Population genetics is the study of genotypic and phenotypic variation in populations of organisms and the evolutionary processes that affect them. The population dynamics of P. falciparum is of special concern with the rise of drug resistance and the potential spread of resistance throughout parasite populations. Our research focuses on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variation (CNV) in P. falciparum populations to look for signatures of selection and adaptation that may provide insight into phenotypes like resistance and virulence. Using a custom high-density microarray capable of assaying genome-wide CNVs and 45,524 SNP loci (the CNV-SNP array), we genotyped 160 parasites from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malawi, and the Gambia to look for evidence of selection and their potential phenotypic impact.
Population Genomics
Distribution of P. falciparum. Guerra et al. 2008. The limits and intensity of Plasmodium falciparum transmission: Implications for malaria control and elimination worldwide. PLoS Med 5(2): e38.
