title: Application of genomics to field investigations of malaria by the international centers of excellence for malaria research.
abstract: Success of the global research agenda toward eradication of malaria will depend on development of new tools, including drugs, vaccines, insecticides and diagnostics. Genomic information, now available for the malaria parasites, their mosquito vectors, and human host, can be leveraged to both develop these tools and monitor their effectiveness. Although knowledge of genomic sequences for the malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, have helped advance our understanding of malaria biology, simply knowing this sequence information has not yielded a plethora of new interventions to reduce the burden of malaria. Here we review and provide specific examples of how genomic information has increased our knowledge of parasite biology, focusing on P. falciparum malaria. We then discuss how population genetics can be applied toward the epidemiological and transmission-related goals outlined by the International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research groups recently established by the National Institutes of Health. Finally, we propose genomics is a research area that can promote coordination and collaboration between various ICEMR groups, and that working together as a community can significantly advance the value of this information toward reduction of the global malaria burden.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. svolkman@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Volkman
authors.forename: Daouda
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.forename: Mahamadou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diakite
authors.forename: Ousmane A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Koita
authors.forename: Davis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nwakanma
authors.forename: Rachel F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Neafsey
authors.forename: Marc A T
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Muskavitch
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Krogstad
authors.forename: Pardis C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sabeti
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hartl
authors.forename: Dyann F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Wirth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060740:Disease Eradication / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D007391:International Cooperation; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers