Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 19, 2026
14:10
Protocol for Plasmodium falciparum Infections in Mosquitoes and Infection Phenotype Determination
Published on: July 4, 2007
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Artemisinin-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum Malaria
Rick M Fairhurst1, Arjen M Dondorp2,3
1Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852.
Microbiology Spectrum
|June 24, 2016
Summary
Drug-resistant malaria is emerging in Southeast Asia, threatening global elimination efforts. Studies identify K13 gene mutations causing artemisinin resistance, leading to treatment failures and urgent calls for new antimalarial strategies.
Area of Science:
- Malariology
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Southeast Asia is a hotspot for Plasmodium falciparum malaria drug resistance.
- Emergence of resistance to artemisinins, the primary antimalarial drugs, is a critical global health concern.
- This resistance threatens the efficacy of artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs), the current first-line treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the phenotypes, genetic determinants, molecular mechanisms, and clinical impact of artemisinin resistance in Southeast Asia.
- To assess the implications of artemisinin resistance for malaria treatment and elimination strategies.
- To inform urgent clinical and preclinical research needed to combat widespread drug resistance.
Main Methods:
- Clinical studies in patients with malaria.
- In vitro parasite survival assays.
- Genomic and transcriptomic analyses to identify resistance markers and pathways.
- Assessment of K13 gene mutations and their association with resistance phenotypes.
Main Results:
- Artemisinin resistance is characterized by slow parasite clearance and increased survival of early-stage parasites.
- Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Plasmodium falciparum K13 gene are the primary cause of artemisinin resistance.
- Resistance is linked to an upregulated unfolded protein response pathway and selects for partner drug resistance, accelerating ACT failures.
Conclusions:
- Artemisinin resistance in Southeast Asia poses a significant threat to malaria treatment and global control efforts.
- Urgent clinical studies are needed to monitor ACT efficacy, test new drug combinations, and develop novel antimalarials.
- Preventing the spread of artemisinin and partner drug resistance from Southeast Asia to Africa is paramount.
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