The Genetic Fingerprint of Transmission Every time a malaria parasite reproduces, it creates an opportunity to trace ancestry. When two parasites share large segments of identical DNA, it’s not coincidence—it’s evidence of recent common inheritance. This is Identity by Descent (IBD), and it’s revolutionizing how we understand malaria transmission.
Unlike traditional surveillance that tracks where people get infected, IBD tracks where parasites came from. This molecular genealogy reveals:
Transmission chains — Which infections are connected?
This study examines the demography and population structure of Plasmodium falciparum in Tanzania and Zanzibar, highlighting the critical role of parasite importation in malaria elimination efforts. The findings have important implications for …
BACKGROUND: Tanzania's Zanzibar archipelago has made significant gains in malaria control over the last decade and is a target for malaria elimination. Despite consistent implementation of effective tools since 2002, elimination has not been …
This study examines the impact of antimalarial resistance on the genetic structure of Plasmodium falciparum populations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Using population genetic approaches, we demonstrate how drug resistance shapes parasite …
Plasmodium falciparum in western Cambodia has developed resistance to artemisinin and its partner drugs, causing frequent treatment failure. Understanding this evolution can inform the deployment of new therapies. We investigated the genetic …