Anopheles gambiae Trehalase Inhibitors for Malaria Vector Control: A Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Study

Anopheles gambiae is a major malaria vector. This vector is controlled mainly using insecticide, thereby reducing malaria transmission. Since many insecticides are toxic to non-target species, and there is increasing insecticide resistance, there is a need to identify other safer molecules that can be used to control the vector. Molecules inhibiting trehalase have been proposed as safer options for insecticide and fungicide development since humans do not produce trehalose. This work screens several trehalase inhibitors against trehalase of Anopheles gambiae ( Ag Tre) and assesses their safety in humans using in silico methods. Four trehalase inhibitors had a high affinity for Ag Tre and were predicted to be relatively safe. The compounds also interacted well with trehalase of Aedes aegypti , another important mosquito vector. The results suggest these molecules are safer options for insecticide development to control mosquito-borne diseases.

Trehalase inhibitors are considered safe alternatives for insecticides and fungicides. However, there are no studies testing these compounds on Anopheles gambiae, a major vector of human malaria. This study predicted the three-dimensional structure of Anopheles gambiae trehalase ( Ag Tre) and identified potential inhibitors using molecular docking and molecular dynamics methods. Robetta server, C-I-TASSER, and I-TASSER were used to predict the protein structure, while the structural assessment was carried out using SWISS-MODEL, ERRAT, and VERIFY3D. Molecular docking and screening of 3022 compounds was carried out using AutoDock Vina in PyRx, and MD simulation was carried out using NAMD. The Robetta model outperformed all other models and was used for docking and simulation studies. After a post-screening analysis and ADMET studies, uniflorine, 67837201, 10406567, and Compound 2 were considered the best hits with binding energies of −6.9, −8.9, −9, and −8.4 kcal/mol, respectively, better than validamycin A standard (−5.4 kcal/mol). These four compounds were predicted to have no eco-toxicity, Brenk, or PAINS alerts. Similarly, they were predicted to be non-mutagenic, carcinogenic, or hepatoxic. 67837201, 10406567, and Compound 2 showed excellent stability during simulation. The study highlights uniflorine, 67837201, 10406567, and Compound 2 as good inhibitors of Ag Tre and possible compounds for malaria vector control.