DEVELOPMENT OF MICROPLATE ASSAY TO TEST MARINOPYRROLE A AGAINST NON-PATHOGENIC NAEGLERIA LOVANIENSIS
Presenter Type
UNO Undergraduate Student
Major/Field of Study
Biology
Other
Molecular & Biomedical Biology
Advisor Information
Paul H. Davis
Location
MBSC304 - U
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
24-3-2023 2:30 PM
End Date
24-3-2023 3:45 PM
Abstract
The free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri is a deadly pathogen present in warm bodies of freshwater and the causative agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Though rare, the infection has a 97% mortality rate. A related species, Naegleria lovaniensis, has been shown to have many genetic similarities to its relative N. fowleri, but does not possess pathogenic properties. However, little has been done to evaluate Naegleria lovaniensis as a surrogate organism with in vitro drug discovery assays. We set out to develop an optimal microplate assay using N. lovaniensis to determine IC50s for known and novel drug-like compounds. The amoebae were grown in various media compositions to determine the best growing conditions, followed by microplate optimizations of viability assays. Our results indicate that the multiple bioassays can provide IC50 values comparable to those previously reported against N. fowleri. Results from our screening yielded findings in relation to novel anti-infective drug-like models. Marinopyrrole A, an antimicrobial derived from the Streptomyces bacteria, has shown preliminary results as a prospective hit against the amoeba. Further, developing an assay to help determine efficacy of drug-like compounds in N. lovaniensis provides a safer method of drug discovery which can lead to finding viable candidates for therapeutics against the pathogenic species.
Scheduling
9:15-10:30 a.m., 2:30 -3:45 p.m.
DEVELOPMENT OF MICROPLATE ASSAY TO TEST MARINOPYRROLE A AGAINST NON-PATHOGENIC NAEGLERIA LOVANIENSIS
MBSC304 - U
The free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri is a deadly pathogen present in warm bodies of freshwater and the causative agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Though rare, the infection has a 97% mortality rate. A related species, Naegleria lovaniensis, has been shown to have many genetic similarities to its relative N. fowleri, but does not possess pathogenic properties. However, little has been done to evaluate Naegleria lovaniensis as a surrogate organism with in vitro drug discovery assays. We set out to develop an optimal microplate assay using N. lovaniensis to determine IC50s for known and novel drug-like compounds. The amoebae were grown in various media compositions to determine the best growing conditions, followed by microplate optimizations of viability assays. Our results indicate that the multiple bioassays can provide IC50 values comparable to those previously reported against N. fowleri. Results from our screening yielded findings in relation to novel anti-infective drug-like models. Marinopyrrole A, an antimicrobial derived from the Streptomyces bacteria, has shown preliminary results as a prospective hit against the amoeba. Further, developing an assay to help determine efficacy of drug-like compounds in N. lovaniensis provides a safer method of drug discovery which can lead to finding viable candidates for therapeutics against the pathogenic species.