Prevalence of the K76T mutation in the putative Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (pfcrt) gene and its relation to chloroquine resistance in Mozambique

J Infect Dis. 2001 May 1;183(9):1413-6. doi: 10.1086/319856. Epub 2001 Mar 30.

Abstract

K76T, a mutation in the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine (CQ) resistance transporter protein, has been implicated in resistance to CQ. A modified 14-day in vivo test to estimate the CQ resistance level was done in southern Mozambique: 21 (42%) of 50 subjects who completed the follow-up were CQ susceptible. Use of msa2-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) genotyping to differentiate new from recrudescent infections made little difference in the estimated prevalence of resistance. The K76T mutation prevalence was estimated by RFLP-polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, and its relation to parasitological CQ resistance was explored on day 0 samples: 51 of 56 pretreatment samples presented the T76 codon, and it was present in 100% of children with parasitological resistance. T76 also was present in 18 of 23 subjects in whom the infection resolved after CQ treatment. These findings show a high prevalence of the K76T mutation among wild isolates but also suggest additional factors responsible for CQ resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chloroquine / pharmacology*
  • Codon
  • Drug Resistance / genetics
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Mozambique / epidemiology
  • Mutation
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Prevalence
  • Protozoan Proteins

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Codon
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • PfCRT protein, Plasmodium falciparum
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Chloroquine