Krieg RInstitute of Anatomy II, University Hospital Jena, Teichgraben 7, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Jortzik EBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich Buff Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Goetz AAUniversité de Strasbourg, CNRS, Inserm, MIR UPR9022/U963, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
Blandin SUniversité de Strasbourg, CNRS, Inserm, MIR UPR9022/U963, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
Wittlin SSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, PO Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland.
Elhabiri MUMR 7509 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials (ECPM), 25, rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France.
Rahbari MBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich Buff Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Nuryyeva SUMR 7509 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials (ECPM), 25, rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France.
Voigt KLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse 23, 07745 Jena, Germany.
Dahse HMLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse 23, 07745 Jena, Germany.
Brakhage ALeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse 23, 07745 Jena, Germany.
Beckmann SInstitute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Centre, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Quack TInstitute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Centre, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Grevelding CGInstitute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Centre, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Pinkerton ABConrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Schönecker BInstitute of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Burrows JMedicines for Malaria Venture, 20 Route de Pré-Bois, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland.
Davioud-Charvet EUMR 7509 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials (ECPM), 25, rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France.
Rahlfs SBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich Buff Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Becker KBiochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Centre, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich Buff Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
English
In search of antiparasitic agents, we here identify arylmethylamino steroids as potent compounds and characterize more than 60 derivatives. The lead compound 1o is fast acting and highly active against intraerythrocytic stages of chloroquine-sensitive and resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites (IC50 1-5 nM) as well as against gametocytes. In P. berghei-infected mice, oral administration of 1o drastically reduces parasitaemia and cures the animals. Furthermore, 1o efficiently blocks parasite transmission from mice to mosquitoes. The steroid compounds show low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells and do not induce acute toxicity symptoms in mice. Moreover, 1o has a remarkable activity against the blood-feeding trematode parasite Schistosoma mansoni. The steroid and the hydroxyarylmethylamino moieties are essential for antimalarial activity supporting a chelate-based quinone methide mechanism involving metal or haem bioactivation. This study identifies chemical scaffolds that are rapidly internalized into blood-feeding parasites.