Genetics of Malaria Drug Resistance Revealed

January 20, 2015

(BBC) – The genetics underpinning resistance to a frontline malaria drug, artemisinin, have been revealed, scientists say. In South East Asia, malaria parasites have developed tolerance to the treatment, and there are fears that this will spread. Now, in the largest genetic study to date, scientists have identified mutations in the parasite genome that are linked to resistance.