Human Genetic Markers and Structural Prediction of Plasmodium falciparum Multidrug Resistance Gene (pfmdr1) for Ligand Binding in Pregnant Women

Te study aims to determine the association of malaria infection with ABO blood groups and genotype and also to detect point

mutations at positions 86, 184, 1034, and 1042 of the Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance gene (pfmdr1) in blood samples

collected from pregnant women attending General Hospital Minna. Out of 250 pregnant women screened, 39 (15.60%) had malaria

infection. Prevalence was higher in women, during the third trimester (46.15%), genotype AA (64.10%), and O blood group (53.84%)

individuals when compared with others. Tere was signifcant (� < 0.05) decrease in Packed Cell Volume (PCV), hemoglobin

(HGB), Red Blood Cells (RBC), and platelet (PLC) count in infected group when compared with noninfected group. Although,

two of the isolates showed disrupted protein sequence at codon 1034–1042, no mutation was found in any of the P. falciparum

isolates. Structural prediction of chemical ligand led to the identifcation of Neu5Ac�2-3Gal�1-3/�1-4Glc/GlcNAc. Tis compound

can theoretically bind and change the functional integrity of the pfmdr1 protein, thus providing a new window for malaria drug

target