Detection of Plasmodium falciparum K13 Propeller A569G Mutation after Artesunate-amodiaquine Treatment Failure in Niger | Chapter 04 | Advances and Trends in Biotechnology and Genetics Vol. 2
Background: Artemisinin (ART) resistance is a problem that may compromise the elimination of malaria. It is associated with point mutations in the kelch gene PF3D7_1343700 or K13 propeller (pfk13). A recent worldwide map of pfk13 polymorphisms revealed more than 100 non-synonymous (NS) mutations. However, it remains unclear whether these mutations are the result of drug pressure or the expression of a natural polymorphism, because of the scarcity of in-vivo selection of pfK13 mutations data in Africa. Methodology: This survey evaluates the association between mutations in PfK13 and the response to treatment with artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) at Gaya, Niger. Mutations in PfK13 before and after treatment were analyzed and used as evidence for the selection of drug resistance following drug pressure. Results: A total of 161 DNA from patients included in a therapeutic efficacy survey comparing AL vs ASAQ at Gaya sentinel site in 2011 were amplifi...