Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40074446›Full record

ArticleJournal, genetic engineering & biotechnology2025

Unraveling the mechanisms of benzimidazole resistance in hookworms: A molecular docking and dynamics study.

Jan Clyden B Tenorio, Muhammad Fikri Heikal, Alok Kafle, Mark Andrian B Macalalad, Fredmoore L Orosco, Prasert Saichua, Sutas Suttiprapa

Abstract read
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Article in Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jan Clyden B TenorioTropical Medicine Graduate Program, Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, 9407 Cotabato, Philippines.
Muhammad Fikri HeikalTropical Medicine Graduate Program, Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Alok KafleTropical Medicine Graduate Program, Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Mark Andrian B MacalaladVirology and Vaccine Research and Development Program, Department of Science and Technology - Industrial Technology Development Institute, 1631 Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Fredmoore L OroscoVirology and Vaccine Research and Development Program, Department of Science and Technology - Industrial Technology Development Institute, 1631 Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines; S&T Fellows Program, Department of Science and Technology, 1631 Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines; Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines - Manila 1000 Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Prasert SaichuaDepartment of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian Liver Fluke Disease), Tropical Disease Research Center, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Sutas SuttiprapaDepartment of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian Liver Fluke Disease), Tropical Disease Research Center, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. Electronic address: sutasu@kku.ac.th.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBenzimidazole resistance is an emerging challenge among parasitic helminths. It is caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in specific loci in helminths' β-tubulin genes. Field studies and laboratory investigations reported resistance-associated SNPs in 4 codon locations with 7 allelic variations among hookworms. This study aimed to determine the effects of these mutations on the binding efficiency and behavior of the β-tubulin protein in four hookworm species against four benzimidazole drugs.

methodsβ-tubulin gene coding sequences of Ancylostoma caninum, A. duodenale, A. ceylanicum, and Necator americanus were retrieved, assessed phylogenetically, and used to construct the 3D structure models of the proteins. The modeled protein structures were verified and edited to contain the reported SNPs: Q134H, F167Y, E198A, E198K, E198V, F200L, and F200Y. Benzimidazole drugs such as albendazole (ABZ), fenbendazole (FBZ), mebendazole (MBZ) and oxfendazole (OBZ) were used as ligands. Molecular docking experiments were performed with the wild-type and mutated proteins. Molecular dynamics simulation assessed the dynamic behavior of the β-tubulin-benzimidazole complex.

resultsIn silico docking assessments showed that various amino acid substitutions due to resistance-associated SNPs cause alterations in binding affinities and positions. E198K and Q134H in hookworm β-tubulins substantially weakened the binding affinities and altered the binding positions of benzimidazole drugs. Molecular dynamics analysis revealed that these mutations also caused marked reductions in the binding free energies owing to diminished hydrogen bond contacts with the benzimidazole ligands.

conclusionThe evidence shown herein indicates that mutations at positions 198 and 134 are detrimental to conferring benzimidazole resistance among hookworms. The presence of these mutations may alter the efficacy of pharmacological interventions. Hence, further studies should be conducted to assess their emergence among hookworms in endemic areas with histories of chemotherapy.

Indexed as

AncylostomaAntimicrobial ResistanceDewormingNecatorNeglected Tropical Diseases

Identifiers

PMID40074446
PMCPMC11879688

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.