Prediction of Novel Insecticides for Malaria Prevention: Virtual Screening and Molecular Dynamics of AgAChE Inhibitors
Fernanda F. Souza, Juliana F. Vilachã, Othon S. Campos, Heberth de Paula · Drugs and Drug Candidates · 2025
Background/Objectives: Malaria is a prominent vector-borne disease, with a high mortality rate, particularly in children under five years old. Despite the use of various insecticides for its control, the emergence of resistant mosquitoes poses a significant public health threat. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a crucial enzyme in nerve transmission and a primary target for insecticide development due to its role in preventing repeated nerve impulses. Recent studies have identified difluoromethyl ketone (DFK) as a potent inhibitor of both sensitive and resistant Anopheles gambiae acetylcholinesterase (AgAChE). This study aimed to identify novel AgAChE inhibitors that could be explored for malaria prevention. Methods: We performed a virtual screening on the PubChem database using a pharmacophore model from difluoromethyl ketone-inhibited AgAChE’s crystal structure. The most promising compound was then subjected to molecular docking and dynamics studies with AgAChE to confirm initial findings. ADMET and agrochemical likeness (ag-like) properties were also analyzed to assess its potential as an agrochemical agent. Results: PubChem18463786 was identified as the most suitable compound from the virtual screening. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies confirmed its strong interaction with AgAChE. The ADMET and ag-like analyses indicated that PubChem18463786 possesses physicochemical properties suggesting a high probability of non-absorption in humans and meets the criteria for agrochemical similarity. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PubChem18463786 is a potential AgAChE inhibitor candidate. After validation through in vitro and in vivo experiments, it could be exploited for malaria prevention and serve as a lead compound for the synthesis of new, more effective, and selective agrochemical agents.