Key gene causing malarial drug-resistance identified

Washington, April 18 : A team of researchers, including Indian-American scientist Souvik Bhattacharjee, has identified a gene responsible for making malaria parasites resistant to artemisinins, a key group of anti-malarial drug.

The gene is a dominant marker used to track the parasite’s resistance and causes artemisinin resistance.

Mutation in the gene increases the kinase or enzyme levels, which…