Demographic and evolutionary insights from whole-genome sequencing of Plasmodium falciparum in South America

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Talk abstract:
Genomic diversity in Plasmodium falciparum has been undercharacterized in many parts of South America, considering the significance of local disease burden, challenges to disease elimination, and the propensity for de novo emergence of drug resistance mutations in this region. Growing efforts across the continent are now changing this. I will report on recent genomic data from French Guiana, Guyana, Colombia, and Ecuador that are rapidly expanding our understanding of how parasites evolve in the face of changing human migration patterns and newly imposed disease interventions. The joint analysis of these data sets demonstrates how genome-wide sequencing and targeted molecular surveillance across the Americas is increasing our ability to detect the early emergence of drug resistance, track regional parasite movement, and measure declines in diversity that could mark successful intervention strategies.Genomic diversity in Plasmodium falciparum has been undercharacterized in many parts of South America, considering the significance of local disease burden, challenges to disease elimination, and the propensity for de novo emergence of drug resistance mutations in this region. Growing efforts across the continent are now changing this. I will report on recent genomic data from French Guiana, Guyana, Colombia, and Ecuador that are rapidly expanding our understanding of how parasites evolve in the face of changing human migration patterns and newly imposed disease interventions. The joint analysis of these data sets demonstrates how genome-wide sequencing and targeted molecular surveillance across the Americas is increasing our ability to detect the early emergence of drug resistance, track regional parasite movement, and measure declines in diversity that could mark successful intervention strategies.