Functional analysis of Plasmodium vivax dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase genes through stable transformation of Plasmodium falciparum.

Mechanisms of drug resistance in Plasmodium vivax have been difficult to study partially because of the difficulties in culturing the parasite in vitro. This hampers monitoring drug resistance and research to develop or evaluate new drugs. There is an urgent need for a novel method to study mechanisms of P.

Defining the role of mutations in Plasmodium vivax dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase gene using an episomal Plasmodium falciparum transfection system.

Plasmodium vivax resistance to antifolates is prevalent throughout Australasia and is caused by point mutations within the parasite dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR)-thymidylate synthase. Several unique mutations have been reported in P. vivax DHFR, and their roles in resistance to classic and novel antifolates are not entirely clear due, in part, to the inability to culture P.

Efficacy of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in East Timor.

The efficacy of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in East Timor is unknown. We treated 38 individuals with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria with SP and monitored the outcome for 28 days. Recrudescent parasitemia, confirmed by genotyping, were detected in three individuals resulting in a late treatment failure rate of 7.

Survey of personal protection measures against mosquitoes among Australian defense force personnel deployed to East Timor.

A questionnaire was completed by 955 Australian Defense Force soldiers from two battalion groups to determine their usage of mosquito repellents and bed nets during peacekeeping duties in East Timor. The survey showed that most soldiers (84%) used repellents, but only 19% used them daily. The soldiers used a number of repellent formulations; however, few soldiers used the Australian Defense Force deet (diethyl methylbenzamide) formulation containing 35% deet in a gel.