PI: Ana Paula Arez
ana_paula_arez
The extent of genetic diversity of Plasmodium natural populations is a key epidemiological issue of malaria. Although the sporadic interest in the subject, interspecific infections are frequent and studies with humans and rodents indicated that different species interact, affecting mortality, pathology (attenuation of falciparum disease severity) and infection dynamics. Also the extent of genetic variation of natural populations of the most lethal P. falciparum, is a crucial factor. Knowing the population structure of Plasmodium spp. has practical implications for control strategies, particularly when the origin and dissemination of drug resistance associated genes, or the evolution of vaccine-candidate surface antigens, are considered.
Our work has mainly focused the genetic diversity of Plasmodium populations (both between and within species) and the effect of mixed-infections in malaria transmission in the field. Our previous studies carried out in Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique revealed that Plasmodium transmission dynamics is very complex and is affected by interactions between different parasite populations. We intend now pursuing these studies applying new approaches in the use of experimental models [parallel analysis of mosquito infections with human plasmodia (P.falciparum/P.vivax) mimicked by a murine model (P.yoelii/P.chabaudi)], in order to overcome the inherent limitations of field studies.
On-going studies:
1. Cabo Verde - “Epidemiology of malaria in Santiago, Cabo Verde”
2. Angola - “The effect of the host and parasite factors in the susceptibility to malaria”
3. Equatorial Guinea – “Population diversity and transmission dynamics of Plasmodium sp. and Plasmodium falciparum in Equatorial Guinea”
Main collaborations: Univ. Agostinho Neto, Angola; Centro Investigação Saúde Manhiça (CISM), Mozambique (P. Alonso); Centro Hispano-Guineano Enfermedades Tropicales Spain/Equatorial Guinea (A. Benito, P. Bersoza); Malaria Vaccine Drug testing Centre (MVDC), Colombia (S. Herrera)
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