Genomic surveillance reveals co-occurrence of Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance variants across diverse transmission settings in Ethiopia.

Genomic surveillance uncovers widespread co-occurrence of drug resistance variants in Plasmodium falciparum across Ethiopia, threatening malaria control efforts.

• Why it matters: Understanding the distribution of resistance genes is crucial to address the rising challenge of antimalarial drug resistance, especially in regions with co-endemic P. vivax.
• What they did: Analyzing 605 isolates from 15 districts, the study examined key resistance genes and mitochondrial genomes, revealing dominant haplotypes linked to reduced drug susceptibility and expanding resistance variants.
• The result: Findings show co-occurrence of resistance mutations, such as PfCRT CVIET and PfK13 R622I, which can inform targeted antimalarial policies and help mitigate resistance spread in Ethiopia.