Abstract
A plethora of studies analyse the molecular markers of drug resistance and hence help in guiding the evidence-based malaria treatment policies in India. For reporting mutations, a number of techniques including DNA sequencing, restriction-fragment length polymorphism and mutation-specific polymerase chain reaction have been employed across numerous studies, including variations in the methodology used. However, there is no sufficient data from India comparing these methods as well as report the prevalence of polymorphisms in SP drug resistance molecular markers independently using such methods. Therefore, all data from Indian studies available for molecular marker studies of Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine was gathered, and a systematic review was performed. This systematic review identifies the molecular methods in use in India and compares each method for detecting sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine drug resistance marker. To delay the spread of drug-resistant parasite strains, a simplified and standardized molecular method is much needed which can be obtained by analysing the performance of each method in use and answering the necessity of newer methodological approaches.
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The Department of Health Research provided the Women Scientist fellowship to Dr. Shradha Bhullar.
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SB performed the literature search and data analysis. NM researched and reviewed the data to identify discrepancies, if any. SB drafted the manuscript, and NM critically revised the work.
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Bhullar, S., Mishra, N. Molecular assays for determining sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine drug resistance in India: a systematic review. Parasitol Res 121, 2765–2774 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07623-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07623-3