Drug-resistance mutations in malaria

Researchers report that in vitro selection for resistance to the drug artemisinin in two West African malaria strains yielded previously unidentified mutations conferring artemisinin resistance in the gene for PfCoronin, a conserved actin-binding protein with structural similarities to another protein implicated in artemisinin resistance, PfKelch13, providing potential insights into molecular mechanisms of artemisinin resistance.

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Article #18-12317: "Mutations in Plasmodium falciparum actinbinding protein coronin confer reduced artemisinin susceptibility," by Allison R. Demas et al.

MEDIA CONTACT: Dyann F. Wirth, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; tel: 617-432-2214; e-mail: <dfwirth@hsph.harvard.edu>