Development of a mouse model to determine the systemic activity of potential flea-control compounds.

Probe studies were performed to determine if the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), the most common ectoparasite of companion animals, will feed on laboratory mice and, if so, to incorporate this into a small animal assay to detect systemically active compounds. Consequently, a protocol was developed which incorporated acepromazine maleate to temporarily sedate various strains of mice and allow fleas a window of time to feed undisturbed. For validation of the model, CD-1 mice were dosed per os with seven known insecticides at 30, 10 and 1mg/kg. Mice were sedated with 0.0125 ml acepromazine maleate intraperitoneally, and infested with fleas. After 2h, fleas were removed, one-third were examined immediately to confirm the occurrence of feeding, and 77% were found to have ingested a blood meal. The remaining fleas were incubated for 24h to determine mortality. Nitenpyram, the active ingredient in Capstar, was highly active (>94%) at 1mg/kg. Selamectin, the active ingredient in Revolution, was very active (86%) at 10mg/kg, but inactive at 1mg/kg. Fipronil, the active ingredient of Frontline Topspot, was very active (83%) at 30 mg/kg, moderately active (54%) at 10mg/kg and inactive at 1mg/kg. Cythioate, the active ingredient in Proban, and nodulisporic acid, a recently discovered oral insecticide, were moderately active (64 and 55%, respectively) at 10mg/kg, but both were inactive at 1mg/kg. Lufenuron and ivermectin exhibited no efficacy at any level tested. These findings suggest that this mouse model can effectively identify systemic flea-control leads and, subsequently, reduce the use of large animals in research.

Nodulisporic acid B, B1, and B2: a series of 1'-deoxy-nodulisporic acids from Nodulisporium sp.

During the re-isolation of the lead compound nodulisporic acid A (1a) and targeted chemical screening for related compounds, we discovered a series of 1'-deoxy congeners named herein nodulisporic acids B (1b), B1 (2b), and B2 (3b). In comparison with nodulisporic acid A, these compounds were less active and were chemically unstable resulting into formation of delta23 dehydro derivatives. Therefore, these compounds were stabilized and isolated as sodium salts and methyl ester. Nodulisporic acid B is 100-fold less active than nodulisporic acid A against fleas. The isolation, structure elucidation, and biological activities of these compounds are described.

Nodulisporic acid side-chain modifications: access to the 2", 3", 4", and 6" registers.

Efficient routes to access the 2", 3", 4", and 6" registers of the nodulisporic acid (NsA) side chain are disclosed. A mild one-carbon, Ph(2)CdoublebondNCH(2)CtriplebondN mediated homologation of NsA's 3"-aldehyde permitted access to the 4"-register. Curtius reaction of NsA's 3"-acid yielded the corresponding 2"-aldehyde 4 from which the unnatural Delta(2",3")-olefin isomer 2b was obtained. In addition, Arndt-Eistert reactions of the parent NsA permitted a one-carbon homologation to the 6" register. These efforts identified new analogues with significant flea activity and illustrated the biological significance of unsaturation at the 1",2" register.

Side-chain homologation of nodulisporic acid: synthesis of potent new dienyl derivatives.

A series of new, diene-modified nodulisporic acid analogues (2) bearing diverse functionality at the 3"- and 4"-sites was efficiently prepared from the 3"-aldehyde 3. Biological evaluation of these synthetic nodulisporic acid analogues for systemic flea efficacy identified potent compounds and further clarified the structural requirements for ectoparasite activity.