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Updated: May 17, 2026
10:27
Methods to Increase the Sensitivity of High Resolution Melting Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Genotyping in Malaria
Published on: November 10, 2015
Strain variation and gene hunting in malaria
Y D Sharma1, J M Fakruddin, N Bhutani
1Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 110029 New Delhi, India.
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry : IJCB
|October 27, 2012
Summary
Malaria control is hampered by drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains in India. Characterizing parasite molecules offers new avenues for developing effective antimalarial therapies and drugs.
Area of Science:
- Malariology
- Parasitology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Malaria remains a significant global health burden, causing millions of infections and deaths annually.
- High levels of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum strains have been observed in recent malaria epidemics.
- The genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in India presents challenges for current malaria control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular basis of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum strains from Rajasthan, India.
- To identify and characterize parasite molecules involved in host-parasite interactions.
- To explore the potential of identified molecules and enzymes as targets for novel antimalarial drug development.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological surveillance of malaria cases in Rajasthan.
- Molecular characterization of Plasmodium falciparum strains, including genetic analysis.
- Biochemical and functional characterization of selected parasite molecules and enzymes.
Main Results:
- Identification of high chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum strains from a Rajasthan epidemic.
- Discovery of multiple variant Plasmodium falciparum strains circulating in India.
- Characterization of several parasite molecules crucial for host-parasite interactions and parasite enzymes with potential therapeutic relevance.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of diverse and drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains in India necessitates updated malaria control strategies.
- Characterized parasite molecules and enzymes represent promising targets for the development of next-generation antimalarial drugs.
- Further research into these molecular targets could lead to effective molecular therapies against malaria.
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