Small molecule compounds that control mammal-pathogenic nematodes

1. A method of modifying nematode behavior, comprising:

providing a composition comprising a compound of the formula:

or a salt thereof;

wherein:

R 1 is H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, or a haloalkenyl; wherein each R is independently H, halogen, an alkyl, or an alkenyl;

R 1″ is absent, H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, or a haloalkenyl; wherein each R is independently H, halogen, an alkyl, or an alkenyl;

R 2 is a moiety of the formula:

R 3 is H, —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —C(O)R 8 , an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 5 of another unit of Formula I;

R 4 is H, —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —C(O)R 8 , an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 5 of another unit of Formula I;

R 5 is H, —OH, —OR 6 , —OCR 6 R 7 R 8 , —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —NH 2 , —NHR 6 , —NR 6 R 7 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, an arylalkyl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 3 or R 4 of another unit of Formula I;

R 6 and R 7 are each independently H, —CR 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —OR 8 , —C(O)R 8 , —NHC(O)R 8 , alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, and cycloalkyl;

R 8 is H, —C(R) 3 , —[C(R) 2 ] n4 NHC(O)R 9 , —[C(R) 2 ] n4 C(O)(NH)R 9 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or monosaccharide is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —C(R) 3 , —OR 9 , —C(O)R 9 , —NHC(O)R 9 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, and a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms;

R 9 is H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or monosaccharide is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —C(R) 3 , —OR, —C(O)R, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, and cycloalkyl;

each R is independently H, halogen, alkyl, or alkenyl;

n 1 , n 2 , and n 3 are each independently an integer of 0 to 30;

n 4 is an integer of 1 to 30; and

the sum of n 1 , each n 2 , and each n 3 is 1 to 30; and

administering an effective dosage of the composition to the nematode;

wherein the nematode is in contact with a mammal; and

further wherein the nematode is not a Caenorhabditis species.

2. A method of promoting or inhibiting reproduction of a nematode in contact with a mammal, comprising:

providing a composition comprising a compound of the formula:

or a salt thereof;

wherein:

R 1 is H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, or a haloalkenyl; wherein each R is independently H, halogen, an alkyl, or an alkenyl;

R 1′ is absent, H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, or a haloalkenyl; wherein each R is independently H, halogen, an alkyl, or an alkenyl;

R 2 is a moiety of the formula:

R 3 is H, —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —C(O)R 8 , an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 5 of another unit of Formula I;

R 4 is H, —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —C(O)R 8 , an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 5 of another unit of Formula I;

R 5 is H, —OH, —OR 6 , —OCR 6 R 7 R 8 , —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —NH 2 , —NHR 6 , —NR 6 R 7 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, an arylalkyl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 3 or R 4 of another unit of Formula I;

R 6 and R 7 are each independently H, —CR 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —OR 8 , —C(O)R 8 , —NHC(O)R 8 , alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, and cycloalkyl;

R 8 is H, —C(R) 3 , —[C(R) 2 ] n4 NHC(O)R 9 , —[C(R) 2 ] n4 C(O)(NH)R 9 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or monosaccharide is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —C(R) 3 , —OR 9 , —C(O)R 9 , —NHC(O)R 9 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, and a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms;

R 9 is H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or monosaccharide is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —C(R) 3 , —OR, —C(O)R, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, and cycloalkyl;

each R is independently H, halogen, alkyl, or alkenyl;

n 1 , n 2 , and n 3 are each independently an integer of 0 to 30;

n 4 is an integer of 1 to 30; and

the sum of n 1 , each n 2 , and each n 3 is 1 to 30; and

administering an effective dosage of the composition to the nematode in contact with the mammal; and

further wherein the nematode is not a Caenorhabditis species.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises one or more compounds selected from ascr#7, ascr#8, ascr#9, ascr#10, ascr#11, ascr#12, ascr#14, ascr#16, ascr#18, ascr#20, ascr#22, ascr#24, ascr#26, icas#9, hbas#3, and oscr#9.

4. A method of promoting or inhibiting nematode aggregation at a first location in a mammal, said method comprising:

(i) contacting the first location with one or more isolated modulator compounds under conditions effective to promote or inhibit nematode aggregation at the first location, or

(ii) contacting a second location with one or more isolated modulator compounds under conditions effective to promote or inhibit nematode aggregation at the first location, wherein the first location and the second location are spaced to permit said contacting at the second location to have an effect on nematode aggregation at the first location;

wherein the compound comprises the formula:

or a salt thereof;

wherein:

R 1 is H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, or a haloalkenyl; wherein each R is independently H, halogen, an alkyl, or an alkenyl;

R 1′ is absent, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, or a haloalkenyl; wherein each R is independently H, halogen, an alkyl, or an alkenyl;

R 2 is a moiety of the formula:

R 3 is H, —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —C(O)R 8 , an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 5 of another unit of Formula I;

R 4 is H, —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —C(O)R 8 , an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 5 of another unit of Formula I;

R 5 is H, —OH, —OR 6 , —OCR 6 R 7 R 8 , —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —NH 2 , —NHR 6 , —NR 6 R 7 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, an arylalkyl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 3 or R 4 of another unit of Formula I;

R 6 and R 7 are each independently H, —CR 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from OR 8 , —C(O)R 8 , —NHC(O)R 8 , alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, and cycloalkyl;

R 8 is H, —C(R) 3 , —C(R) 2 ] n4 NHC(O)R 9 , —[C(R) 2 ] n4 C(O)(NH)R 9 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or monosaccharide is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —C(R) 3 , —OR 9 , —C(O)R 9 , —NHC(O)R 9 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, and a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms;

R 9 is H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or monosaccharide is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —C(R) 3 , —OR, —C(O)R, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, and cycloalkyl;

each R is independently H, halogen, alkyl, or alkenyl;

n 1 , n 2 , and n 3 are each independently an integer of 0 to 30;

n 4 is an integer of 1 to 30; and

the sum of n 1 , each n 2 , and each n 3 is 1 to 30; and

further wherein the nematode is not a Caenorhabditis species.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more isolated modulator compounds is selected from ascr#7, ascr#8, ascr#9, ascr#10, ascr#11, ascr#12, ascr#14, ascr#16, ascr#18, ascr#20, ascr#22, ascr#24, ascr#26, icas#9, hbas#3, and oscr#9.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second location is in the mammal.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein said contacting comprises direct injection, intravenously, and/or oral administration.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising contacting the second location with a toxin that is harmful to the nematode.

9. A method of treating a parasite infection in a subject, said method comprising:

providing a composition comprising a compound of the formula:

or a salt thereof;

wherein:

R 1 is H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, or a haloalkenyl, wherein each R is independently H, halogen, an alkyl, or an alkenyl,

R 1′ is absent, H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, or a haloalkenyl, wherein each R is independently H, halogen, an alkyl, or an alkenyl,

R 2 is a moiety of the formula:

R 3 is H, —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —C(O)R 8 , an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 5 of another unit of Formula I;

R 4 is H, —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —C(O)R 8 , an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 5 of another unit of Formula I;

R 5 is H, —OH, —OR 6 , —OCR 6 R 7 R 8 , —CR 6 R 7 R 8 , —NH 2 , —NHR 6 , —NR 6 R 7 , halogen, an alkyl, a haloalkyl, an alkenyl, a haloalkenyl, an aryl, a heteroaryl, an arylalkyl, a heterocyclyl, a cycloalkyl, a cycloalkenyl, an acyl, an amino acid, a nucleoside, a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, or a bond connecting to R 3 or R 4 of another unit of Formula I;

R 6 and R 7 are each independently H, —CR 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkenyl is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —OR 8 , —C(O)R 8 , —NHC(O)R 8 , alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, and cycloalkyl;

R 8 is H, —C(R) 3 , —[C(R) 2 ] n4 NHC(O)R 9 , —[C(R) 2 ] n4 C(O)(NH)R 9 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or monosaccharide is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —C(R) 3 , —OR 9 , —C(O)R 9 , —NHC(O)R 9 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, and a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms;

R 9 is H, —C(R) 3 , —OR, —N(R) 2 , halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or a monosaccharide having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, where the alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, purine, pyrimidine, or monosaccharide is optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from —C(R) 3 , —OR, —C(O)R, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, and cycloalkyl;

each R is independently H, halogen, alkyl, or alkenyl;

n 1 , n 2 , and n 3 are each independently an integer of 0 to 30;

n 4 is an integer of 1 to 30; and

the sum of n 1 , each n 2 , and each n 3 is 1 to 30; and

administering an amount of the composition to the subject sufficient to treat a parasite infection in the subject;

wherein the parasite is a nematode; and

the nematode is not a Caenorhabditis species.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises one or more compounds selected from ascr#7, ascr#8, ascr#9, ascr#10, ascr#11, ascr#12, ascr#14, ascr#16, ascr#18, ascr#20, ascr#22, ascr#24, ascr#26, icas#9, hbas#3, and oscr#9.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the subject is a mammal.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises one or more compounds selected from ascr#1, ascr#2, and ascr#3.

13. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more isolated modulator compounds is selected from ascr#1, ascr#2, and ascr#3.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises one or more compounds selected from ascr#1, ascr#2, and ascr#3.