Why some vivax malaria parasites resist chloroquine
Molecular basis of antimalarial drug resistance in Plasmodium vivax
This work looks for gene changes in the vivax malaria parasite that make it resist chloroquine so people with vivax malaria can get better treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11415435 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will work with parasite samples taken from people with P. vivax malaria to compare the parasites' genes and how they respond to drugs outside the body. They will focus on several transporter genes that may change how the parasite handles chloroquine and other antimalarials. The team will combine genetic sequencing and drug-susceptibility tests on fresh patient samples and compare results across regions with different resistance patterns. Results will be used to point to genetic markers that could help guide treatment choices and surveillance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with P. vivax malaria who can give blood samples and consent, particularly those in regions where chloroquine treatment sometimes fails.
Not a fit: People without vivax malaria (for example those with P. falciparum or non-malarial illnesses) or those unable to provide samples would not directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors choose more effective medicines and allow health programs to detect and respond to drug-resistant vivax malaria sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Similar genetic and drug-response approaches uncovered key resistance genes in P. falciparum, but findings for P. vivax have been mixed and parts of this work are novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Duraisingh, Manoj T — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Duraisingh, Manoj T
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.