Title
A Computational Approach Using Bioinformatics to Screening Drug Targets for Leishmania infantum Species
Date Issued
01 January 2018
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Schneider M.
Lage D.
Tavares G.
Mendonça D.
Santos T.
Pádua R.
Machado-De-Ávila R.
Leite J.
Coelho E.
Publisher(s)
Hindawi Limited
Abstract
Background. The development of new therapeutic strategies to treat patients for leishmaniasis has become a priority. The antileishmanial activity of the strychnobiflavone flavonoid was recently demonstrated against Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania infantum amastigotes and promastigotes. The biological effect of this molecule was identified due to its capacity to interfere in the parasite mitochondrial membrane; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Methods and Results. In this study, a computational approach using bioinformatics was performed to screen biological targets of strychnobiflavone in L. infantum. Computational programs, such as the target fishing approach and molecular docking assays, were used. Results showed that the putative pathway targeted by strychnobiflavone in L. infantum is the methylglyoxal degradation superpathway, and one hydrolase-like protein was predicted to be the molecular target of this flavonoid in the parasites. Conclusion. In this context, this study provides the basis for understanding the mechanism of action of strychnobiflavone in L. infantum and presents a strategy based on bioinformatics programs to screen targets of other molecules with biological action against distinct pathogens.
Volume
2018
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Enfermedades infecciosas
Farmacología, Farmacia
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85045567797
Source
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
ISSN of the container
1741427X
Sponsor(s)
This work was supported by grants from Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Edital 02/2017), Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Nanobiofarmacêutica (INCT NanoBiofar), FAPEMIG (CBB-APQ-00819-12 and CBB-APQ-01778-2014), and CNPq (APQ-482976/2012-8, APQ-488237/2013-0, and APQ-467640/2014-9). Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho is a grant recipient of CNPq. Miguel Angel Chávez-Fumagalli is a grant recipient of CAPES/FAPEMIG.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus