Emergence and clonal expansion of in vitro artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum kelch13 R561H mutant parasites in Rwanda

Nat Med. 2020 Oct;26(10):1602-1608. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-1005-2. Epub 2020 Aug 3.

Abstract

Artemisinin resistance (delayed P. falciparum clearance following artemisinin-based combination therapy), is widespread across Southeast Asia but to date has not been reported in Africa1-4. Here we genotyped the P. falciparum K13 (Pfkelch13) propeller domain, mutations in which can mediate artemisinin resistance5,6, in pretreatment samples collected from recent dihydroarteminisin-piperaquine and artemether-lumefantrine efficacy trials in Rwanda7. While cure rates were >95% in both treatment arms, the Pfkelch13 R561H mutation was identified in 19 of 257 (7.4%) patients at Masaka. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the expansion of an indigenous R561H lineage. Gene editing confirmed that this mutation can drive artemisinin resistance in vitro. This study provides evidence for the de novo emergence of Pfkelch13-mediated artemisinin resistance in Rwanda, potentially compromising the continued success of antimalarial chemotherapy in Africa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics
  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Arginine / genetics
  • Artemisinins / therapeutic use*
  • Clonal Evolution / genetics
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / drug therapy
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / parasitology
  • Drug Resistance / genetics*
  • Genotype
  • Histidine / genetics
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Kelch Repeat / genetics
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy
  • Malaria, Falciparum / epidemiology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology*
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Phylogeny
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
  • Rwanda / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemisinins
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Histidine
  • Arginine
  • artemisinin