Absence of K13 Polymorphism in Plasmodium falciparum from Brazilian Areas Where the Parasite Is Endemic

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2018 Sep 24;62(10):e00354-18. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00354-18. Print 2018 Oct.

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin-resistant parasites can be evaluated by examining polymorphisms in the kelch (PfK13) domain. A total of 69 samples from patients with falciparum malaria were analyzed. All samples were from areas in states in Brazil where the parasite was endemic: Acre (n = 14), Amapá (n = 15), Amazonas (n = 30), and Pará (n = 10). After DNA alignment with the 3D7 reference sequence, all samples were found to be wild type. These data provide a baseline for PfK13 and reinforce the pertinence of artemisinin combination therapy in Brazilian areas.

Keywords: Brazil; K13; P. falciparum; artemisinin; chemoresistance; kelch domain; malaria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artemisinins / therapeutic use
  • Brazil
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy
  • Malaria, Falciparum / genetics*
  • Mutation
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / pathogenicity
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Artemisinins
  • DNA, Protozoan
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • artemisinin