Changing Pattern of Plasmodium falciparum pfmdr1 Gene Polymorphisms in Southern Rwanda

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2021 Aug 17;65(9):e0090121. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00901-21. Epub 2021 Aug 17.

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-1 gene (pfmdr1) polymorphisms associate with altered antimalarial susceptibility. Between 2010 and 2018/2019, we observed that the prevalence of the wild-type allele N86 and the wild-type combination NYD increased 10-fold (4% versus 40%) and more than 2-fold (18% versus 44%), respectively. Haplotypes other than NYD or NFD declined by up to >90%. Our molecular data suggest the pfmdr1 pattern shifted toward one associated with artemether-lumefantrine resistance.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum; Rwanda; malaria; multidrug resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials* / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials* / therapeutic use
  • Artemether / therapeutic use
  • Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination
  • Artemisinins* / pharmacology
  • Artemisinins* / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance / genetics
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum* / drug therapy
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins* / genetics
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics
  • Rwanda

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination
  • Artemisinins
  • Mdr1 protein, Plasmodium falciparum
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins
  • Artemether