| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2016 | Volume
: 9
| Issue : 2 | Page : 103-105 |
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Prevalence of polymorphisms at position 86 of the Pfmdr1 gene in Plasmodium falciparum parasites
Deepak Kumar, Vidyut Prakash, Gopal Nath
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Correspondence Address:
Deepak Kumar
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1687-7942.205167
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Background Malaria is one of the major public health problems in India. The majority of cases are because of Plasmodium falciparum. A sudden increase in chloroquine (CQ) resistance in P. falciparum cases has been noted. Of the various genetic alteration genes known, Pfmdr1 has been shown to be associated with CQ resistance. Point mutations in the Pfmdr1 gene at several positions result in amino acid changes associated with CQ resistance. The mutation in codon 86 (from asparagine to tyrosine, N86Y) appears to be the most important.
Objective The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of polymorphisms at position 86 of the Pfmdr1 gene among patients not responding to CQ therapy.
Materials and methods Blood samples of known P. falciparum cases not responding to CQ treatment were collected. DNA was isolated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Nested PCR was performed to amplify the Pfmdr1 gene using commercially obtained primers. The finally amplified product was subjected to restriction digestion with AflIII (mutational allele) and ApoI (wild-type allele). The digests were resolved on a 3% agarose gel and stained with ethidium bromide.
Results A total of 25 P. falciparum isolates from patients not responding to CQ therapy were used in the study. Polymorphism was determined successfully in 16 isolates and classified as mutant-type Y86 (16) and wild-type N86 (9).
Conclusion A strong association was observed between point mutations in the Pfmdr1 gene, codon 86, and in vivo CQ resistance in these isolates. |
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