GENETIC ARCHITECTURE AND DYNAMICS OF PFKELCH13S PROPELLER DOMAIN IN SENEGALESE PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUMCLINICAL ISOLATES

Plasmodium resistance to Artemisinin Combination-based Therapies (ACT) in Southeast Asia is a major public health concern that is sporadically appearing in Africa. Senegal has shifted from malaria control to elimination plans. Given notable progresses obtained through robust strategic plans,it is still crucial to assess genetic variability of thePlasmodium falciparumartemisinin resistance gene marker Kelch13 (PfKelch13)in circulating field isolates.We herereportan analysis of PfKelch13-propeller polymorphism in clinical isolates collected nine years after ACT introduction in five Senegalese regions with different malaria transmission settings. Sequencing ofPfKelch13-propeller domainfrom 280 clinicalisolates reveals that 16% (45/280) of the parasite population harboredvariants. Dynamics ofPfKelch13variants reveals emerging, persistent but also disappearing mutations over time. In addition to the malaria epidemiology, our survey also shows the dynamics ofPfKelch13variants in different malaria transmission settings in Senegal. Despite the absence ofPfKelch13associatedartemisinin resistance mutations, a shift from 86% to 68% of PfKelch13WTwas observed when comparing parasites collected prior vs. post ACT intensive usage in Dakar a low malaria transmission area. All together,our data confirms the need to closely monitor PfKelch13 polymorphism to anticipate and or preventemergence ofP. falciparumresistancein Senegal. &nbsp