Call | Career Development Fellowship (CDF) |
Programme | EDCTP2 |
Start Date | 2021-01-01 |
End Date | 2023-12-31 |
Project Code | TMA2019CDF-2662 |
Status | Active |
Predictors of local emergence and spread of Artemisinin resistance among Ugandan Plasmodium falciparum parasites (Pfkelch13 emergence)
Institution | Country |
---|---|
Makerere University | Uganda |
Makerere University, College of Health Sciences
Lecturer
2021 | MaKRIF |
Type | Name | Title | University | Start Date | End Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PhD | Hindum Lanyero | Assistant lecturer | Makerere University, College of Health Science | 2018 | 2022 |
PhD | Kimbowa Isaac | Assistant lecturer | Makerere University, College of Health Science | 2018 | 2022 |
Institution | Degree | Year |
---|---|---|
Makerere University, Uganda | Bachelor of Science | 2003-08-23 |
Makerere University, Uganda | Master of Science in Pharmacology | 2011-02-12 |
Makerere University, Uganda | Philosophy | 2017-02-12 |
Malaria
Background: In the absence of an effective vaccine, malaria treatment and eradication is still a challenge in most
endemic areas globally. This is especially the case with the current reported emergence of resistance to artemisinin
agents in Southeast Asia. This study therefore explored the prevalence of K13-propeller gene polymorphisms among
Plasmodium falciparum parasites in northern Uganda.
Methods: Adult patients (≥18 years) presenting to out-patients department of Lira and Gulu regional referral hospitals
in northern Uganda were randomly recruited. Laboratory investigation for presence of plasmodium infection among
patients was done using Plasmodium falciparum exclusive rapid diagnostic test, histidine rich protein-2 (HRP2) (Pf).
Finger prick capillary blood from patients with a positive malaria test was spotted on a filter paper Whatman no. 903.
The parasite DNA was extracted using chelex resin method and sequenced for mutations in K13-propeller gene using
Sanger sequencing. PCR DNA sequence products were analyzed using in DNAsp 5.10.01software, data was further
processed in Excel spreadsheet 2007.
Results: A total of 60 parasite DNA samples were sequenced. Polymorphisms in the K13-propeller gene were detected
in four (4) of the 60 parasite DNA samples sequenced. A non-synonymous polymorphism at codon 533 previously
detected in Cambodia was found in the parasite DNA samples analyzed. Polymorphisms at codon 522 (non-synonymous)
and codon 509 (synonymous) were also found in the samples analyzed. The study found evidence of positive selection in
the Plasmodium falciparum population in northern Uganda (Tajima’s D=−1.83205; Fu and Li’s D=−1.82458).
Conclusions: Polymorphism in the K13-propeller gene previously reported in Cambodia has been found in the Ugandan
Plasmodium falciparum parasites. There is need for continuous surveillance for artemisinin resistance gene markers in
the country.