Article
Immunology
Benjamin Abuaku, Paul Boateng, Nana Yaw Peprah, Alexander Asamoah, Nancy Odurowah Duah-Quashie, Sena Adzoa Matrevi, Eunice Obeng Amoako, Neils Quashie, Felicia Owusu-Antwi, Keziah Laurencia Malm, Kwadwo Ansah Koram
Summary: In 2020, DHAP was adopted as a second-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in Ghana. A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of DHAP using a 42-day follow-up schedule and PCR genotyping in three malaria sentinel sites. The results showed high efficacy of DHAP, with a national average of 97.0% (95% CI: 93.4 - 98.8). This data will serve as a baseline for future DHAP efficacy studies in Ghana.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Guoming Li, Yueming Yuan, Shaoqin Zheng, Chenguang Lu, Mingqiang Li, Ruixiang Tan, Hongying Zhang, Rahamatou Silai, Ruimei Liu, Kamal Said Abdallah, Affane Bacar, Qin Xu, Jianping Song, Wanting Wu, Changsheng Deng
Summary: The study found that artemisinin-piperaquine and artemether-lumefantrine maintained high efficacy and tolerance in treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the Comoros. However, asymptomatic malaria infections may pose new challenges to malaria control.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Guoming Li, Mei Yuan, Haihong Li, Changsheng Deng, Qi Wang, Yexiao Tang, Hongying Zhang, Weisheng Yu, Qin Xu, Yuanyuan Zou, Yueming Yuan, Jiawen Guo, Chunming Jin, Xiangdong Guan, Fengjie Xie, Jianping Song
Summary: There are no effective therapies for patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). In patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, the time to reach undetectable SARS-CoV-2 was significantly shorter in the artemisinin-piperaquine group than that in the control group. However, physicians should consider QT interval changes before using artemisinin-piperaquine.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Melissa Mairet-Khedim, Sandrine Nsango, Christelle Ngou, Sandie Menard, Camille Roesch, Nimol Khim, Sreynet Srun, Xavier Iriart, Thomas Lanot, Laure Otam, Francis Abega, Lawrence Ayong, Isabelle Morlais, Peggy Gandia, Benoit Witkowski, Antoine Berry
Summary: The study in Cameroon found that dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine has excellent therapeutic efficacy in treating uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, with no evidence of resistance. Parasites showed good susceptibility to both dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eduard Rovira-Vallbona, Johanna Helena Kattenberg, Nguyen Van Hong, Pieter Guetens, Hideo Imamura, Pieter Monsieurs, Driss Chiheb, Annette Erhart, Bui Quang Phuc, Nguyen Xuan Xa, Anna Rosanas-Urgell
Summary: This study developed a custom multiplex amplicon sequencing assay to monitor drug resistance to malaria. The results showed that the emergence and spread of drug resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies is posing a major challenge in the efforts to eliminate malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eduard Rovira-Vallbona, Johanna Helena Kattenberg, Nguyen Van Hong, Pieter Guetens, Hideo Imamura, Pieter Monsieurs, Driss Chiheb, Annette Erhart, Bui Quang Phuc, Nguyen Xuan Xa, Anna Rosanas-Urgell
Summary: Emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) is a major challenge for malaria elimination. A custom multiplex amplicon sequencing assay based on Illumina technology was developed to efficiently monitor drug resistance. The study found a high prevalence of validated mutations associated with artemisinin resistance, as well as similar trends in mutations of candidate resistance modulator genes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aurel Holzschuh, Anita Lerch, Inna Gerlovina, Bakar S. Fakih, Abdul-wahid H. Al-mafazy, Erik J. Reaves, Abdullah Ali, Faiza Abbas, Mohamed Haji Ali, Mohamed Ali Ali, Manuel W. Hetzel, Joshua Yukich, Cristian Koepfli
Summary: A highly multiplexed PCR sequencing method was developed to investigate the genetic structure of malaria parasites in Zanzibar, providing actionable insights for malaria elimination efforts.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Clifford G. Banda, Dumisile Nkosi, Elizabeth Allen, Lesley Workman, Mwayiwawo Madanitsa, Marumbo Chirwa, Mayamiko Kapulula, Sharon Muyaya, Steven Munharo, Joel Tarning, Kamija S. Phiri, Victor Mwapasa, Feiko O. ter Kuile, Gary Maartens, Karen I. Barnes
Summary: In pregnant women living with HIV, the use of efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy significantly reduces the plasma exposure of piperaquine. However, coadministration of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine and dolutegravir-based ART can increase the overall piperaquine exposure without affecting its maximum concentration. This finding suggests that the efficacy of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine will be retained in pregnant women on dolutegravir.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mingqiang Li, Fei Tuo, Ruixiang Tan, Hongying Zhang, Shaoqin Zheng, Qi Wang, Qin Xu, Xinbing Yu, Fangli Lu, Zhibing Wu, Jun Huang, Herodes Sacramento Rampao, Carlos Alberto Bandeira D'almeida, Hong Yan, Jianping Song, Wenfeng Guo, Changsheng Deng
Summary: The mass drug administration with artemisinin-piperaquine significantly reduced malaria incidence and parasitemia rates in Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe. The intervention was particularly effective at the study site, and also had a knock-on effect within a 1.5 km radius of the site, within a limited time interval of 38 weeks.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Julia C. Cutts, Katherine O'Flaherty, Sophie G. Zaloumis, Elizabeth A. Ashley, Jo Anne Chan, Marie A. Onyamboko, Caterina Fanello, Arjen M. Dondorp, Nicholas P. Day, Aung Pyae Phyo, Mehul Dhorda, Mallika Imwong, Rick M. Fairhurst, Pharath Lim, Chanaki Amaratunga, Sasithon Pukrittayakamee, Tran Tinh Hien, Ye Htut, Mayfong Mayxay, M. Abdul Faiz, Eizo Takashima, Takafumi Tsuboi, James G. Beeson, Francois Nosten, Julie A. Simpson, Nicholas J. White, Freya J. Fowkes
Summary: The substantially shorter parasite clearance time observed in African patients compared to Asian patients after artemisinin treatment cannot be explained by differences in P. falciparum antibody responses.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Xiaobo Li, Yueming Yuan, Yingyi Chen, Li Ru, Zheng Yuan, Zhiyong Xu, Qin Xu, Jianping Song, Guoming Li, Changsheng Deng
Summary: The study found that artemisinin had no significant effects on the reproductive and endocrine systems of female rats, while artemisinin-piperaquine caused adverse effects such as adrenal hyperplasia, blocked estrus, corpus luteum surface hyperemia, and disrupted follicle development in female rats.
BMC COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE AND THERAPIES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patrick K. Tumwebaze, Melissa D. Conrad, Martin Okitwi, Stephen Orena, Oswald Byaruhanga, Thomas Katairo, Jennifer Legac, Shreeya Garg, David Giesbrecht, Sawyer R. Smith, Frida G. Ceja, Samuel L. Nsobya, Jeffrey A. Bailey, Roland A. Cooper, Philip J. Rosenthal
Summary: This study found that the partial resistance to artemisinin may lead to the selection of Plasmodium falciparum that is resistant to combination therapy partner drugs. The susceptibility to lumefantrine and dihydroartemisinin was lower in northern Uganda where resistance-associated mutations have emerged, compared to eastern Uganda. Multiple genetic polymorphisms were associated with altered drug susceptibility in Plasmodium falciparum.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Christopher G. Jacob, Nguyen Thuy-Nhien, Mayfong Mayxay, Richard J. Maude, Huynh Hong Quang, Bouasy Hongvanthong, Viengxay Vanisaveth, Thang Ngo Duc, Huy Rekol, Rob van der Pluijm, Lorenz von Seidlein, Rick Fairhurst, Francois Nosten, Md Amir Hossain, Naomi Park, Scott Goodwin, Pascal Ringwald, Keobouphaphone Chindavongsa, Paul Newton, Elizabeth Ashley, Sonexay Phalivong, Rapeephan Maude, Rithea Leang, Cheah Huch, Le Thanh Dong, Kim-Tuyen Nguyen, Tran Minh Nhat, Tran Tinh Hien, Hoa Nguyen, Nicole Zdrojewski, Sara Canavati, Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Didar Uddin, Caroline Buckee, Caterina Fanello, Marie Onyamboko, Thomas Peto, Rupam Tripura, Chanaki Amaratunga, Aung Myint Thu, Gilles Delmas, Jordi Landier, Daniel M. Parker, Nguyen Hoang Chau, Dysoley Lek, Seila Suon, James Callery, Podjanee Jittamala, Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn, Sasithon Pukrittayakamee, Aung Pyae Phyo, Frank Smithuis, Khin Lin, Myo Thant, Tin Maung Hlaing, Parthasarathi Satpathi, Sanghamitra Satpathi, Prativa K. Behera, Amar Tripura, Subrata Baidya, Neena Valecha, Anupkumar R. Anvikar, Akhter Ul Islam, Abul Faiz, Chanon Kunasol, Eleanor Drury, Mihir Kekre, Mozam Ali, Katie Love, Shavanthi Rajatileka, Anna E. Jeffreys, Kate Rowlands, Christina S. Hubbart, Mehul Dhorda, Ranitha Vongpromek, Namfon Kotanan, Phrutsamon Wongnak, Jacob Almagro Garcia, Richard D. Pearson, Cristina Ariani, Thanat Chookajorn, Cinzia Malangone, T. Nguyen, Jim Stalker, Ben Jeffery, Jonathan Keatley, Kimberly J. Johnson, Dawn Muddyman, Xin Hui S. Chan, John Sillitoe, Roberto Amato, Victoria Simpson, Sonia Goncalves, Kirk Rockett, Nicholas P. Day, Arjen M. Dondorp, Dominic P. Kwiatkowski, Olivo Miotto
Summary: GenRe-Mekong is a platform for genetic surveillance of malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion, providing valuable insights and aiding decision-making for NMCPs. It offers detailed knowledge about drug resistance, facilitates data sharing, and enables cross-border resistance monitoring, benefiting the malaria community as a whole.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nekpen Erhunse, Dinkar Sahal
Summary: Cambodia switched from dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine to artesunate-mefloquine as first-line therapy due to parasite resistance, but now faces triple mutant strains, indicating the need for alternative treatment strategies. Proper understanding of contributors to artemisinin resistance is essential for identifying novel strategies to combat resistance and protect future antimalarial drugs.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYSIS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Kurt E. Ward, David A. Fidock, Jessica L. Bridgford
Summary: Multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites pose a major threat to public health in intertropical regions. Understanding the mechanisms, origins, and spread of resistance can guide strategies to reduce the global burden of malaria. This review summarizes recent advances in elucidating the mechanistic basis of artemisinin resistance and resistance to partner drugs.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Benedikt E. Ley, Ari Winasti Satyagraha, Mohammad Golam Kibria, Jillian Armstrong, Germana Bancone, Amy Bei, Greg Bizilj, Marcelo Brito, Xavier Ding, Gonzalo A. Domingo, Michael N. von Fricken, Gornpan Gornsawun, Brandon Lam, Didier Menard, Wuelton Monteiro, Stefano Ongarello, Sampa Pal, Lydia Visita E. Panggalo, Sunil Parikh, Daniel Pfeffer, Ric Price, Alessandra da Silva Orfano, Martina Wade, Mariusz Wojnarski, Kuntawunginn Worachet, Aqsa Yar, Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Rosalind Howes
Summary: This article reports the reproducibility of a novel handheld biosensor device (G6PD STANDARD) that measures G6PD activity within two minutes. The device showed good repeatability and inter-laboratory reproducibility, and has the potential to simplify the implementation of highly effective treatment regimens for P. vivax infections.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xinyu Yu, Changhong Wang, Yuemeng Zhao, Jianxia Tang, Meng Zhu, Lucien Platon, Richard Culleton, Guoding Zhu, Didier Menard, Qingfeng Zhang, Jun Cao
Summary: The emergence and spread of artemisinin-tolerant malaria parasites pose a global threat to malaria control programs. Mutations in the Kelch13 protein's propeller domain lead to Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistance (ART-R). The reduced susceptibility and extended ring stage in PfKelch13 mutant lines indicate altered energy and porphyrin metabolism, specifically in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, glycolysis, and amino acid metabolism. These findings suggest that the adaptative metabolic plasticity, manifested through defined metabolic remodeling, serves as a trigger for ART-R.
Article
Microbiology
Lucien Platon, David A. Baker, Didier Menard
Summary: The ring-stage survival assay is the reference assay to measure in vitro Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin partial resistance. The main challenge of the standard protocol is to generate 0-to-3-h postinvasion ring stages (the stage least susceptible to artemisinin) from schizonts obtained by sorbitol treatment and Percoll gradient.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andargie Abate, Jifar Hassen, Laurent Dembele, Didier Menard, Lemu Golassa
Summary: This study conducted a membrane feeding assay on 44 P. vivax infected patients in Adama city, Ethiopia, and found that individuals with Duffy blood group had a higher infectiousness to Anopheles mosquitoes, but the difference was not statistically significant. This suggests that Duffy antigen polymorphisms may contribute to the transmissibility of P. vivax gametocytes to mosquitoes, but further studies are needed.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mamadou Samb Yade, Baba Dieye, Romain Coppee, Aminata Mbaye, Mamadou Alpha Diallo, Khadim Diongue, Justine Bailly, Atikatou Mama, Awa Fall, Alphonse Birane Thiaw, Ibrahima Mbaye Ndiaye, Tolla Ndiaye, Amy Gaye, Abdoulaye Tine, Younouss Diedhiou, Amadou Mactar Mbaye, Cecile Doderer-Lang, Mamane Nassirou Garba, Amy Kristine Bei, Didier Menard, Daouda Ndiaye
Summary: This study investigated the susceptibility to artemisinin in Senegal in 2017 and found that artemisinin was still fully effective in the Thies region. The combination of ex vivo RSA and TADS methods is important for monitoring artemisinin resistance in Africa.
Article
Parasitology
Mariangela L. L'Episcopia, Cecile Doderer-Lang, Edvige Perrotti, Giovanni Battista Priuli, Serena Cavallari, Carlotta Guidetti, Francesco Bernieri, Didier Menard, Carlo Severini
Summary: Benin, like other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is still heavily burdened by malaria. This study conducted molecular surveillance on malaria parasites in Benin and found evidence of antimalarial drug resistance.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Casimire Wendlamita Tarama, Harouna Sore, Mafama Siribie, Siaka Debe, Rene Kinda, Adama Ganou, Wendyam Gerard Nonkani, Farida Tiendrebeogo, Winnie Bantango, Kassoum Yira, Aladari Sagnon, Sonia Ilboudo, Esther Yeri Hien, Moussa Wandaogo Guelbeogo, NFale Sagnon, Yves Traore, Didier Menard, Adama Gansane
Summary: This study aimed to assess the proportions of mutations in the genes associated with drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum isolates in Burkina Faso. The findings suggest that the efficacy of current antimalarial drugs is not significantly affected by highly resistant mutants.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Abnet Abebe, Didier Menard, Sisay Dugassa, Ashenafi Assefa, Jonathan J. Juliano, Eugenia Lo, Lemu Golassa
Summary: Both microscopy and RDT showed moderate agreement with PCR in the detection and identification of P. vivax (mono) and P. vivax/P. falciparum (mixed) infections. Therefore, to achieve malaria elimination goals, strengthening routine malaria diagnostic methods by implementing diagnostic tools with a good performance in detecting and accurately identifying malaria species in clinical settings is recommended.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mahamat Souleymane Issa, Marian Warsame, Moussa Hassane Taisso Mahamat, Issakha Diar Mahamat Saleh, Kodbsse Boulotigam, Honore Djimrassengar, Ali Haggar Issa, Ousmane Abdelkader, Manah Hassoumi, Mbanga Djimadoum, Cecile Doderer-Lang, Jean Bosco Ndihiokubwayo, Charlotte Rasmussen, Didier Menard
Summary: This study confirms the high efficacy of artemisinin-based combinations, AS-AQ and AL, in the study areas in Chad. The absence of known pfkelch13 mutations and high parasite clearance rate at day 3 suggest the absence of artemisinin resistance. The absence of pfdhfr/pfdhps quintuple or sextuple mutants supports the continued use of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy. However, the presence of parasites with dual pfhrp2/pfhrp3 deletions poses a potential threat to the efficacy of HRP2-based rapid diagnostic tests and requires continued surveillance.
Article
Parasitology
Edvige Perrotti, Mariangela L'Episcopia, Michela Menegon, Irene S. Soares, Angel Rosas-Aguirre, Niko Speybroeck, Alejandro LLanos-Cuentas, Didier Menard, Marcelo Urbano Ferreira, Carlo Severini
Summary: This study investigates the genetic diversity of the pvetramp11.2 gene in parasite populations from the Amazonian region and worldwide. The low variability of the sequence encoding PvETRAMP11.2 protein suggests its suitability as a marker in serodiagnostic assays and vaccine design. The study also explores B-cell epitopes and their polymorphisms.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Parasitology
William L. Hamilton, Deus S. Ishengoma, Jonathan B. Parr, Daniel J. Bridges, Alyssa E. Barry
Summary: Nanopore-based sequencing platforms have the potential to provide affordable malaria molecular surveillance (MMS) in resource-limited settings, enabling tracking and response to emerging threats such as drug resistance and diagnostic evade. However, implementing MMS using nanopore sequencing faces challenges and requires important technical developments and innovations.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Alfredo Mayor, Deus S. Ishengoma, Joshua L. Proctor, Robert Verity
Summary: This review discusses sampling design practices for malaria molecular surveillance (MMS) and highlights the factors that need to be considered. It provides examples for different use cases and serves as a guide for sample and data collection, methodological innovation, and utilization of MMS to support malaria elimination.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Abnet Abebe, Isabelle Bouyssou, Solenne Mabilotte, Sisay L. Dugassa, Ashenafi Assefa, Jonathan L. Juliano, Eugenia Lo, Didier L. Menard, Lemu Golassa
Summary: This study evaluated the Duffy status of P. vivax-infected patients in different malaria endemic areas in Ethiopia. The results showed that Duffy-negative individuals are not fully protected against P. vivax infection, and these infections in Duffy negatives are often associated with low parasitemia, potentially serving as hidden reservoirs of transmission in Ethiopia.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Antia Figueroa-Romero, Daniel Bissombolo, Martin Meremikwu, Arsene Ratsimbasoa, Charfudin Sacoor, Iwara Arikpo, Elsha Lemba, Abel Nhama, Rianasoambolanoro Rakotosaona, Mireia Llach, Clara Pons-Duran, Sergi Sanz, Laurence Ma, Cecile Doderer-Lang, Christina Maly, Elaine Roman, Franco Pagnoni, Alfredo Mayor, Didier Menard, Raquel Gonzalez, Clara Menendez
Summary: The study aimed to assess the effect of community delivery of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (C-IPTp) on the development of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. The results showed that C-IPTp did not increase the prevalence of molecular markers associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance after three years of implementation.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Biology
Isabelle Bouyssou, Francisco Jose Martinez, Pascal Campagne, Laurence Ma, Cecile Doderer-Lang, Chetan E. Chitnis, Didier Menard
Summary: Vivax malaria, caused by Plasmodium vivax, is a parasitic protozoan disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Recent studies have shown that cases of vivax infections are increasing in individuals without specific genes in Sub Saharan Africa, raising questions about diagnostics and the evolution of interactions between humans and parasites. Limited access to biological material has previously hindered our understanding of P. vivax biology, but the introduction of new technologies has improved our knowledge on invasion mechanisms.
COMPTES RENDUS BIOLOGIES
(2022)