The researchers from the US University of Notre Dame’s Eck Institute for
Global Health are looking to deploy gene chip technology to lessen or contain
drug resistance to malaria, which is an increasing issue globally and
specifically in Southeast Asia.
They are developing a gene chip
which could contribute to identifying drug resistance in the blood samples.
Lead researcher, Michael Ferdig
said, “The goal is to see resistance as it is emerging, respond in real-time
and modify strategies to save a drug, like protecting it with new formulations
and combinations tailored to the specific location of emergence.” Mr. Ferdig
also said, “We now have markers for emerging resistance and new hypotheses that
we will use to track down the resistance mechanism.”
Francois Nosten, Director of the
Shoklo Malaria Research unit said, “Southeast Asia and in particular western
Cambodia, is the region where all the resistances in plasmodium falciparum have
emerged.”
According to the experts, the
gene chip technology is years away from the practical participation. “The gene
chip is only at the first stage of being developed,” said, Mr. Nosten.
Artemisinin is a natural plant
product representing first-line treatment for malaria. “Several groups are
competing to find the molecular markers of resistance to artemisinin, but it
will take several years before something is usable in the field and we do not
have this time to waste," Mr. Nosten also said.
Artika Shah
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