Histidine-rich protein (hrp) 2-based RDT false-negatives and Plasmodium falciparum hrp 2 and 3 gene deletions in low, seasonal and intense perennial transmission zones in Cameroon: a cross - sectional study.

Background: False negative rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) accruing to the non-detection of Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2/3 (Pfhrp2/3) is threatening the diagnosis and management of malaria. Although regular monitoring is necessary to gauge the level of efficacy of the tool, studies in Cameroon remain limited. This study assessed Plasmodium spp.

Detection of novel coronin gene mutations in a recrudescent ACT-treated patient in South-Western Nigeria.

Background: Routine surveillance for antimalarial drug resistance is critical to sustaining the efficacy of artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs). and non- artemisinin ART) resistance-associated mutations are uncommon in Africa. We investigated polymorphisms in actin-binding protein (Pfcoronin associated with reduced sensitivity to ART in Nigeria.

Recent increase in low complexity polygenomic infections and sialic acid-independent invasion pathways in Plasmodium falciparum from Western Gambia.

Background: The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum utilizes multiple alternative receptor-ligand interactions for the invasion of human erythrocytes. While some P. falciparum clones make use of sialic acid (SA) residues on the surface of the human glycophorin receptors to invade the erythrocyte, others use alternative receptors independent of sialic acid residues.

Plasmodium malariae structure and genetic diversity in sub-Saharan Africa determined from microsatellite variants and linked SNPs in orthologues of antimalarial resistance genes.

Plasmodium malariae, a neglected human malaria parasite, contributes up to 10% of malaria infections in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). Though P. malariae infection is considered clinically benign, it presents mostly as coinfections with the dominant P.

A report on preparation, expansion and future outlook of COVID-19 testing in Gambia.

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 disease and rapid spread of the virus outside China led to its declaration as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in January 2020. Key elements of the early intervention strategy focused on laboratory diagnosis and screening at points of entry and imposition of restrictions in crossborder activities.

Objective: We report the role the Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia (MRCG) played in the early implementation of molecular testing for COVID-19 in The Gambia as part of the national outbreak response.

Sequence analysis of Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding proteins reveals the presence of unique haplotypes and diversifying selection in Ethiopian isolates.

Background: Red blood cell invasion by the Plasmodium vivax merozoite requires interaction between the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) and the P. vivax Duffy-binding protein II (PvDBPII). Given that the disruption of this interaction prevents P.

Comparative analysis of four malaria diagnostic tools and implications for malaria treatment in southwestern Nigeria.

Objectives: One of the problems encountered in malaria control and elimination is inaccurate diagnosis, resulting from the degree of sensitivity of the different malaria diagnostic tools. Even though microscopy remains the gold standard for malaria diagnosis, more sensitive and robust diagnostic tools such as polymerase chain reactions (PCR) are used in research settings to monitor interventions and track sub-microscopic infections due to some of the drawbacks of microscopy. Since diagnosis is a critical determinant for rational malaria treatment, it is imperative that accurate diagnosis must be assured for an effective treatment plan.

current knowledge and future research opportunities on a neglected malaria parasite species.

is often reported as a benign malaria parasite. There are limited data on its biology and disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) possibly due to the unavailability of specific and affordable tools for routine diagnosis and large epidemiology studies. In addition, occurs at low parasite densities and in co-infections with other species, predominately .

Seroprevalence and Parasite Rates of in a High Malaria Transmission Setting of Southern Nigeria.

Although continues to be the main target for malaria elimination, other species persist in Africa. Their clinical diagnosis is uncommon, whereas rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), the most widely used malaria diagnostic tools, are only able to distinguish between and non- species, the latter as "pan-species." Blood samples from health facilities were collected in southern Nigeria (Lagos and Calabar) in 2017 (October-December) and Calabar only in 2018 (October-November), and analyzed by several methods, namely, microscopy, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), and peptide serology targeting candidate antigens ( apical membrane antigen, .

Beyond SARS-CoV-2: Lessons That African Governments Can Apply in Preparation for Possible Future Epidemics.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has placed unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems, even in advanced economies. While the number of cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Africa compared to other continents has so far been low, there are concerns about under-reporting, inadequate diagnostic tools, and insufficient treatment facilities. Moreover, proactiveness on the part of African governments has been under scrutiny.

Diagnostic performance of a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the apicoplast genome for malaria diagnosis in a field setting in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: New diagnostic tools to detect reliably and rapidly asymptomatic and low-density malaria infections are needed as their treatment could interrupt transmission. Isothermal amplification techniques are being explored for field diagnosis of malaria. In this study, a novel molecular tool (loop-mediated isothermal amplification-LAMP) targeting the apicoplast genome of Plasmodium falciparum was evaluated for the detection of asymptomatic malaria-infected individuals in a rural setting in The Gambia.

Novel techniques and future directions in molecular diagnosis of malaria in resource-limited settings.

Despite being preventable and treatable, malaria remains a global health concern with approximately 1.2 billion people at high risk of being infected, 90% of whom are in the resource-limited settings of sub-Saharan Africa. The continued decline in malaria cases globally has rekindled the possibility of elimination in certain regions.

Molecular-based isothermal tests for field diagnosis of malaria and their potential contribution to malaria elimination.

In countries where malaria transmission has decreased substantially, thanks to the scale-up of control interventions, malaria elimination may be feasible. Nevertheless, this goal requires new strategies such as the active detection and treatment of infected individuals. As the detection threshold for the currently used diagnostic methods is 100 parasites/μL, most low-density, asymptomatic infections able to maintain transmission cannot be detected.

Changes in malaria parasite drug resistance in an endemic population over a 25-year period with resulting genomic evidence of selection.

Background:  Analysis of genome-wide polymorphism in many organisms has potential to identify genes under recent selection. However, data on historical allele frequency changes are rarely available for direct confirmation.

Methods:  We genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 4 Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance genes in 668 archived parasite-positive blood samples of a Gambian population between 1984 and 2008.

Improving malaria control in West Africa: interruption of transmission as a paradigm shift.

With the paradigm shift from the reduction of morbidity and mortality to the interruption of transmission, the focus of malaria control broadens from symptomatic infections in children ≤5 years of age to include asymptomatic infections in older children and adults. In addition, as control efforts intensify and the number of interventions increases, there will be decreases in prevalence, incidence and transmission with additional decreases in morbidity and mortality. Expected secondary consequences of these changes include upward shifts in the peak ages for infection (parasitemia) and disease, increases in the ages for acquisition of antiparasite humoral and cellular immune responses and increases in false-negative blood smears and rapid diagnostic tests.

Comparison of surveillance methods applied to a situation of low malaria prevalence at rural sites in The Gambia and Guinea Bissau.

Background: Health record-based observations from several parts of Africa indicate a major decline in malaria, but up-to-date information on parasite prevalence in West-Africa is sparse. This study aims to provide parasite prevalence data from three sites in the Gambia and Guinea Bissau, respectively, and compares the usefulness of PCR, rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), serology and slide-microscopy for surveillance.

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys in 12 villages at three rural sites were carried out in the Gambia and Guinea Bissau in January/February 2008, shortly following the annual transmission season.