Functional validation of the Plasmodium falciparum K13 C580Y mutation in recently collected Ethiopian isolates
ABSTRACT Recent genomic investigation in Ethiopia identified the first detection of the Plasmodium falciparum Kelch13 (K13) C580Y substitution in the Horn of Africa. To assess its functional impact, we introduced C580Y into two recently collected Ethiopian clinical isolates using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. Ring-stage survival assays showed significantly elevated in vitro dihydroartemisinin survival in edited parasites relative to isogenic controls, demonstrating that C580Y confers artemisinin tolerance in contemporary Ethiopian parasite genetic backgrounds.
Authors
- Mahlet Belachew (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6263-4779)
- Tarrick Qahash (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2891-3090)
- Christopher V. Turlo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7115-7385)
- Enirsie Kassie
- Mulu Berihun
- Michael T. Ferdig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3516-9829)
- Sisay Adane
- Angana Mukherjee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7080-494X)
- Dagimawie Tadesse
- Adisu Tesfaye
- Lisa Checkley Needham
- Ashenafi Bahita Assefa
- Abebe A. Fola (9543709)
- Bokretsion G. Brhane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5442-134X)
- Douglas Shoue
- Jenna Zuromski
- Jonathan J. Juliano
- Jonathan B. Parr
- Getachew Tollera
- Jeffrey A. Bailey
- Geremew Tasew
Institutions
- University of Notre Dame (US)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Brown University (US)
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute (ET)
- Arba Minch University (ET)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
- Published
- 2026-09-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.00495-26
- Primary Topic
- Malaria Research and Control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00