Local emergence in Amazonia of < i > Plasmodium falciparum k13 < /i > C580Y mutants associated with < i > in vitro < /i > artemisinin resistance

We report that mutantpfk13 has emerged independently in Guyana, with genome analysis indicating an evolutionary origin distinct from Southeast Asia.Pfk13 C580Y parasites were observed in 1.6% (14/854) of samples collected in Guyana in 2016 –2017. Introducingpfk13 C580Y or R539T mutations by gene editing into local parasites conferred high levels ofin vitro artemisinin resistance.In vitro growth competition assays revealed a fitness cost associated with thesepfk13 variants, potentially explaining why these resistance alleles have not increased in frequency more quickly in South America. These data place local malaria control efforts at risk in the Guiana Shield.
Source: eLife - Category: Biomedical Science Tags: Epidemiology and Global Health Microbiology and Infectious Disease Source Type: research