Plasmodium falciparum Falcipain-2a Polymorphisms in Southeast Asia and Their Association With Artemisinin Resistance.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Falcipain-2a ([FP2a] PF3D7_1115700) is a Plasmodium falciparum cysteine protease and hemoglobinase. Functional FP2a is required for potent activity of artemisinin, and in vitro selection for artemisinin resistance selected for an FP2a nonsense mutation.

Methods

To investigate associations between FP2a polymorphisms and artemisinin resistance and to characterize the diversity of the enzyme in parasites from the China-Myanmar border, we sequenced the full-length FP2a gene in 140 P falciparum isolates collected during 2004-2011.

Results

The isolates were grouped into 8 different haplotype groups. Haplotype group I appeared in samples obtained after 2008, coinciding with implementation of artemisinin-based combination therapy in this region. In functional studi

SUBMITTER: Siddiqui FA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6048984 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature