A Novel High-Content Phenotypic Screen To Identify Inhibitors of Mitochondrial DNA Maintenance in Trypanosomes

Abstract

Kinetoplastid parasites cause diverse neglected diseases in humans and livestock, with an urgent need for new treatments. The survival of kinetoplastids depends on their uniquely structured mitochondrial genome (kDNA), the eponymous kinetoplast. Here, we report the development of a high-content screen for pharmacologically induced kDNA loss, based on specific staining of parasites and automated image analysis. As proof of concept, we screened a diverse set of ;14,000 small molecules and exemplify a validated hit as a novel kDNA-targeting compound.