Polymorphism of pfk13-propeller in Niger: Detection of Novel Mutations
Ibrahim Maman Laminou *
Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, 634 Bd de la Nation. 034 Yantala BP: 10887, Niamey, Niger
Mahaman Moustapha Lamine
Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, 634 Bd de la Nation. 034 Yantala BP: 10887, Niamey, Niger and Université Cheick Anta Diop-Dakar, Sénégal
Boubacar Mahamadou
Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, 634 Bd de la Nation. 034 Yantala BP: 10887, Niamey, Niger
Oumou Maïga Ascofaré
Benhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
Alioune Dieye
Université Cheick Anta Diop-Dakar, Sénégal
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: Artemisinin resistance was confirmed in Southeast Asia in 2009, and a molecular marker of resistance to artemisinin as point mutations in the region of the kelch13 gene (k13) coding for the C-terminal propeller domain of Kelch13 (K13-propeller) gene, was discovered in Cambodia in 2013.
Methods: In this context, we examined the polymorphism of k13-propeller by sequencing 602 Plasmodium falciparum isolates collected from patients with uncomplicated malaria in Niamey, Niger, during the rainy season of 2013.
Results: We observed thirteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including eight specific to Niger at a low frequency from 0.02% to 2.7%. The key mutations associated with delayed parasite clearance time in Southeast Asia (SEA) and with decrease of the ring-stage sensitivity to artemisinin in vitro (C580Y, R539T, Y493H, I543T and N458Y) were not observed. However, five particular non-synonymous mutations were found in our study area: M472I, Y558C, K563R, P570L and P615S and were not reported elsewhere.
Conclusion: These results suggest a genetic variability of P. falciparum k13-propeller domain in Niamey, Niger.
Keywords: Malaria, artemisinin resistance, P. falciparum k13-propeller, SNPs, Niger