Molecular epidemiology and evolution of drug-resistant genes in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in southwestern Nigeria.

Molecular epidemiology and evolution of drug-resistant genes in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in southwestern Nigeria. Infect Genet Evol. 2018 Oct 11;: Authors: Oboh MA, Singh US, Antony HA, Ndiaye DA, Badiane AS, Ali NA, Bharti PK, Das A Abstract Malaria is an age-old disease of human kind living in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the globe, with Africa contributing the highest incidence of morbidity and mortality. Among many hurdles, evolution and spread of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites constitute major challenges to malaria control and elimination. Information on molecular epidemiology and pattern of evolution of genes conferring resistance to different antimalarials are needed to track the route of the spread of resistant parasites and also to inform if the drug-resistant genes are adapted in the population following the Darwinian model of evolution. In the present study, we have followed molecular methods to detect both the known and emerging mutations in three genes (Pfcrt, Pfdhfr and Pfdhps) of P. falciparum conferring resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine from two different states (Edo: meso-endemic and Lagos: hypo-endemic) in southwestern Nigeria. High diversities in haplotypes and nucleotides in genes responsible for chloroquine (Pfcrt) and sulfadoxine (Pfdhps) resistance are recorded. About 96% of Pfdhfr and Pfdhps gene in both the meso- and hypo- endemic areas were ...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: research