Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Parasites in Ghana Show Signatures of Balancing Selection at Artemisinin Resistance Predisposing Background Genes.

ABSTRACT: Sub-Saharan Africa is courting the risk of artemisinin resistance (ARTr) emerging in Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites. Current molecular surveillance efforts for ARTr have been built on the utility of P. falciparum kelch13 (pfk13) validated molecular markers. However, whether these molecular markers will serve the purpose of early detection of artemisinin-resistant parasites in Ghana is hinged on a pfk13 dependent evolution. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the background pfk13 genome may be present before the pfk13 ARTr-conferring variant(s) is selected and that signatures of balancing selection on these genomic loci may serve as an early warning signal of ARTr. We analyzed 12 198 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Ghanaian clinic

SUBMITTER: Tandoh KZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7940735 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature