Application of genomics to field investigations of malaria by the international centers of excellence for malaria research.

Acta Trop
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

Success of the global research agenda toward eradication of malaria will depend on development of new tools, including drugs, vaccines, insecticides and diagnostics. Genomic information, now available for the malaria parasites, their mosquito vectors, and human host, can be leveraged to both develop these tools and monitor their effectiveness. Although knowledge of genomic sequences for the malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, have helped advance our understanding of malaria biology, simply knowing this sequence information has not yielded a plethora of new interventions to reduce the burden of malaria. Here we review and provide specific examples of how genomic information has increased our knowledge of parasite biology, focusing on P. falciparum malaria. We then discuss how population genetics can be applied toward the epidemiological and transmission-related goals outlined by the International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research groups recently established by the National Institutes of Health. Finally, we propose genomics is a research area that can promote coordination and collaboration between various ICEMR groups, and that working together as a community can significantly advance the value of this information toward reduction of the global malaria burden.

Year of Publication
2012
Journal
Acta Trop
Volume
121
Issue
3
Pages
324-32
Date Published
2012 Mar
ISSN
1873-6254
URL
DOI
10.1016/j.actatropica.2011.12.002
PubMed ID
22182668
PubMed Central ID
PMC3294120
Links
Grant list
MC_UP_A900_1117 / Medical Research Council / United Kingdom
U19 AI089696 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
U19 AI089696-01 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States