The Impact of Artemether-Lumefantrine on Genes Associated With Antimalarial Resistance

In Sudan the current treatment protocol includes two artemisinin combinations (ACT); artesunate + sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (AS/SP) as first line and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) as second line. This protocol has been implemented in 2004, since then various studies have reported the high efficacy of both combinations (e.g. Adam et al., 2005; Elamin et al., 2005; Mohamed et al., 2006).

However, there has been no report of the impact of these combinations on drug resistance markers in Sudan. Data from other African countries has shown that AL selects for certain alleles in the pfmdr-1 gene (Sisowath et al., 2005, Dokomajilar et al., 2006; Humphreys et al., 2007), but the impact on the prevalence of different pfcrt and pfmdr-1alleles remains unclear. It is essential to monitor ACT efficacy in addition to identify molecular markers that are associated with response to different drugs to facilitate epidemiological surveys for evidence based decision making. Recent work in The Gambia suggests that transmission-related endpoints, such as emergence of gametocytes after treatment, may be better indicators of emerging drug resistance (Hallett et al., 2006).

The aim of the proposed study is to examine the impact of treatment with artemether-lumefantrine (AL) on alleles of pfcrt and pfmdr-1 in P. falciparum isolates in an area of marked seasonal transmission in eastern Sudan. Most studies of resistance markers measure marker prevalence by DNA amplification, but we will also investigate gene expression using quantitative amplification of mRNA encoding pfcrt and pfmdr-1. The impact of genotype and gene expression levels on treatment outcome, and on the emergence and density of peripheral gametocytes will be examined.

Inclusion criteria

• Mono-infection with P. falciparum by microscopy.
• Initial parasite density of 1000 to 100,000 asexual parasites/µl.
• Absence of general danger signs or other signs of severe and complicated falciparum malaria according to WHO definitions.
• Informed consent provided by patient or parent/guardian.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Infection with mixed Plasmodium sp.
• Signs of severe malaria or any danger signs
• Refusal to provide consent