Last Updated: 24/11/2025
Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine IPTp in Malawi: Effects on the gut and vaginal microbiomes
Objectives
The aim of this project is to test the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of SP are mediated by an effect on the gut or vaginal microbiome.
Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine IPTp in Malawi: Effects on the gut and vaginal microbiomes Abstract Adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, are common in sub-Saharan Africa. Much of it can be attributed to malaria. For nearly 20 years, pregnant women have been given therapeutic doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) as intermittent preventive therapy (IPTp) to protect against malaria. SP-resistant malaria has become widespread; yet, paradoxically, IPTp with SP remains protective against adverse birth outcomes. SP is an antifolate with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.
Ancillary study on 50 pregnant women who are subjects in a large randomized control trial comparing SP and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine as IPTp agents.
Methodology:
Faecal samples and vaginal swabs will be obtained and sent to UNC where the 16S ribosomal RNA gene will be deep-sequenced by MiSeq and analyzed by QIIME.
Article: The positive effect of malaria IPTp-SP on birthweight is mediated by gestational weight gain but modifiable by maternal carriage of enteric pathogensArticle: Impact of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine and Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine as Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy on Stool Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Abundance
Jul 2016 — Jun 2019
$418,000
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