Deciphering Antifungal Drug Resistance in Pneumocystis jirovecii DHFR with Molecular Dynamics and Machine Learning

J Chem Inf Model. 2021 Jun 28;61(6):2537-2541. doi: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00403. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Abstract

Drug resistance impacts the effectiveness of many new therapeutics. Mutations in the therapeutic target confer resistance; however, deciphering which mutations, often remote from the enzyme active site, drive resistance is challenging. In a series of Pneumocystis jirovecii dihydrofolate reductase variants, we elucidate which interactions are key bellwethers to confer resistance to trimethoprim using homology modeling, molecular dynamics, and machine learning. Six molecular features involving mainly residues that did not vary were the best indicators of resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Drug Resistance, Fungal*
  • Machine Learning
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Pneumocystis carinii* / drug effects
  • Pneumocystis carinii* / metabolism
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / metabolism

Substances

  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase