Genetic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum populations following treatment policy revisions in the Greater Mekong Subregion
1
Issued Date
2025-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20411723
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105005555841
Journal Title
Nature Communications
Volume
16
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Nature Communications Vol.16 No.1 (2025)
Suggested Citation
Wasakul V., Verschuuren T.D., Thuy-Nhien N., Booth E., Quang H.H., Thang N.D., Chindavongsa K., Sovannaroth S., Banouvong V., Sengsavath V., Mayxay M., Tuyen N.T.K., Phuong V.N.L., Duc Trung P., Gonçalves S., Chen S., Phalivong S., Xayvanghang S., Mahaphontrakoon S., Pearson R.D., Newton P.N., Maude R.J., Ashley E.A., Ariani C.V., Simpson V.J., Day N.P., Dondorp A.M., Miotto O. Genetic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum populations following treatment policy revisions in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Nature Communications Vol.16 No.1 (2025). doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59946-1 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/110357
Title
Genetic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum populations following treatment policy revisions in the Greater Mekong Subregion
Author(s)
Wasakul V.
Verschuuren T.D.
Thuy-Nhien N.
Booth E.
Quang H.H.
Thang N.D.
Chindavongsa K.
Sovannaroth S.
Banouvong V.
Sengsavath V.
Mayxay M.
Tuyen N.T.K.
Phuong V.N.L.
Duc Trung P.
Gonçalves S.
Chen S.
Phalivong S.
Xayvanghang S.
Mahaphontrakoon S.
Pearson R.D.
Newton P.N.
Maude R.J.
Ashley E.A.
Ariani C.V.
Simpson V.J.
Day N.P.
Dondorp A.M.
Miotto O.
Verschuuren T.D.
Thuy-Nhien N.
Booth E.
Quang H.H.
Thang N.D.
Chindavongsa K.
Sovannaroth S.
Banouvong V.
Sengsavath V.
Mayxay M.
Tuyen N.T.K.
Phuong V.N.L.
Duc Trung P.
Gonçalves S.
Chen S.
Phalivong S.
Xayvanghang S.
Mahaphontrakoon S.
Pearson R.D.
Newton P.N.
Maude R.J.
Ashley E.A.
Ariani C.V.
Simpson V.J.
Day N.P.
Dondorp A.M.
Miotto O.
Author's Affiliation
Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit
Ministry of Health Laos
National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology Hanoi
National University of Singapore
Mahosot Hospital, Lao
The Open University
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Institute of Malariology
National Center for Parasitology
Centre of Malariology
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit
Ministry of Health Laos
National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology Hanoi
National University of Singapore
Mahosot Hospital, Lao
The Open University
Nuffield Department of Medicine
Wellcome Sanger Institute
Institute of Malariology
National Center for Parasitology
Centre of Malariology
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Genetic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) can track antimalarial-resistant strains, to inform decision-making by National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCPs). The GenRe-Mekong project prospectively collected 5982 samples in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) between 2017 and 2022, genotyping drug resistance markers, and barcodes that recapitulate genetic variation. Genotypes were analyzed with the grcMalaria R package, first described in this paper, to translate genetic epidemiology data into actionable visual information. Since 2020, Pf incidences decreased rapidly, accompanied by a decline of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ) resistant lineages, previously dominant in the eastern GMS. The frequency of plasmepsin2/3 amplifications, conferring piperaquine resistance, dropped from 62% in 2017-2019 to 2% in 2022, coinciding with a switch in frontline therapy in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. While regional artemisinin resistance levels remained high, no evidence of emerging mefloquine resistance was found. Routine genetic surveillance proved valuable in monitoring rapid parasite population changes in response to public health interventions, providing actionable information for NMCPs.