Within-host competition and drug resistance in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

ABSTRACT: Infections with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum typically comprise multiple strains, especially in high-transmission areas where infectious mosquito bites occur frequently. However, little is known about the dynamics of mixed-strain infections, particularly whether strains sharing a host compete or grow independently. Competition between drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains, if it occurs, could be a crucial determinant of the spread of resistance. We analysed 1341 P. falciparum infections in children from Angola, Ghana and Tanzania and found compelling evidence for competition in mixed-strain infections: overall parasite density did not increase with additional strains, and densities of individual chloroquine-sensitive (CQS) and chloroquine-resistant (CQR) strains were redu

SUBMITTER: Bushman M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4810865 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature