WEHI PhD Completion Seminar hosted by Professor Alyssa Barry & Professor Leanne Robinson

Dulcie Lautu
Infectious Disease Systems Epidemiology/Vector Borne Disease & Tropical Public Health Group, The Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health Ltd
PhD Student – Mueller Laboratory, Infection and Global Health division, WEHI

Surveillance of molecular markers of antimalarial resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in Papua New Guinea from 2005-2020

 

Davis Auditorium

Join via SLIDO enter code #WEHIphdcompletion

Including Q&A session

Followed by refreshments in Tapestry Lounge

Antimalarial drug resistance, particularly artemisinin resistance, poses a significant challenge for malaria control and elimination. Since the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistant parasites in Cambodia in 2008, resistant strains have spread rapidly throughout the Greater Mekong region. This spread threatens neighbouring malaria endemic regions, such as the Western Pacific. In this region, Papua New Guinea (PNG) carries the highest burden of malaria and in recent years the emergence of the P. falciparum C580Y kelch13 mutation, which is associated with artemisinin resistance, has been observed. While there is not yet clinical evidence of artemisinin resistance in PNG, molecular surveillance of drug resistance is important for monitoring and early detection of emerging resistance. In this study we developed new molecular assays for use in real-time drug resistance surveillance in PNG. Using both molecular and population genetics analysis approaches, we investigated the prevalence of drug resistance markers and explore genetic variations in parasite population over a 15-year period to identify emerging resistant lineages that may facilitate artemisinin resistance.  This information will be useful within the malaria control program to strategically develop targeted interventions for malaria control in PNG.
 

All welcome!