Abstract
Background Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin emerged in the Greater Mekong Sub-region has been associated with mutations in the propeller domain of the kelch gene Pfk13.MethodsHere the polymorphisms in Pvk12 gene, the orthologue of Pfk13 in Plasmodium vivax, were determined by PCR and sequencing in 262 clinical isolates collected in recent years (2012–2015) from the China-Myanmar border area.ResultsSequencing of full-length Pvk12 genes from these isolates identified three synonymous mutations (N172N, S360S, S697S) and one non-synonymous mutation M124I, all of which were at very low prevalence (2.0–3.1%). Moreover, these mutations were non-overlapping between the two study sites on both sides of the border. Molecular evolutionary analysis detected signature of purifying selection on Pvk12.ConclusionsThere is no direct evidence that Pvk12 is involved in artemisinin resistance in P. vivax, but it remains a potential candidate requiring further investigation. Continuous monitoring of potential drug resistance in this parasite is needed in order to facilitate the regional malaria elimination campaign.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1592-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin emerged in the Greater Mekong Sub-region has been associated with mutations in the propeller domain of the kelch gene Pfk13
In the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) of Southeast Asia, a regional malaria elimination plan has been endorsed, aiming to eliminate Plasmodium falciparum malaria by 2025 and all malaria by 2030 [1]. This ambitious goal is met with challenges, especially the recently developed artemisinin resistance among P. falciparum populations in this region [2,3,4]
It is assumed that the widespread use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for treating P. falciparum infection may exert similar collateral selective pressure on P. vivax populations
Summary
Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin emerged in the Greater Mekong Sub-region has been associated with mutations in the propeller domain of the kelch gene Pfk. In the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) of Southeast Asia, a regional malaria elimination plan has been endorsed, aiming to eliminate Plasmodium falciparum malaria by 2025 and all malaria by 2030 [1]. This ambitious goal is met with challenges, especially the recently developed artemisinin resistance among P. falciparum populations in this region [2,3,4]. Mutations in the propeller domain of the Pfk gene have been incriminated as important determinants of artemisinin resistance in P. falciparum
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