The MSPDBL2 Codon 591 Polymorphism Is Associated with LumefantrineIn VitroDrug Responses in Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Kilifi, Kenya
Ochola-Oyier LI., Okombo J., Mwai L., Kiara SM., Pole L., Tetteh KKA., Nzila A., Marsh K.
<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title><jats:p>The mechanisms of drug resistance development in the<jats:named-content xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" content-type="genus-species" xlink:type="simple">Plasmodium falciparum</jats:named-content>parasite to lumefantrine (LUM), commonly used in combination with artemisinin, are still unclear. We assessed the polymorphisms of<jats:italic>Pfmspdbl2</jats:italic>for associations with LUM activity in a Kenyan population. MSPDBL2 codon 591S was associated with reduced susceptibility to LUM (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic>= 0.04). The high frequency of<jats:italic>Pfmspdbl2</jats:italic>codon 591S in Kenya may be driven by the widespread use of lumefantrine in artemisinin combination therapy (Coartem).</jats:p>