Researchers report that in vitro selection for resistance to the drug artemisinin in two West African malaria strains yielded previously unidentified mutations conferring artemisinin resistance in the gene for PfCoronin, a conserved actin-binding protein with structural similarities to another protein implicated in artemisinin resistance, PfKelch13, providing potential insights into molecular mechanisms of artemisinin resistance.
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Article #18-12317: "Mutations in Plasmodium falciparum actinbinding protein coronin confer reduced artemisinin susceptibility," by Allison R. Demas et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Dyann F. Wirth, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; tel: 617-432-2214; e-mail: < dfwirth@hsph.harvard.edu >
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences