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ABSTRACT: Background
A number of molecular tools have been developed to monitor the emergence and spread of anti-malarial drug resistance to Plasmodium falciparum. One of the major obstacles to the wider implementation of these tools is the absence of practical methods enabling high throughput analysis. Here a new Zip-code array is described, called FlexiChip, linked to a dedicated software program, which largely overcomes this problem.Methods
Previously published microarray probes detecting single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with parasite resistance to anti-malarial drugs (ResMalChip) were adapted for a universal microarray FlexiChip format. To evaluate the overall sensitivity of the FlexiChip package (microarray + software), the results of FlexiChip were compared to ResMalChip microarray, using the same extension probes and with the same PCR products. In both cases, sequence results were used as gold standard to calculate sensitivity and specificity. FlexiChip results obtained with a set of field isolates were then compared to those assessed in an independent reference laboratory.Results
The FlexiChip package gave results identical to the ResMalChip results in 92.7% of samples (kappa coefficient 0.8491, with a standard error 0.021) and had a sensitivity of 95.88% and a specificity of 97.68% compared to the sequencing as the reference method. Moreover the method performed well compared to the results obtained in the reference laboratories, with 99.7% of identical results (kappa coefficient 0.9923, S.E. 0.0523).Conclusion
Microarrays could be employed to monitor P. falciparum drug resistance markers with greater cost effectiveness and the possibility for high throughput analysis. The FlexiChip package is a promising tool for use in poor resource settings of malaria endemic countries.
SUBMITTER: Steenkeste N
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2770542 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Steenkeste Nicolas N Dillies Marie-Agnès MA Khim Nimol N Sismeiro Odile O Chy Sophy S Lim Pharath P Crameri Andreas A Bouchier Christiane C Mercereau-Puijalon Odile O Beck Hans-Peter HP Imwong Mallika M Dondorp Arjen M AM Socheat Duong D Rogier Christophe C Coppée Jean-Yves JY Ariey Frédéric F
Malaria journal 20091015
<h4>Background</h4>A number of molecular tools have been developed to monitor the emergence and spread of anti-malarial drug resistance to Plasmodium falciparum. One of the major obstacles to the wider implementation of these tools is the absence of practical methods enabling high throughput analysis. Here a new Zip-code array is described, called FlexiChip, linked to a dedicated software program, which largely overcomes this problem.<h4>Methods</h4>Previously published microarray probes detecti ...[more]