title: Malaria evolution in South Asia: knowledge for control and elimination.
abstract: The study of malaria parasites on the Indian subcontinent should help us understand unexpected disease outbreaks and unpredictable disease presentations from Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections. The Malaria Evolution in South Asia (MESA) research program is one of ten International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research (ICEMR) sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health. In this second of two reviews, we describe why population structures of Plasmodia in India will be characterized and how we will determine their consequences on disease presentation, outcome and patterns. Specific projects will determine if genetic diversity, possibly driven by parasites with higher genetic plasticity, plays a role in changing epidemiology, pathogenesis, vector competence of parasite populations and whether innate human genetic traits protect Indians from malaria today. Deep local clinical knowledge of malaria in India will be supplemented by basic scientists who bring new research tools. Such tools will include whole genome sequencing and analysis methods; in vitro assays to measure genome plasticity, RBC cytoadhesion, invasion, and deformability; mosquito infectivity assays to evaluate changing parasite-vector compatibilities; and host genetics to understand protective traits in Indian populations. The MESA-ICEMR study sites span diagonally across India and include a mixture of very urban and rural hospitals, each with very different disease patterns and patient populations. Research partnerships include government-associated research institutes, private medical schools, city and state government hospitals, and hospitals with industry ties. Between 2012 and 2017, in addition to developing clinical research and basic science infrastructure at new clinical sites, our training workshops will engage new scientists and clinicians throughout South Asia in the malaria research field.
authors.affiliation: SphaeraPharma Research and Development, Manesar, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Krishnamoorthy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narayanasamy
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chery
authors.forename: Analabha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Manoj T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Duraisingh
authors.forename: Ananias
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escalante
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fowble
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Guler
authors.forename: Thurston
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Herricks
authors.forename: Ashwani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Partha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Majumder
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: Anjali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mascarenhas
authors.forename: Janneth
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Bikram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Somdutta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Jayanthi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shastri
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Neena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Valecha
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Pradipsinh K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Rathod
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D007391:International Cooperation; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012106:Research / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index