scholarly journals GENETIC ARCHITECTURE AND DYNAMICS OF PFKELCH13S PROPELLER DOMAIN IN SENEGALESE PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUMCLINICAL ISOLATES

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (09) ◽  
pp. 18-25
Author(s):  
Pouye Mariama Nicole ◽  
◽  
Diop Gora ◽  
Mbengue Babacar ◽  
Thiam Alassane ◽  
...  

Plasmodium resistance to Artemisinin Combination-based Therapies (ACT) in Southeast Asia is a major public health concern that is sporadically appearing in Africa. Senegal has shifted from malaria control to elimination plans. Given notable progresses obtained through robust strategic plans,it is still crucial to assess genetic variability of the Plasmodium falciparumartemisinin resistance gene marker Kelch13 (PfKelch13)in circulating field isolates.We herereportan analysis of PfKelch13-propeller polymorphism in clinical isolates collected nine years after ACT introduction in five Senegalese regions with different malaria transmission settings. Sequencing of PfKelch13-propeller domainfrom 280 clinicalisolates reveals that 16% (45/280) of the parasite population harboredvariants. Dynamics of PfKelch13 variants reveals emerging, persistent but also disappearing mutations over time. In addition to the malaria epidemiology, our survey also shows the dynamics of PfKelch13 variants in different malaria transmission settings in Senegal. Despite the absence of PfKelch13associatedartemisinin resistance mutations, a shift from 86% to 68% of PfKelch13WTwas observed when comparing parasites collected prior vs. post ACT intensive usage in Dakar a low malaria transmission area. All together,our data confirms the need to closely monitor PfKelch13 polymorphism to anticipate and or preventemergence ofP. falciparum resistancein Senegal.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariama Pouye ◽  
Gora Diop ◽  
celine Derbois ◽  
Babacar Mbengue ◽  
oumar Ka ◽  
...  

Abstract Plasmodium resistance to Artemisinin Combination-based Therapies (ACT) in Southeast Asia is a major public health concern that is sporadically appearing in Africa. Senegal has shifted from malaria control to elimination plans. Given notable progresses obtained through robust strategic plans, it is still crucial to assess genetic variability of the Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistance gene marker Kelch13 (PfKelch13) in circulating field isolates. We here report an analysis of PfKelch13-propeller polymorphism in clinical isolates collected nine years after ACT introduction in five Senegalese regions with different malaria transmission settings. Sequencing of PfKelch13-propeller domain from 280 clinical isolates reveals that 16% (45/280) of the parasite population harbored variants. Dynamics of PfKelch13 variants reveals emerging, persistent but also disappearing mutations over time. In addition to the malaria epidemiology, our survey also shows the dynamics of PfKelch13 variants in different malaria transmission settings in Senegal. Despite the absence of PfKelch13 associated artemisinin resistance mutations, a shift from 86% to 68% of PfKelch13WT was observed when comparing parasites collected prior vs. post ACT intensive usage in Dakar a low malaria transmission area. All together, our data confirms the need to closely monitor PfKelch13 polymorphism to anticipate and or prevent emergence of P. falciparum resistance in Senegal.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nongnat Tongkrajang ◽  
Pichet Ruenchit ◽  
Chatchai Tananchai ◽  
Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap ◽  
Kasem Kulkeaw

Abstract BackgroundWolbachia, obligate intracellular bacteria, infect the majority of arthropods, including many mosquito species of medical importance. Some Wolbachia strains interfere with the development of Plasmodium parasites in female Anopheles, a major vector of malaria. The use of Wolbachia as a means to block malaria transmission is an emerging vector control strategy in highly endemic areas. Hence, identification of native Wolbachia strains in areas where malaria transmission is low may uncover a particular Wolbachia strain capable of Plasmodium interference. This study aims to identify native Wolbachia strains in female Anopheles spp. that are predominant in a low-malaria transmission area in mainland Southeast Asia.MethodsFollowing a two-year survey of malaria vectors in Umphang Valley of Tak Province, Thailand, DNA extracts of female An. minimus, An. peditaeniatus, An. maculatus, and An. dirus were subjected to amplification of the conserved region of the 16S rRNA-encoding gene. The DNA sequences of the amplicons were phylogenetically compared with those of known Wolbachia strains.ResultsAmong four Anopheles spp., amplification was detected in only the DNA samples from An. minimus. The DNA sequencing of amplicons revealed 100% similarity to Wolbachia pipientis, confirming the specificity of amplification. The phylogenetic trees indicate a close relationship with Wolbachia strains in subgroup B.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, the data presented herein provide the first molecular evidence of a Wolbachia strain in An. minimus, hereinafter named wAnmi, in a low-malaria transmission area in the Umphang Valley of western Thailand. Further biological characterization is required to examine its potential for malaria transmission control in the field.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nongnat Tongkrajang ◽  
Pichet Ruenchit ◽  
Chatchai Tananchai ◽  
Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap ◽  
Kasem Kulkeaw

Abstract Background Wolbachia, obligate intracellular bacteria, infect the majority of arthropods, including many mosquito species of medical importance. Some Wolbachia strains interfere with the development of Plasmodium parasites in female Anopheles, a major vector of malaria. The use of Wolbachia as a means to block malaria transmission is an emerging vector control strategy in highly endemic areas. Hence, identification of native Wolbachia strains in areas where malaria transmission is low may uncover a particular Wolbachia strain capable of Plasmodium interference. This study aims to identify native Wolbachia strains in female Anopheles spp. that are predominant in a low-malaria transmission area in mainland Southeast Asia. Methods Following a 2-year survey of malaria vectors in Umphang Valley of Tak Province, Thailand, DNA extracts of female An. minimus, An. peditaeniatus, and An. maculatus were subjected to amplification of the conserved region of the 16S rRNA-encoding gene. The DNA sequences of the amplicons were phylogenetically compared with those of known Wolbachia strains. Results Among three Anopheles spp., amplification was detected in only the DNA samples from An. minimus. The DNA sequencing of amplicons revealed 100% similarity to Wolbachia pipientis, confirming the specificity of amplification. The Wolbachia-positive An. minimus samples were devoid of Plasmodium 18S rRNA amplification. The phylogenetic trees indicate a close relationship with Wolbachia strains in subgroup B. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, the data presented herein provide the first molecular evidence of a Wolbachia strain in An. minimus, hereinafter named wAnmi, in a low-malaria transmission area in the Umphang Valley of western Thailand. Further biological characterization is required to examine its potential for malaria transmission control in the field.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Gamell ◽  
Lukas Muri ◽  
Alex Ntamatungiro ◽  
Daniel Nyogea ◽  
Lameck B. Luwanda ◽  
...  

Abstract The acquisition of drug-resistance mutations among African children living with in human immunodeficiency virus on antiretroviral treatment has been scarcely reported. This threatens the overall success of antiretroviral programs and the clinical outcomes of children in care. We present a well characterized series of children from rural Tanzania with acquired drug-resistance mutations to contribute to the better understanding of this emerging public health concern.


2012 ◽  
Vol 97 (10) ◽  
pp. 889-894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana C Clifton ◽  
Habib O Ramadhani ◽  
Levina J Msuya ◽  
Boniface N Njau ◽  
Grace D Kinabo ◽  
...  

ObjectiveAs the proportion of children living low malaria transmission areas in sub-Saharan Africa increases, approaches for identifying non-malarial severe illness need to be evaluated to improve child outcomes.DesignAs a prospective cohort study, we identified febrile paediatric inpatients, recorded data using Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) criteria, and collected diagnostic specimens.SettingTertiary referral centre, northern Tanzania.ResultsOf 466 participants with known outcome, median age was 1.4 years (range 2 months–13.0 years), 200 (42.9%) were female, 11 (2.4%) had malaria and 34 (7.3%) died. Inpatient death was associated with: Capillary refill >3 s (OR 9.0, 95% CI 3.0 to 26.7), inability to breastfeed or drink (OR 8.9, 95% CI 4.0 to 19.6), stiff neck (OR 7.0, 95% CI 2.8 to 17.6), lethargy (OR 5.2, 95% CI 2.5 to 10.6), skin pinch >2 s (OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.9 to 12.3), respiratory difficulty (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.9 to 8.2), generalised lymphadenopathy (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.6 to 8.3) and oral candidiasis (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 8.3). BCS <5 (OR 27.2, p<0.001) and severe wasting (OR 6.9, p<0.001) were independently associated with inpatient death.ConclusionsIn a low malaria transmission setting, IMCI criteria performed well for predicting inpatient death from non-malarial illness. Laboratory results were not as useful in predicting death, underscoring the importance of clinical examination in assessing prognosis. Healthcare workers should consider local malaria epidemiology as malaria over-diagnosis in children may delay potentially life-saving interventions in areas where malaria is uncommon.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 75-84
Author(s):  
Venkata Vijaya K. Dalai ◽  
Jason E. Childress ◽  
Paul E Schulz

Dementia is a major public health concern that afflicts an estimated 24.3 million people worldwide. Great strides are being made in order to better diagnose, prevent, and treat these disorders. Dementia is associated with multiple complications, some of which can be life-threatening, such as dysphagia. There is great variability between dementias in terms of when dysphagia and other swallowing disorders occur. In order to prepare the reader for the other articles in this publication discussing swallowing issues in depth, the authors of this article will provide a brief overview of the prevalence, risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, current treatment options, and implications for eating for the common forms of neurodegenerative dementias.


Author(s):  
Bethan Evans ◽  
Charlotte Cooper

Over the last twenty years or so, fatness, pathologised as overweight and obesity, has been a core public health concern around which has grown a lucrative international weight loss industry. Referred to as a ‘time bomb’ and ‘the terror within’, analogies of ‘war’ circulate around obesity, framing fatness as enemy.2 Religious imagery and cultural and moral ideologies inform medical, popular and policy language with the ‘sins’ of ‘gluttony’ and ‘sloth’, evoked to frame fat people as immoral at worst and unknowledgeable victims at best, and understandings of fatness intersect with gender, class, age, sexuality, disability and race to make some fat bodies more problematically fat than others. As Evans and Colls argue, drawing on Michel Foucault, a combination of medical and moral knowledges produces the powerful ‘obesity truths’ through which fatness is framed as universally abject and pathological. Dominant and medicalised discourses of fatness (as obesity) leave little room for alternative understandings.


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