Molecular surveillance of drug resistance through imported isolates of Plasmodium falciparum in Europe

TY - JOUR

T1 - Molecular surveillance of drug resistance through imported isolates of Plasmodium falciparum in Europe

AU - Jelinek, Tomas

AU - Peyerl-Hoffmann, Gabriele

AU - Mühlberger, Nikolai

AU - Wichmann, Ole

AU - Wilhelm, Michael

AU - Schmider, Nadja

AU - Grobusch, Martin P

AU - von Sonnenburg, Frank

AU - Gascon, Joaquim

AU - Laferl, Hermann

AU - Hatz, Christoph

AU - Alifrangis, Michael

AU - Burchard, Gerd

AU - McWhinney, Paul

AU - Schulze, Marco

AU - Kollaritsch, Herwig

AU - da Cunha, Saraiva

AU - Beran, Jiri

AU - Kern, Peter

AU - Gjørup, Ida

AU - Cuadros, Juan

N1 - Keywords: ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Animals; Antimalarials; Chloroquine; Codon; Dihydropteroate Synthase; Drug Resistance; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Europe; Folic Acid Antagonists; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Membrane Proteins; Membrane Transport Proteins; Plasmodium falciparum; Point Mutation; Protozoan Proteins; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; Travel

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - BACKGROUND: Results from numerous studies point convincingly to correlations between mutations at selected genes and phenotypic resistance to antimalarials in Plasmodium falciparum isolates. In order to move molecular assays for point mutations on resistance-related genes into the realm of applied tools for surveillance, we investigated a selection of P. falciparum isolates that were imported during the year 2001 into Europe to study the prevalence of resistance-associated point mutations at relevant codons. In particular, we tested for parasites which were developing resistance to antifolates and chloroquine. The screening results were used to map the prevalence of mutations and, thus, levels of potential drug resistance in endemic areas world-wide. RESULTS: 337 isolates have been tested so far. Prevalence of mutations that are associated with resistance to chloroquine on the pfcrt and pfmdr genes of P. falciparum was demonstrated at high levels. However, the prevalence of mutations associated with resistance to antifolates at the DHFR and DHPS genes was unexpectedly low, rarely exceeding 60% in endemic areas. CONCLUSIONS: Constant screening of imported isolates will enable TropNetEurop to establish a screening tool for emerging resistance in endemic areas.

AB - BACKGROUND: Results from numerous studies point convincingly to correlations between mutations at selected genes and phenotypic resistance to antimalarials in Plasmodium falciparum isolates. In order to move molecular assays for point mutations on resistance-related genes into the realm of applied tools for surveillance, we investigated a selection of P. falciparum isolates that were imported during the year 2001 into Europe to study the prevalence of resistance-associated point mutations at relevant codons. In particular, we tested for parasites which were developing resistance to antifolates and chloroquine. The screening results were used to map the prevalence of mutations and, thus, levels of potential drug resistance in endemic areas world-wide. RESULTS: 337 isolates have been tested so far. Prevalence of mutations that are associated with resistance to chloroquine on the pfcrt and pfmdr genes of P. falciparum was demonstrated at high levels. However, the prevalence of mutations associated with resistance to antifolates at the DHFR and DHPS genes was unexpectedly low, rarely exceeding 60% in endemic areas. CONCLUSIONS: Constant screening of imported isolates will enable TropNetEurop to establish a screening tool for emerging resistance in endemic areas.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 12423552

SN - 1475-2875

VL - 1

SP - 11

JO - Malaria Journal

JF - Malaria Journal

ER -