Hamadan University of Medical Sciences Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection 2383-0298 11 2 2024 06 30 Molecular Surveillance of Artemisinin Combination Therapy Resistance Markers in Kelch13 Gene of Plasmodium falciparum Isolates Collected From Yobe State Nigeria 87 96 10.34172/ajcmi.3524 EN Abdulhamid Abubakar Zubair https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1329-766X Gabriel Adegboyega Ajibade https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7121-264X Ali Ahmed Haroun Karderam Bukar Dikwa https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3830-6929 Sagir Adamu Barde https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2445-2745 Simdung Wuriba Kopdorah https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5693-4738 Amina Yusuf Bulama https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8817-9145 Umar Faruk Abubakar https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0542-4199 Muttaka Auwalu https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8764-4284 Muhammad Ribado Bashir https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7800-5580 Journal Article 10.34172/ajcmi.3524 2024 05 24 2024 06 22 Background: Despite the discovery of artemisinin and artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs), resistance emerged due to single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the Kelch13 propeller domain of Plasmodium falciparum; the predominant parasite causing malaria. This research aimed at surveying the gene responsible for reduced parasite clearance of the first-line antimalarial ACT in Yobe State, Nigeria. Methods: This study analyzed the blood samples of 300 patients (18-50 years) from 3 different hospitals in Yobe State for malaria using a rapid diagnostic test (malarial strip test). The Giemsa microscopy protocol was performed on the samples that tested positive in order to increase specificity for high parasitemia. Positive samples from microscopy were confirmed by COXIII gene polymerase chain reaction amplification. The fragments of the P. falciparum kelch13 gene encompassing the propeller domains were amplified and sequenced to detect polymorphism. Results: The result of multiple sequence alignment of 16 successfully sequenced samples performed alongside the reference 3D7 strain revealed nine novel mutations that have not been reported elsewhere. Two were synonymous (S485S and A675A), and seven were non-synonymous (E461V, S485R, D648H, E668Q, S679L, H697Y, and W706M). The genetic diversity parameters obtained in this study indicated non-severe mutations with haplotype diversity [Hd=0.662, D (Tadjima)=-2.16692 and D* (Fu and Li) -3.08435]. Seven different haplotypes were discovered, and the result of the haplotype network demonstrated Hap_1 to be the predominant haplotype in the population. Conclusion: The absence of the WHO-validated markers may suggest that ACTs are still effective in Yobe.