Last Updated: 15/10/2025
Genomic analysis of Plasmodium vivax: identification of relapses and association with adverse effects on pregnancy in women from the Brazilian Amazon
Objectives
This project aims to study the genetics of P. vivax in samples isolated from pregnant women, through the sequencing of the total genome by the Illumina “Paired-end” method using the MiSeq Analyzer system. This will allow identifying P. vivax haplotypes and associating them with adverse pregnancy outcomes, determining the causes of a large number of relapses in this population group. Thus, it will be possible to discriminate cases of reinfection, recrudescence and relapse.
Malaria during pregnancy is a serious public health problem. The disease is characterized by the presence of Plasmodiumspp. in peripheral blood or in the placenta, with an impact on maternal and fetal health. Although the effect of P. vivaxgestational malaria is less described than that of P. falciparum, recent studies indicate that both species pose a threat to the mother and fetus. Several hypotheses, both on the host and parasite side, have been raised to explain the different outcomes during pregnancy after vivax infection. One of the hypotheses that has been implicated in the severity of the disease is related to the genetic structure of Plasmodium populations. Considering that the placental parasites present a distinct phenotype from those of the peripheral circulation, it is not yet known whether they are genetically different. Preliminary analysis of a prospective cohort of pregnant women conducted by the research team in the Amazon revealed a distinct profile of placental lesions and the presence of recurrent infections during pregnancy. Thus, the development of a project aimed at evaluating the genetic diversity of P. vivax populations among pregnant women in the Brazilian Amazon is justified. Understanding the biological aspects of P. vivax infections associated with gestational malaria may contribute in the future to delineating new treatment strategies for pregnant women.
Sep 2016 — Jan 2017
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