Plasmodium falciparum malarial parasites from Brazil lack artemisinin resistance-associated mutations in the kelch13 gene

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Francesca Chapadense, Ricardo Luiz Dantas Machado, Ana Maria Revorêdo da Silva Ventura, André Áreas, Renato Beilner Machado, Giselle Rachid Viana, Mariano Gustavo Zalis, Ana Maria de Castro, Pedro Cravo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2019
• Subjects: Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum; Artemisinin Resistance; Kelch 13; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0225-2018; https://doaj.org/article/5049e292d00a4825adf8d3933a42d3c8

Abstract INTRODUCTION Mutations in the propeller domain of the Plasmodium falciparum kelch13 (k13) gene are associated with artemisinin resistance. METHODS: We developed a PCR protocol to sequence the pfk13 gene and determined its sequence in a batch of 50 samples collected from 2003 to 2016 in Brazil. RESULTS: We identified 1 K189T substitution located outside the propeller domain of the PfK13 protein in 36% of samples. CONCLUSIONS: Although the sample size is relatively small, these results suggest that P. falciparum artemisinin-resistant mutants do not exist in Brazil, thereby supporting the continuation of current treatment programs based on artemisinin-based combination therapy.