Malaria genome sequences reveal new drug challenges

Separate genetic sequencing studies published in Nature Genetics – on Plasmodium vivax (P.vivax) and closely-related P.cynomolgi – provide new insights and tools for developing effective anti-vivax drugs. P. vivax is the most prevalent human malaria parasite outside Africa. P. cynomolgi is closely related but only infects Asian Old World monkeys.

The first-ever genome-wide study of P.vivax global interspecies variability revealed twice as much genetic diversity as P. falciparum strains. Although this suggests P.vivax will be skilful at evading new drugs and vaccines, “a better understanding of the challenges will drive a deeper analysis of its genomic variation in pursuing more effective remedies,” suggests senior author Dr Jane Carlton.

The second study generated a genetic map of P. cynomolgi. Using this information, researchers will push forward to create robust P. cynomolgi model systems, desperately needed because sister species, and human pathogen P. vivax cannot be grown in a laboratory.

References

Neafsey DE et al. The malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax exhibits greater genetic diversity than Plasmodium falciparum. Nature Genetics 2012; doi:10.1038/ng.2373

Tachibana S-I et al. Plasmodium cynomolgi genome sequences provide insight into Plasmodium vivax and the monkey malaria clade. Nature Genetics 2012; doi:10.1038/ng.2375