Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41309585›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Tolerance of Plasmodium falciparum mefloquine-resistant clinical isolates to mefloquine-piperaquine with implications for triple artemisinin-based combination therapies.

Camille Roesch, Anna Cosson, Melissa Mairet Khedim, Nimol Khim, Nimol Kloeung, Sopheakvatey Ke, Sreynet Srun, Rotha Eam, Chanra Khean, Chanvong Kul and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Camille RoeschMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5119-0655
Anna CossonLaboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, UR ESCAPE, Université de Rouen Normandie, Rouen, France.
Melissa Mairet KhedimMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Nimol KhimMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Nimol KloeungMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Sopheakvatey KeMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Sreynet SrunMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Rotha EamMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Chanra KheanMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Chanvong KulMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Lucie AdouxGENOM'IC, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Cochin, Paris, France.
Jean PopoviciMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3135-1175
Rithea LeangNational Center for Parasitology, Entomology, and Malaria Control, Ministry of Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Pascal RingwaldMekong Malaria Elimination Programme, WHO, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Frédéric ArieyINSERM U1344, MERIT IRD, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
Romain CoppéeLaboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, UR ESCAPE, Université de Rouen Normandie, Rouen, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3024-5928
Benoit WitkowskiMalaria Unit, Pasteur Institute of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. bwitkowski@pasteur.mg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8599-6382

Funding

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) RAI3E
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Triple artemisinin-based combination therapies (TACTs) have been proposed to delay the emergence of multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum by combining two partner drugs with an artemisinin derivative. Among these, mefloquine-piperaquine (MQ-PPQ) is a leading candidate, based on the assumption that simultaneous resistance to both partner drugs would be difficult to develop. Here, we assess the efficacy and resistance potential of MQ-PPQ using Cambodian clinical isolates with distinct resistance profiles. We find that MQ resistance confers significant cross-tolerance to the MQ-PPQ combination, whereas PPQ-resistant and -sensitive strains remain susceptible. Under repeated MQ-PPQ pressure for four months, parasites rapidly acquire MQ-PPQ tolerance, driven by pfmdr1 amplification. Mechanistic investigations reveal that MQ inhibits PPQ accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, providing a functional explanation for the compromised efficacy of the combination. These findings demonstrate that MQ resistance alone can undermine MQ-PPQ TACT efficacy, calling into question the strategic rationale of this combination and underscoring the need for alternative regimens with a lower risk of resistance selection.

Indexed as

AntimalarialsArtemisininsMalaria, FalciparumMefloquinePlasmodium falciparumQuinolinesATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C ProteinsCambodiaDrug ResistanceDrug Therapy, CombinationHumansPiperazinesAntimalarialsartemisininArtemisininsATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C ProteinsMdr1 protein, Plasmodium falciparumMefloquinepiperaquinePiperazinesQuinolines

Identifiers

PMID41309585
PMCPMC12660809

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.