The molecular relationship between drug resistance and merozoite invasion

Summary

This project has investigated the fitness of drug resistant isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. In the initial phase of the project, the prevalence of SNPs in merozoite invasion genes in about 50 isolates was determined before and after adaptation of parasites to in vitro culture. In the second phase of the project, SNPs in merozoite invasion genes were studied in 132 children admitted to hospital with malaria and in 150 community controls. All parasites have been tested for the presence of the chloroquine resistant Pfcrt marker.

STATUS: Final statistical analyses of the findings from these studies are underway.