Lineage-Specific Expansion of Plasmodium falciparum Parasites With pfhrp2 Deletion in the Greater Mekong Subregion. (9th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gibbons, Justin; Qin, Junling; Malla, Pallavi; Wang, Zenglei; Brashear, Awtum; Wang, Chengqi; Miao, Jun; Adams, John H; Kim, Kami; Jiang, Rays; Cui, Liwang
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 222:Number 9(2020)
• Page Start: 1561
• Page End: 1569
• Publication Date: 2020-05-09
• Subjects: Plasmodium falciparum -- pfhrp2 deletion -- Southeast Asia -- genome -- clonal expansion; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa250
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Deletion of the pfhrp2 gene in Plasmodium falciparum can lead to false-negative rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results, constituting a major challenge for evidence-based malaria treatment. Here we analyzed the whole genome sequences of 138 P. falciparum clinical samples collected from the China-Myanmar boarder for pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions. We found pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 deletions in 9.4% and 3.6% of samples, respectively, with no samples harboring deletions of both genes. The pfhrp2 deletions showed 2 distinct breakpoints, representing 2 different chromosomal deletion events. A phylogenetic analysis performed using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms revealed that the 2 pfhrp2 breakpoint groups as well as all the pfhrp3- negative parasites formed separate clades, suggesting they might have resulted from clonal expansion of pfhrp2 - and pfhrp3 -negative parasites. These findings highlight the need for urgent surveys to determine the prevalence of pfhrp2 -negative parasites causing false-negative RDT results and a plan for switching of RDTs pending the survey results. Abstract : Whole genome analysis identified almost 10% Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates from the China-Myanmar border area harboring the pfhrp2 gene deletion, which was likely the result of clonal expansion.