Exploiting the Polypharmacology of ß-Carbolines to Disrupt <i>O. volvulus</i> Molting
作者:Major Gooyit、Nancy Tricoche、Sacha Javor、Sara Lustigman、Kim D. Janda
DOI:10.1021/ml500516r
日期:2015.3.12
Onchocerciasis is an infection caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus, which can eventually result in blindness. The lack of an effective macrofilaricide and the possible development of ivermectin-resistant strains of O. volvulus necessitate the, need for alternative treatment strategies. We have shown that targeting the L3-stagespecific chitinase OvCHT1 impairs the shedding of the filarial cuticle. In our continued efforts to discover OvCHT1 inhibitors, we identified the beta-carboline alkaloid scaffolding as a chitinase inhibitor that is capable of penetrating the worm cuticle. Herein, we disclose the rich polypharmacology of the beta-carboline class of compounds as an approach to abrogate the molting of the parasite and thus the initiation of infection in the human host.