Pre-existing partner-drug resistance to artemisinin combination therapies facilitates the emergence and spread of artemisinin resistance : a consensus modelling study

Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved..

BACKGROUND: Artemisinin-resistant genotypes of Plasmodium falciparum have now emerged a minimum of six times on three continents despite recommendations that all artemisinins be deployed as artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs). Widespread resistance to the non-artemisinin partner drugs in ACTs has the potential to limit the clinical and resistance benefits provided by combination therapy. We aimed to model and evaluate the long-term effects of high levels of partner-drug resistance on the early emergence of artemisinin-resistant genotypes.

METHODS: Using a consensus modelling approach, we used three individual-based mathematical models of Plasmodium falciparum transmission to evaluate the effects of pre-existing partner-drug resistance and ACT deployment on the evolution of artemisinin resistance. Each model simulates 100 000 individuals in a particular transmission setting (malaria prevalence of 1%, 5%, 10%, or 20%) with a daily time step that updates individuals' infection status, treatment status, immunity, genotype-specific parasite densities, and clinical state. We modelled varying access to antimalarial drugs if febrile (coverage of 20%, 40%, or 60%) with one primary ACT used as first-line therapy: dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ), artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ), or artemether-lumefantrine (AL). The primary outcome was time until 0·25 580Y allele frequency for artemisinin resistance (the establishment time).

FINDINGS: Higher frequencies of pre-existing partner-drug resistant genotypes lead to earlier establishment of artemisinin resistance. Across all models, a 10-fold increase in the frequency of partner-drug resistance genotypes on average corresponded to loss of artemisinin efficacy 2-12 years earlier. Most reductions in time to artemisinin resistance establishment were observed after an increase in frequency of the partner-drug resistance genotype from 0·0 to 0·10.

INTERPRETATION: Partner-drug resistance in ACTs facilitates the early emergence of artemisinin resistance and is a major public health concern. Higher-grade partner-drug resistance has the largest effect, with piperaquine resistance accelerating the early emergence of artemisinin-resistant alleles the most. Continued investment in molecular surveillance of partner-drug resistant genotypes to guide choice of first-line ACT is paramount.

FUNDING: Schmidt Science Fellowship in partnership with the Rhodes Trust; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Wellcome Trust.

Errataetall:

ErratumIn: Lancet Microbe. 2022 Nov 25;:. - PMID 36442493

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:3

Enthalten in:

The Lancet. Microbe - 3(2022), 9 vom: 28. Sept., Seite e701-e710

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Watson, Oliver J [VerfasserIn]
Gao, Bo [VerfasserIn]
Nguyen, Tran Dang [VerfasserIn]
Tran, Thu Nguyen-Anh [VerfasserIn]
Penny, Melissa A [VerfasserIn]
Smith, David L [VerfasserIn]
Okell, Lucy [VerfasserIn]
Aguas, Ricardo [VerfasserIn]
Boni, Maciej F [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Antimalarials
Artemether
Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination
C7D6T3H22J
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 08.09.2022

Date Revised 08.02.2023

published: Print-Electronic

ErratumIn: Lancet Microbe. 2022 Nov 25;:. - PMID 36442493

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/S2666-5247(22)00155-0

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM344505782