Conservation of a novel vacuolar transporter in Plasmodium species and itscentral role in chloroquine resistance of P-falciparum

Chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum has recently been shown to result from mutations in the novel vacuolar transporter, PfCRT Field studie s have demonstrated the importance of these mutations in clinical resistanc e. Although a pfcrt ortholog has been identified in Plasmodium vivax, there is no association between in vivo chloroquine resistance and codon mutatio ns in the P. vivax gene. This is consistent with lines of evidence that sug gest alternative mechanisms of chloroquine resistance among various malaria parasite species.