title: Mutational prevalence of chloroquine resistance transporter gene among Plasmodium falciparum field isolates in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aims to find out the mutational prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) gene in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  To fulfil the objective of the study, a total of 54 P. falciparum malaria positive samples were attempted for genotyping of Pfcrt gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The K76T mutation was observed in 77.78% cases followed by M74I (61.11%), N75E (61.11%) and C72S (16.67%). Triple mutant allele M74I+N75E+K76T was found in 61.11% P. falciparum field isolates. Double mutant allele C72S+K76T was seen among 16.67% samples. Mutation studies have shown existence of three different haplotypes of which two were associated with chloroquine resistance. The haplotype CVIET was found preponderance and circulated in all four districts. The other haplotype SVMNT was observed only in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Maximum haplotype diversity was also recorded from Karbi Anglong district of Assam.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study has confirmed high prevalence of mutant Pfcrt genotypes associated with chloroquine resistance in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India.
authors.affiliation: Entomology and Filariasis Division, Regional Medical Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), North East Region, Dibrugarh, Assam, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahanta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D050505:Mutant Proteins; C416369:PfCRT protein, Plasmodium falciparum; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D002738:Chloroquine