Investigation of Plasmodium falciparum Resistance Biomarkers among Primary School Children in Western Kenya
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Date
2022
Authors
Stephen, Otilmoi Poul
Nyandwaro, Tonny Teya
Irekwa, Robinson Mugasiali
Waihenya, Rebecca Wanjiku
Munyao, Matthew Mutinda
Rotich, Peter Kipkemboi
Njoroge, Caroline Wangui
Mwangi, Anne Wanjiru
Yego, Joanne Jepkemei
Tanchu, Nicole Sian
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AJAMB
Abstract
A marked decrease in malaria-related deaths worldwide has
been attributed to the administration of effective antimalarials against Plasmodium falciparum. However, the continuous spread of P. falciparum resistance to anti-malarial drugs is raising a serious problem in controlling Malaria to the vulnerable children’s immune system. In recent studies, Plasmodium falciparum Kelch 13 propeller gene (Pfk13) has been reported to develop resistance to artemisinin in South Asia. In this study, we checked Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter gene (Pfcrt) involved in
chloroquine (CQ) resistance. Method: In this study, archived 280 samples
were collected from Alupe primary school children in Busia, Western Kenya
from May, 2016 to November, 2016. Genomic DNA was extracted using the
MightyPrep reagent. The samples were investigated for P. falciparum positivity out of which 67 of them tested positive giving a prevalence rate of 24% The sixty-seven were subjected to PCR amplification for the molecular marker resistance to Pfcrt. After PCR amplification, the amplicons were purified
and sequenced using Sanger Sequencing. The sequence data were analyzed
using BioEdit software to identify point mutations. Results: 14 samples sequences were analyzed on Bioedit software giving the following amino acid
changes F76C, Y66H, L70A, Y58C, T59V, V65I, P67L, T81L, Y60S, Y66S,
P67T and I71F). New mutations have been reported at position 76 leading
to an amino acid change, one of Pfcrt gold standard biomarkers. However,
amino acid changes Y66H, L70A, Y58C, T59V, V65I, P67L, T81L, Y60S,
Y66S, P67T and I71F are newly reported giving an increase in Pfcrt prevalence of concern from zero to 5.0%. A phylogenetic evolutionary relationship
was constructed as shown below. Generally, the results showed a continuous
resistance of P. falciparum to Pfcrt which calls for robust continuous monitoring and surveillance. Conclusion: Due to the increase of the resistant Pfcrt
gene prevalence, continuous development of new mutants against chloroquine indicates that there is need to repurpose anti-malarial drugs for future
partner drugs.
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Citation
Stephen, O.P., Nyandwaro, T.T., Irekwa, R.M., Waihenya, R.W., Munyao, M.M., Rotich, P.K., Njoroge, C.W., Mwangi, A.W., Yego, J.J., Tanchu, N.S., Oumar, D.K., Kanyita, G.N., Ndungu, P.M. and Nzou, S.M. (2022) Investigation of Plasmodium falciparum Resistance Biomarkers among Primary School Children in Western Kenya. American Journal of Molecular Biology, 12, 43-53. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajmb.2022.122005