Fitness Costs of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 Deletions Underlying Diagnostic Evasion in Malaria Parasites.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rapid diagnostic tests based on detection of histidine-rich proteins (HRPs) are widely used for malaria diagnosis, but parasites carrying pfhrp deletions can evade detection and are increasing in frequency in some countries. Models aim to predict conditions under which pfhrp2 and/or pfhrp3 deletions will increase, but a key parameter-the fitness cost of deletions-is unknown.

Methods

We removed pfhrp2 and/or pfhrp3 from a Malawian parasite clone using gene editing approaches) and measured fitness costs by conducting pairwise competition experiments.

Results

We observed significant fitness costs of 0.087 ± 0.008 (1 standard error) per asexual cycle for pfhrp2 deletion and 0.113 ± 0.008 for the pfhrp2/3 double deletion, relative to the unedited progenitor para

SUBMITTER: Nair S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10205895 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature