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  • Chemogenomic Fingerprints A...
    Niemand, Jandeli; van Biljon, Riëtte; van der Watt, Mariëtte; van Heerden, Ashleigh; Reader, Janette; van Wyk, Roelof; Orchard, Lindsey; Chibale, Kelly; Llinás, Manuel; Birkholtz, Lyn-Marié

    ACS infectious diseases, 10/2021, Letnik: 7, Številka: 10
    Journal Article

    Kinase-focused inhibitors previously revealed compounds with differential activity against different stages of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. MMV666810, a 2-aminopyrazine, is more active on late-stage gametocytes, while a pyrazolopyridine, MMV674850, preferentially targets early-stage gametocytes. Here, we probe the biological mechanisms underpinning this differential stage-specific killing using in-depth transcriptome fingerprinting. Compound-specific chemogenomic profiles were observed with MMV674850 treatment associated with biological processes shared between asexual blood stage parasites and early-stage gametocytes but not late-stage gametocytes. MMV666810 has a distinct profile with clustered gene sets associated primarily with late-stage gametocyte development, including Ca2+-dependent protein kinases (CDPK1 and 5) and serine/threonine protein kinases (FIKK). Chemogenomic profiling therefore highlights essential processes in late-stage gametocytes, on a transcriptional level. This information is important to prioritize compounds that preferentially compromise late-stage gametocytes for further development as transmission-blocking antimalarials.