Kelch Mutations in Plasmodium falciparum Protein K13 Do Not Modulate Dormancy after Artemisinin Exposure and Sorbitol Selection In Vitro

Abstract

Some Kelch mutations of the Plasmodium falciparum K13 protein confer increased survival to dihydroartemisinin (DHA)-treated ring-stage parasites. Here, we asked if K13 mutations affect a dormancy phenotype allowing parasites to survive DHA exposure and then sorbitol selection. Although recrudescence from dormancy differed between two distinct parasite lines, it was similar for isogenic lines carrying single-site substitutions in K13. Therefore, K13 mutations do not alter the DHA-sorbitol combined dormancy phenotype; rather, traits from other loci likely determine this phenotype.

Keywords: drug resistance; malaria; recrudescence.