High-throughput small molecule screen identifies inhibitors of microsporidia invasion and proliferation in C. elegans

Brandon M. Murareanu, Noelle V. Antao, Winnie Zhao, Aurore Dubuffet, Hicham El Alaoui, Jessica Knox, Damian C. Ekiert, Gira Bhabha, Peter J. Roy and Aaron W. Reinke ()
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Brandon M. Murareanu: University of Toronto
Noelle V. Antao: New York University School of Medicine
Winnie Zhao: University of Toronto
Aurore Dubuffet: Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement
Hicham El Alaoui: Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement
Jessica Knox: University of Toronto
Damian C. Ekiert: New York University School of Medicine
Gira Bhabha: New York University School of Medicine
Peter J. Roy: University of Toronto
Aaron W. Reinke: University of Toronto

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Microsporidia are a diverse group of fungal-related obligate intracellular parasites that infect most animal phyla. Despite the emerging threat that microsporidia represent to humans and agricultural animals, few reliable treatment options exist. Here, we develop a high-throughput screening method for the identification of chemical inhibitors of microsporidia infection, using liquid cultures of Caenorhabditis elegans infected with the microsporidia species Nematocida parisii. We screen a collection of 2560 FDA-approved compounds and natural products, and identify 11 candidate microsporidia inhibitors. Five compounds prevent microsporidia infection by inhibiting spore firing, whereas one compound, dexrazoxane, slows infection progression. The compounds have in vitro activity against several other microsporidia species, including those known to infect humans. Together, our results highlight the effectiveness of C. elegans as a model host for drug discovery against intracellular pathogens, and provide a scalable high-throughput system for the identification and characterization of microsporidia inhibitors.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33400-y

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