# name
African isolates show a high proportion of multiple copies of
                the Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin-2 gene, a piperaquine
                resistance marker

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
Background: Today, the development of new and well-tolerated anti-malarial drugs is strongly justifed by the emer‑
gence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance. In 2014–2015, a phase 2b clinical study was conducted to evaluate the
efcacy of a single oral dose of Artefenomel (OZ439)–piperaquine (PPQ) in Asian and African patients presenting with
uncomplicated falciparum malaria.
Methods: Blood samples collected before treatment ofered the opportunity to investigate the proportion of mul‑
tidrug resistant parasite genotypes, including P. falciparum kelch13 mutations and copy number variation of both P.
falciparum plasmepsin 2 (Pfpm2) and P. falciparum multidrug resistance 1 (Pfmdr1) genes.
Results: Validated kelch13 resistance mutations including C580Y, I543T, P553L and V568G were only detected in
parasites from Vietnamese patients. In Africa, isolates with multiple copies of the Pfmdr1 gene were shown to be more
frequent than previously reported (21.1%, range from 12.4% in Burkina Faso to 27.4% in Uganda). More strikingly, high
proportions of isolates with multiple copies of the Pfpm2 gene, associated with piperaquine (PPQ) resistance, were
frequently observed in the African sites, especially in Burkina Faso and Uganda (>30%).
Conclusions: These fndings were considered to sharply contrast with the recent description of increased sensitivity
to PPQ of Ugandan parasite isolates. This emphasizes the necessity to investigate in vitro susceptibility profles to PPQ
of African isolates with multiple copies of the Pfpm2 gene and estimate the risk of development of PPQ resistance in
Africa.

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
African isolates show a high proportion of multiple copies of
                the Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin-2 gene, a piperaquine
                resistance marker