title: Drug resistance and genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum parasites from suriname.
abstract: Plasmodium falciparum in Suriname was studied for the presence of drug resistance and genetic variation in blood samples of 86 patients with symptomatic malaria. Drug resistance was predicted by determining point mutations in the chloroquine resistance marker of the P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (pfcrt) gene (codon 76) and the pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine resistance markers in the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene (codons 16, 51, 59, 108, and 164) and dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) gene (codons 436, 437, 540, 581, and 613). Genetic variability was determined by sequence analysis of the polymorphic segments of the merozoite surface protein 2 (msp-2) and glutamate-rich protein (glurp) genes. Mutations in the pfcrt, dhps, and dhfr genes were found in all samples tested, suggesting that resistance to chloroquine and antifolate drugs is present at a high frequency. A low number of alleles was found for the msp-2 and glurp genes. This indicates limited genetic diversity and, based on geographic data, a genetically homogeneous P. falciparum population in Suriname.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.peek@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peek
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: VAN Gool
authors.forename: Daynand
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panchoe
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greve
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bus
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Resida
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004094:Dihydropteroate Synthase / Q000235:genetics; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D017354:Point Mutation; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D013532:Suriname / Q000453:epidemiology; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D002738:Chloroquine; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; D004094:Dihydropteroate Synthase