Continental-scale genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria across sub-Saharan Africa with rapid nanopore sequencing

Nature Communications 2026 Open access

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Authors: Mulenga Mwenda, Karolina Mosler, Bernd Bohmeier, Miriam Chomba, Welmoed van Loon, Brenda Mambwe, Amy Gaye, Adedolapo Olorunfemi, Salma Suliman, Nassandba Julien Yanogo, Djiby Sow, Bassirou Ngom
+37 more Oumou Aïcha Zeïna Zoure, Yssimini Nadège Guillène Tibiri, Fiyinfoluwa Ojeniyi, Arsène Zongo, Etilé A. Anoh, Vincent Achi, Carol Chiyesu, Sheila Otieno, Bixa Ogola, Moussa Niangaly, Manuela Carrasquilla, Dagaga Kenea Goboto, Torsten Feldt, Tafese Beyene Tufa, Rafael Oliveira, Emma Schallenberg, Yuhana Sogoba, Christina Ntalla, Oumarou Ouedraogo, Kephas Otieno, Oluyinka Opaleye, Adekunle Olowe, Marley Gibbons, Chris Drakeley, Grit Schubert, Frank P. Mockenhaupt, Sílvia Portugal, Awa B. Dème, Issiaka Soulama, Daouda Ndiaye, Olusola Ojurongbe, Simon Kariuki, Ya Ping Shi, Jonathan Schultz, Moonga Hawela, Daniel J. Bridges, Jason A. Hendry
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-72358-z
Cited by: 3
References: 51

Abstract

In sub-Saharan Africa, continental-scale genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria is needed to track the spread of drug and diagnostic resistance, as well as monitor parasite evolutionary responses to vaccine rollout. Yet continental-scale implementation is hindered by a lack of genomic approaches suitable for local laboratories, and the vastness of the continent. Here, we initiate a decentralised scale-up of P. falciparum genomic surveillance by locally sequencing and analysing 1065 samples across six African countries in one year. We achieve this with a novel nanopore sequencing protocol that is rapid (~5 hr) and cost-effective (

Fields of Study & Subjects

Malaria Research and Control Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies Genetics Bioinformatics and Biomedical Research

Publication details

Journal / source
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
17
Issue
1
Publication date
11 May 2026
Language
EN