title: A better resolution for integrating methods for monitoring Plasmodium falciparum resistance to antimalarial drugs.
abstract: Effective chemotherapy is the mainstay of malaria control. However, resistance of falciparum malaria to antimalarial drugs compromised the efforts to eliminate the disease and led to the resurgence of malaria epidemics. Three main approaches are used to monitor antimalarial drug efficacy and drug resistance; namely, in vivo trials, in vitro/ex vivo assays and molecular markers of drug resistance. Each approach has its implications of use as well as its advantages and drawbacks. Therefore, there is a need to use an integrated approach that would give the utmost effect to detect resistance as early as its emergence and to track it once spread. Such integration becomes increasingly needed in the era of artemisinin-based combination therapy as a forward action to deter resistance. The existence of regional and global networks for the standardization of methodology, provision of high quality reagents for the assessment of antimalarial drug resistance and dissemination of open-access data would help in approaching an integrated resistance surveillance system on a global scale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen. Electronic address: rashadqb@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rashad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdul-Ghani
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
authors.forename: Mohamed T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Al-Maktari
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
authors.forename: Latifa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Al-Shibani
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amal F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Allam
mesh_terms: D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004351:Drug Resistance; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials
keywords: Antimalarial drug resistance; In vitro assay; In vivo trial; Molecular marker; Plasmodium falciparum