Population genomics and transcriptomics of Plasmodium falciparum in Cambodia and Vietnam uncover key components of the artemisinin resistance genetic background

Bibliographic Details
Title: Population genomics and transcriptomics of Plasmodium falciparum in Cambodia and Vietnam uncover key components of the artemisinin resistance genetic background
Authors: Sourav Nayak, Thomas J. Peto, Michal Kucharski, Rupam Tripura, James J. Callery, Duong Tien Quang Huy, Mathieu Gendrot, Dysoley Lek, Ho Dang Trung Nghia, Rob W. van der Pluijm, Nguyen Dong, Le Thanh Long, Ranitha Vongpromek, Huy Rekol, Nguyen Hoang Chau, Olivo Miotto, Mavuto Mukaka, Mehul Dhorda, Lorenz von Seidlein, Mallika Imwong, Xavier Roca, Nicholas P. J. Day, Nicholas J. White, Arjen M. Dondorp, Zbynek Bozdech
Source: Nature Communications, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 1-17 (2024)
Publisher Information: Nature Portfolio, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Science
Subject Terms: Science
More Details: Abstract The emergence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites resistant to artemisinins compromises the efficacy of Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs), the global first-line malaria treatment. Artemisinin resistance is a complex genetic trait in which nonsynonymous SNPs in PfK13 cooperate with other genetic variations. Here, we present population genomic/transcriptomic analyses of P. falciparum collected from patients with uncomplicated malaria in Cambodia and Vietnam between 2018 and 2020. Besides the PfK13 SNPs, several polymorphisms, including nonsynonymous SNPs (N1131I and N821K) in PfRad5 and an intronic SNP in PfWD11 (WD40 repeat-containing protein on chromosome 11), appear to be associated with artemisinin resistance, possibly as new markers. There is also a defined set of genes whose steady-state levels of mRNA and/or splice variants or antisense transcripts correlate with artemisinin resistance at the base level. In vivo transcriptional responses to artemisinins indicate the resistant parasite’s capacity to decelerate its intraerythrocytic developmental cycle (IDC), which can contribute to the resistant phenotype. During this response, PfRAD5 and PfWD11 upregulate their respective alternatively/aberrantly spliced isoforms, suggesting their contribution to the protective response to artemisinins. PfRAD5 and PfWD11 appear under selective pressure in the Greater Mekong Sub-region over the last decade, suggesting their role in the genetic background of the artemisinin resistance.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2041-1723
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2041-1723
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54915-6
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/29b3bb4812894fb0b0a2f1767eeb054b
Accession Number: edsdoj.29b3bb4812894fb0b0a2f1767eeb054b
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:20411723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-54915-6
Published in:Nature Communications
Language:English