônicos contra cinco cepas de Candida albicans. Dentre os vinte derivados mesoiônicos investigados, apenas quatro, MI-1-A3, MI-1-A4, MI-1-A6 e MI-1-A7, exibiram eficiente atividade com concentrações inibitórias mínimas entre 256 – 512 μg mL-1. Neste trabalho realizou-se ainda uma investigação in silico dos compostos mesoiônicos, das acetamidas substituídas e dos derivados mesoiônicos e os resultados indicaram que tanto os compostos mesoiônicos quanto seus derivados são bons candidatos a fármacos enquanto que as dez acetamidas substituídas investigadas devem apresentar elevada toxicidade.