High-throughput genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the Plasmodium falciparum dhfr gene by asymmetric PCR and melt-curve analysis.

Mutations within the Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase gene (Pfdhfr) contribute to resistance to antimalarials such as sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP). Of particular importance are the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within codons 51, 59, 108, and 164 in the Pfdhfr gene that are associated with SP treatment failure. Given that traditional genotyping methods are time-consuming and laborious, we developed an assay that provides the rapid, high-throughput analysis of parasite DNA isolated from clinical samples.