A Chemical Proteomics Approach for the Search of Pharmacological Targets of the Antimalarial Clinical Candidate Albitiazolium in Plasmodium falciparum Using Photocrosslinking and Click Chemistry

Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for severe malaria which is one of the most prevalent and deadly infectious diseases in the world. The antimalarial therapeutic arsenal is hampered by the onset of resistance to all known pharmacological classes of compounds, so new drugs with novel mechanisms of action are critically needed. Albitiazolium is a clinical antimalarial candidate from a series of choline analogs designed to inhibit plasmodial phospholipid metabolism. Here we developed an original chemical proteomic approach to identify parasite proteins targeted by albitiazolium during their native interaction in living parasites. We designed a bifunctional albitiazolium-derived compound (photoactivable and clickable) to covalently crosslink drug–interacting parasite proteins in situ followed by their isolation via click chemistry reactions. Mass spectrometry analysis of drug–interacting proteins and subsequent clustering on gene ontology terms revealed parasite proteins involved in lipid metabolic activities and, interestingly, also in lipid binding, transport, and vesicular transport functions. In accordance with this, the albitiazolium-derivative was localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and trans-Golgi network of P. falciparum. Importantly, during competitive assays with albitiazolium, the binding of choline/ethanolamine phosphotransferase (the enzyme involved in the last step of phosphatidylcholine synthesis) was substantially displaced, thus confirming the efficiency of this strategy for searching albitiazolium targets.     

Toward a phylogeny and biogeography of Diaphanosoma (Crustacea: Cladocera)

Aquatic Ecology - Diaphanosoma s.l., with 40+? described species, is the largest genus of the Sididae and the Ctenopoda, similar in many ways to the anomopod genus Daphnia. Here, we offer a c...     

Chemical reactivity of the carbon-centered free radicals and ferrous iron in coals: Role of bioavailable Fe2+ in coal workers' pneumoconiosis

Striking differences in the prevalence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) exist between different coal mine regions. The major factors responsible for the observed regional differences in CWP have not yet been identified. In the present study, chemical reactivity of the carbon-centered free radicals in coals and lung tissues, as well as ferrous iron in the coals, were studied by ESR techniques. The ESR spectra clearly demonstrated the presence of at least two types of carbon-centered free radical species, which might respectively attribute to the macromolecular phase and the molecular phase of coal. Grinding produced free radicals in coals. Exposure of freshly ground coal to air for 28 h induced a slight increase of free radicals for most of the coals, and a slight decrease after 4 months' exposure. The lung tissue samples of coal workers deceased of CWP showed similar ESR spectra as coal samples, and these radicals were highly stable in the lung. After incubation of coals with glutathione, hydrogen peroxide, sodium formate or oxygen, the coal sample from the Gardanne mine which has never induced CWP, and thus is the least hazardous coal, showed the most significant change in the carbon-centered free radical concentration. No significant changes were observed among other coals reported to induce CWP. On the other hand, we found that the coals released different amounts of Fe²⁺ in an acidic medium. Interestingly, the prevalence of CWP correlates positively with the released Fe²⁺ content in these coals and with the amount of oxygen radicals produced by the interaction of Fe²⁺ with O₂ in the acidified coal filtrates. Our studies indicate that the carbon-centered free radicals may not be biologically relevant to coal dust-induced pneumoconiosis, whereas the acid soluble Fe²⁺, which may be dissolved in the phagolysosomes of macrophages, can then lead to Fe²⁺-induced oxidative stress and eventual CWP development.     

Socioeconomic and Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Asthma Related Outcomes in Early Childhood: The Generation R Study

Rationale

Few studies have analyzed the association of socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors with asthma related outcomes in early childhood, including Fraction of exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) and airway resistance (Rint). We examined the association of socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors with wheezing, asthma, FeNO and Rint at age 6 years. Additionally, the role of potential mediating factors was studied.

Methods

The study included 6717 children participating in The Generation R Study, a prospective population-based cohort study. Data on socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors, wheezing and asthma were obtained by questionnaires. FeNO and Rint were measured at the research center. Statistical analyses were performed using logistic and linear regression models.

Results

At age 6 years, 9% (456/5084) of the children had wheezing symptoms and 7% (328/4953) had asthma. Children from parents with financial difficulties had an increased risk of wheezing (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 1.63, 95% Confidence Interval (CI):1.18–2.24). Parental low education, paternal unemployment and child''s male sex were associated with asthma, independent of other socioeconomic or sociodemographic factors (aOR = 1.63, 95% CI:1.24–2.15, aOR = 1.85, 95% CI:1.11–3.09, aOR = 1.58, 95% CI:1.24–2.01, respectively). No socioeconomic or gender differences in FeNO were found. The risks of wheezing, asthma, FeNO and Rint measurements differed between ethnic groups (p<0.05). Associations between paternal unemployment, child''s sex, ethnicity and asthma related outcomes remained largely unexplained.

Conclusions

This study showed differences between the socioeconomic and sociodemographic correlates of wheezing and asthma compared to the correlates of FeNO and Rint at age 6 years. Several socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors were independently associated with wheezing and asthma. Child''s ethnicity was the only factor independently associated with FeNO. We encourage further studies on underlying pathways and public health intervention programs, focusing on reducing socioeconomic or sociodemographic inequalities in asthma.