Using a mobile nanopore sequencing lab for end-to-end genomic surveillance of <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em>: a feasibility study (Publications)
Genomic epidemiology holds promise for malaria control and elimination efforts, for example by informing on Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity and prevalence of mutations conferring anti-malarial [...] drug resistance. Limited sequencing infrastructure in many malaria-endemic areas prevents the rapid generation of genomic data. To address these issues, we developed and validated assays for P. falciparum [...] resistance markers. We developed a bioinformatics workflow that allows genotyping...
Molecular assays for antimalarial drug resistance surveillance: a target product profile (Publications)
Antimalarial drug resistance is a major constraint for malaria control and elimination efforts. Artemisinin-based combination therapy is now the mainstay for malaria treatment. However, delayed parasite clearance [...] in the Greater Mekong Sub region and may emerge or spread to other malaria endemic regions. This spread is of great concern for malaria control programmes, as no alternatives to artemisinin-based combination [...] techniques can be standardised, and identify the requirements for...
Associations of peak shifts in age-prevalence for human malarias with bednet coverage (Publications)
Effects of bednet coverage (C) on prevalence of malaria were analysed using data from 1990-92 from 9 Papua New Guinean villages. Effects of coverage varied by age, resulting in a shift in age of peak [...] for Plasmodium falciparum, from 3.4 to 4.9 years for P. vivax and from 11.0 to 16.8 years for P. malariae. In small areas with no bednets the age distribution of P. falciparum parasitaemia was like that [...] mesoendemicity. Thus, protracted use of bednets can result in profound changes in...
Molecular assays for antimalarial drug resistance surveillance: a target product profile (Publications)
Antimalarial drug resistance is a major constraint for malaria control and elimination efforts. Artemisinin-based combination therapy is now the mainstay for malaria treatment. However, delayed parasite clearance [...] in the Greater Mekong Sub region and may emerge or spread to other malaria endemic regions. This spread is of great concern for malaria control programmes, as no alternatives to artemisinin-based combination [...] techniques can be standardised, and identify the requirements for...
Using a mobile nanopore sequencing lab for end-to-end genomic surveillance of <em>Plasmodium falciparum</em>: a feasibility study (Publications)
Genomic epidemiology holds promise for malaria control and elimination efforts, for example by informing on Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity and prevalence of mutations conferring anti-malarial [...] drug resistance. Limited sequencing infrastructure in many malaria-endemic areas prevents the rapid generation of genomic data. To address these issues, we developed and validated assays for P. falciparum [...] resistance markers. We developed a bioinformatics workflow that allows genotyping...
A multiplex qPCR approach for detection of <em>pfhrp2 </em>and <em>pfhrp3</em> gene deletions in multiple strain infections of <em>Plasmodium... (Publications)
The rapid and accurate diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection is an essential factor in malaria control. Currently, malaria diagnosis in the field depends heavily on using rapid diagnostic [...] blood. P. falciparum strains lacking PfHRP2, due to pfhrp2 gene deletions, are an emerging threat to malaria control programs. The novel assay described here, named qHRP2/3-del, is well suited for high-throughput
Disruption of erythrocyte rosettes and agglutination of erythrocytes infected with<em> Plasmodium falciparum</em> by the sera of Papua New Guineans (Publications)
Antibodies disrupting erythrocyte rosettes have been associated with protection against cerebral malaria, and antibodies agglutinating infected erythrocytes with reduced episodes of clinical disease. We [...] have studied the capacity of serum from Papua New Guinean adults and children with a spectrum of malaria exposure, including children and adults at the time of clinical disease, to disrupt erythrocyte rosettes [...] Rosette disrupting antibodies were equally frequent in children with...
Antimalarial efficacy of MMV390048, an inhibitor of <em>Plasmodium</em> phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (Publications)
of MMV390048 to block all life cycle stages of the malaria parasite suggests that this compound should be further developed and may contribute to malaria control and eradication as part of a single-dose [...] As part of the global effort toward malaria eradication, phenotypic whole-cell screening revealed the 2-aminopyridine class of small molecules as a good starting point to develop new antimalarial drugs [...] we found that the derivative, MMV390048, lacked cross-resistance with current drugs...
KAF156 is an antimalarial clinical candidate with potential for use in prophylaxis, treatment and prevention of disease transmission (Publications)
Renewed global efforts toward malaria eradication have highlighted the need for novel antimalarial agents with activity against multiple stages of the parasite life-cycle. We have previously reported the [...] that have activity in the prevention and treatment of blood stage infection in a mouse model of malaria. Consistent with the activity profile of this series the clinical candidate KAF156 shows blood s [...] drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains as well as potent therapeutic activity in...
Contribution of dengue fever to the burden of acute febrile illnesses in Papua New Guinea: an age-specific prospective study (Publications)
were enrolled, and 317 patients with a negative rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for malaria were tested for dengue. Malaria was confirmed in 52% (301/578, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 48-56%), DF was diagnosed [...] Abstract. Malaria is a major contributor to the burden of febrile illnesses in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Dengue fever (DF) is likely to contribute; however, its epidemiology in PNG is poorly understood. [...] diagnosed in 8% (46/578, 95% CI = 6-10%), and 40% (95% CI = 36-44%) had neither...
