biostudies-literatureTan MHNIAID NIH HHSU.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)386https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12423318biostudies-literatureUnknown5(1)<h4>Background</h4>Mixed-species, mixed-strain plasmodia infections are known to occur in humans in malaria endemic areas. It may be surprising that to date, the extent of this complexity has not been systematically explored in high-burden countries of sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the reservoir of asymptomatic infections in all ages, which sustains transmission.<h4>Methods</h4>Here we take a metagenomic lens to these infections by sampling variable blood volumes from 188 afebrile residents living in high, seasonal transmission in Northern Sahelian Ghana. We estimated multiplicity of infection for different Plasmodium spp. through genotyping of antigens and microsatellites. We further defined 'metagenomic complexity' as a measure of overall within-host complexity across the combinationCommunications medicineMetagenomic complexity of high, seasonal transmission of Plasmodium spp. in asymptomatic carriers in Northern Sahelian Ghana.PMC12423318R01-AI149779R01 AI149779Pascual MRasyidi FBangre OTiedje KEDeed SLZhan QTan MHDay KPRios-Teran CAAnsah POfalseMetagenomic complexity of high, seasonal transmission of Plasmodium spp. in asymptomatic carriers in Northern Sahelian Ghana.<h4>Background</h4>Mixed-species, mixed-strain plasmodia infections are known to occur in humans in malaria endemic areas. It may be surprising that to date, the extent of this complexity has not been systematically explored in high-burden countries of sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the reservoir of asymptomatic infections in all ages, which sustains transmission.<h4>Methods</h4>Here we take a metagenomic lens to these infections by sampling variable blood volumes from 188 afebrile residents living in high, seasonal transmission in Northern Sahelian Ghana. We estimated multiplicity of infection for different Plasmodium spp. through genotyping of antigens and microsatellites. We further defined 'metagenomic complexity' as a measure of overall within-host complexity across the combination2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-06-01T23:30:34.207Z2026-05-24T03:06:53.792ZS-EPMC124233184093102410.1038/s43856-025-01088-y