In the Greater Mekong Subregion, malaria transmission is heterogeneous and concentrated in defined geographic foci. The epidemiology is further complicated by the presence of undetected infections only detectable by molecular methods. Cross-sectional studies in the Greater Mekong Subregion have shown prevalences of molecular-detectable P. falciparum 2-23 times higher in areas classified by conventional techniques as low-transmission.

The high rates of infections undetected by conventional techniques are alarming because 50-70% of infections may harbour artemisinin resistant parasites. The aim of this project is to understand the host and parasite factors that underpin infectious reservoirs of resistant parasites through laboratory and epidemiological studies.

Timeline

Jan 2015 – Feb 2023