Compounds and methods for treating, detecting, and identifying compounds to treat apicomplexan parasitic diseases

1. A compound of the structure of

(a) Formula (I):

or a stereoisomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

ring A combines with Y 1 and Y 2 to form a C 3-7 cycloalkenyl or heteroaryl ring,

wherein the C 3-7 cycloalkenyl or heteroaryl is optionally substituted by halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR, cyano or phenyl;

Y 1 is N;

Y 2 is C or N;

X 1 is C(R x1 ) or N,

wherein R x1 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or C 1-3 haloalkyl;

X 2 is C(R x2 ) or N,

wherein R x2 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or C 1-3 haloalkyl;

X 3 is O, N(R), S or C 1-3 alkyl;

X 4 is C or N;

X 5 is C or N;

R 1 is hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl;

R 2 is hydrogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —CH 2 OH, —CH 2 OR or —C(O)OR;

n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

each R 3 is independently halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR or SF 5 ;

or two R 3 groups, together with the carbons to which they are attached, form a 1,3-dioxolane; and

each R is independently hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl; or

(b) Formula (I-p):

or a stereoisomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

ring A combines with Y 1 and Y 2 to form a C 3-7 cycloalkenyl or heteroaryl ring, wherein the C 3-7 cycloalkenyl or heteroaryl is optionally substituted by halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR, cyano or phenyl;

Y 1 is N;

Y 2 is C or N;

X 1 is C(R x1 ) or N,

wherein R x1 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or C 1-3 haloalkyl;

X 2 is C(R x2 ) or N,

wherein R x2 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or C 1-3 haloalkyl;

X 3 is O, N(R), S or C 1-3 alkyl;

X 5 is C or N;

P is —C(O)OR′, —C(O)R′, —C(O)NR′ 2 , wherein R′ is hydrogen, C 1-3 alkyl or —CH 2 OR;

R 2 is hydrogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —CH 2 OH, —CH 2 OR, —C(O)OR or —CH 2 OP;

P is —C(O)OR′, —C(O)R′, —C(O)NR′ 2 or —OP(O)(OR′)OR′, wherein each R′ is independently hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl;

n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

each R 3 is independently halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR or SF 5 ;

or two R 3 groups, together with the carbons to which they are attached, form a 1,3-dioxolane; and

each R is independently hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl.

2. The compound of claim 1 , having the structure of (I):

or a stereoisomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

ring A combines with Y 1 and Y 2 to form a C 3-7 cycloalkenyl or heteroaryl ring,

wherein the C 3-7 cycloalkenyl or heteroaryl is optionally substituted by halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR, cyano or phenyl;

Y 1 is N;

Y 2 is C or N;

X 1 is C(R x1 ) or N,

wherein R x1 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or C 1-3 haloalkyl;

X 2 is C(R x2 ) or N,

wherein R x2 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or C 1-3 haloalkyl;

X 3 is O, N(R), S or C 1-3 alkyl;

X 4 is C or N;

X 5 is C or N;

R 1 is hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl;

R 2 is hydrogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —CH 2 OH, —CH 2 OR or —C(O)OR;

n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

each R 3 is independently halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR or SF 5 ;

or two R 3 groups, together with the carbons to which they are attached, form a 1,3-dioxolane; and

each R is independently hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl.

3. The compound of claim 1 , having the structure of (Ia):

or a stereoisomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

ring A combines with Y 1 and Y 2 to form a C 3-7 cycloalkenyl or heteroaryl ring,

wherein the C 3-7 cycloalkenyl or heteroaryl is optionally substituted by halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR, cyano or phenyl;

Y 1 is N;

Y 2 is C or N;

X 1 is C(R x1 ) or N,

wherein R x1 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or C 1-3 haloalkyl;

X 2 is C(R x2 ) or N,

wherein R x2 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or C 1-3 haloalkyl;

X 3 is O, N(R), S or C 1-3 alkyl;

R 1 is hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl;

R 2 is hydrogen, C 1-3 alkyl or —C(O)OR;

n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

each R 3 is independently halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR or SF 5 ; and

each R is independently hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl.

4. The compound of claim 3 , having

(a) the structure of Formula (Ib):

(b) the structure of Formula (Ic):

5. The compound of claim 3 , having the structure of Formula (III):

wherein

ring A combines with the nitrogen atom and carbon atom with which it is attached to form a heteroaryl ring.

6. The compound of claim 5 , having the structure of Formula (IIIa):

wherein

Y 3 is C(R 5 ) or N; and

R 4 and R 5 are independently hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O —C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR, cyano or phenyl.

7. The compound of claim 6 , having the structure of Formula (IIIb):

8. The compound of claim 7 , wherein R 4 is hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl.

9. The compound of claim 7 , having the structure of Formula (IIIb-1):

10. The compound of claim 6 , having the structure of Formula (IIIc):

11. The compound of claim 10 , wherein

R 4 is hydrogen or C 1-3 alkylor phenyl; and

R 5 is hydrogen or cyano.

12. The compound of claim 10 , having the structure of Formula (IIIc-1):

13. The compound of claim 1 , having the structure of Formula (IV):

or a stereoisomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,

wherein

ring A combines with Y 1 and Y 2 to form a C 3-7 cycloalkenyl or heteroaryl ring,

wherein the C 3-7 cycloalkenyl or heteroaryl is optionally substituted by halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR, cyano or phenyl;

Y 1 is N;

Y 2 is C or N;

X 1 is C(R x1 ) or N,

wherein R x1 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or C 1-3 haloalkyl;

X 2 is C(R x2 ) or N,

wherein R x2 is hydrogen, halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy or C 1-3 haloalkyl;

X 3 is O, N(R), S or C 1-3 alkyl;

X 5 is C or N;

R 1 is hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl;

R 2 is hydrogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —CH 2 OH, —CH 2 OR or —C(O)OR;

n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;

each R 3 is independently halogen, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, C 1-3 haloalkyl, —O—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —S—C 1-3 haloalkyl, —C(O)OR or SF 5 ; and

each R is independently hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl.

14. A compound that is:

Structure

Name

5-methyl-6-(4-(4- (trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)phenyl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidin-7(4H)-one

5-methyl-6-(4-(4- (trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy) phenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidin-7(4H)-one

2,5-dimethyl-6-(4-(4- (trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy) phenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidin-7(4H)-one

5-methyl-2-(methylthio)-6- (4-(4- (trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy) phenyl)- [l,2,4]triazolo[l,5-a] pyrimidin-7(4H)-one

5-methyl-7-oxo-6-(4-(4- (trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy) phenyl)-4,7- dihydropyrazolo[l,5-a] pyrimidine-3-carbonitrile

5-methyl-2-phenyl-6-(4-(4- (trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy) phenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidin-7(4H)-one

5-methyl-6-(4-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one;

5-methyl-6-(4-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)phenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one;

2,5-dimethyl-6-(4-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)phenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one;

5-methyl-2-(methylthio)-6-(4-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo [1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one;

5-methyl-7-oxo-6-(4-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)phenyl)-4,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carbonitrile;

5-methyl-2-phenyl-6-(4-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)phenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one;

or a stereoisomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

15. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, excipient, or carrier.

16. A method for treating an apicomplexan parasitic infection, comprising administering to a subject (such as a human subject) in need thereof an amount effective to treat the infection of the compound or pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 .

17. An invention selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a method for monitoring treatment of an apicomplexan parasitic infection, such as T. gondii infection (including but not limited to any of the treatment of claim 16 ), comprising monitoring expression, protein in serum or plasma, and/or activity of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or all of the markers listed in FIGS. 1 - 2 in a subject (such as a human subject) being treated for an apicomplexan parasitic infection, wherein a decrease or increase in expression and/or presence and/or activity of the one or more markers indicates that the treatment is effective;

(b) a cell line infected with an apicomplexan parasite, wherein the apicomplexan parasite genome comprises a gene encoding an Apetela 2 IV-4 protein with an M=>I modification at residue 570 (“AP2 IV-4 M570I”) compared to its orthologous gene on the reference T. gondii ME49 strain (gene ID: TGME49_318470);

(c) a method for treating an apicomplexan parasite infection (such as a T. gondii infection), comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an amount effective to treat the infection of an inhibitor (of up-regulated genes) or an activator (of down-regulated genes) of 1 or more of the up-regulated genes listed in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 ;

(d) a method for identifying test compounds for apicomplexan parasite therapy, comprising identifying test compounds that reduce expression (for up-regulated genes), or increase expression (for down-regulated genes) of 1 or more of the apicomplexan parasite genes in FIGS. 3 - 5 ;

(e) a plurality of isolated probes that in total selectively bind to at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, or all of the markers listed in FIGS. 3 - 5 , complements thereof, or their expression products, or functional equivalents thereof wherein at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or all of the probes in total are selective for markers that are upregulated in the EGS strain of T. gondii after infection of human fibroblasts, human neuronal stem cells or human monocytic lineage cells;

(f) a plurality of isolated probes that in total selectively bind to at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 100, 150, 200, 250, 500, or all of the markers listed in FIG. 1 - 2 , complements thereof, or their expression products, or functional equivalents thereof, wherein at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or all of the probes in total are selective for markers that are upregulated in human fibroblasts, human neuronal stem cells or human monocytic lineage cells after infection with T. gondii , including but not limited to infection with the EGS strain of T. gondi.