Dr Cally Roper BSc hons PhD
The population genetics of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. What drives drug resistance evolution in Africa?

- ITD
- LSHTM
- Keppel Street
- London
- WC1E 7HT
- T: 020 7927 2616
In my research group,
we use empirical fieldbased approaches to examine the emergence and spread of drug resistance. We are measuring selection pressure exerted by drug in large field trials combination therapy and intermittent preventive treatment in infants.
We have produced interactive maps showing the distribution of resistance mutations in African malaria which are available at http://www.drugresistancemaps.org/ and http://www.wwarn.org/home/modules/markermaps/Mapper.html
We are integrating this information with policy in relation to the use of antifolate drugs in Intermittent Preventive Treatment of infants, children and pregnant women.
Affiliation
Teaching
I teach on the malaria study unit and supervise MSc projects on malaria.
Research
Mapping drug resistance genes in Africa
The purpose of this project is to summarise the distribution and dispersal of resistance genes in African P. falciparum malaria and is funded by Gates Malaria Partnership.
Interactive maps of Africa summarising the distribution of mutations conferring resistance to antifolate drugs are available at http://www.drugresistancemaps.org/
Mapping the spread of drug resistance mutations in Africa
The project is a collaboration with investigators from a large number of organisations, and we have recently published this article.
Multiple Origins and Regional Dispersal of Resistant dhps in African Plasmodium falciparum Malaria. Richard J. Pearce,Hirva Pota,Marie-Solange B. Evehe,El-Hadj Bâ,Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma,Allen L. Malisa,Rosalynn Ord,Walter Inojosa,Alexandre Matondo,Diadier A. Diallo,Wilfred Mbacham,Ingrid V. van den Broek,Todd D. Swarthout,Asefaw Getachew,Seyoum Dejene,Martin P. Grobusch,Fanta Njie,Samuel Dunyo,Margaret Kweku,Seth Owusu-Agyei,Daniel Chandramohan,Maryline Bonnet,Jean-Paul Guthmann,Sian Clarke,Karen I. Barnes,Elizabeth Streat,Stark T. Katokele,Petrina Uusiku,Chris O. Agboghoroma,Olufunmilayo Y. Elegba,Badara Cissé,Ishraga E. A-Elbasit,Hayder A. Giha,S. Patrick Kachur,Caroline Lynch,John B. Rwakimari,Pascalina Chanda,Moonga Hawela,Brian Sharp,Inbarani Naidoo,Cally Roper
It was reviewed in these articles:
Mapping the Spread of Malaria Drug Resistance. Tim Anderson
Mapping the origins and spread of antifolate-resistant malaria parasites. John E. Hyde 2009
Evaluation of drug selection pressure applied by intermittent preventive treatment of infants (IPTi).
Community effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment delivered through the expanded programme of immunisation for malaria and anaemia control in Tanzanian infants.
Partner institutions:Ifakara Health Research & Development Centre, Ifakara, Tanzania.London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London , UK.
Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through grants to the IPTi Consortium.
Research areas
- Drug resistance
- Infectious disease
- Infectious disease policy
- Malaria
- Molecular epidemiology
Disciplines
- Genetics
- GIS/Spatial analysis
- Molecular biology
Other interests
- MALARIA CENTRE
- Malaria Centre
- Malaria Prophylaxis
- Population Genetics
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Selected publications
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The transit phase of migration: circulation of malaria and its multidrug-resistant forms in Africa.
Lynch, C. ; Roper, C. ;
PLoS Med, 2011; 8(5):e1001040
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Drug resistance maps to guide intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in African infants.
Naidoo, I. ; Roper, C. ;
Parasitology, 2011; :1-11
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Drug coverage in treatment of malaria and the consequences for resistance evolution - evidence from the use of sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine
Malisa, A.L.; Pearce, R.J.; Abdulla, S.; Mshinda, H.; Kachur, P.S.; Bloland, P.; Roper, C.
Malaria Journal, 2010; 9
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Following the path of most resistance: dhps K540E dispersal in African Plasmodium falciparum.
Naidoo, I.; Roper, C.;
Trends Parasitol, 2010; 26(9):447-456
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Multiple origins and regional dispersal of resistant dhps in African Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
Pearce, R.J.; Pota, H.; Evehe, M.S.; Bâ, e.l.-.H.; Mombo-Ngoma, G.; Malisa, A.L.; Ord, R.; Inojosa, W.; Matondo, A.; Diallo, D.A.; Mbacham, W.; van den Broek, I.V.; Swarthout, T.D.; Getachew, A.; Dejene, S.; Grobusch, M.P.; Njie, F.; Dunyo, S.; Kweku, M.; Owusu-Agyei, S.; Chandramohan, D.; Bonnet, M.; Guthmann, J.P.; Clarke, S.; Barnes, K.I.; Streat, E.; Katokele, S.T.; Uusiku, P.; Agboghoroma, C.O.; Elegba, O.Y.; Cissé, B.; A-Elbasit, I.E.; Giha, H.A.; Kachur, S.P.; Lynch, C.; Rwakimari, J.B.; Chanda, P.; Hawela, M.; Sharp, B.; Naidoo, I.; Roper, C.;
PLoS Med, 2009; 6(4):e1000055
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Emergence of a dhfr Mutation Conferring High-Level Drug Resistance in Plasmodium falciparum Populations from Southwest Uganda.
Lynch, C.; Pearce, R.; Pota, H.; Cox, J.; Abeku, T.A.; Rwakimari, J.; Naidoo, I.; Tibenderana, J.; Roper, C.;
J Infect Dis, 2008; 197(11):1598-1604
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Intercontinental spread of pyrimethamine-resistant malaria.
Roper, C.; Pearce, R.; Nair, S.; Sharp, B.; Nosten, F.; Anderson, T.;
Science , 2004; 305 (5687 ):1124
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Antifolate antimalarial resistance in southeast Africa: a population-based analysis
Roper, C.; Pearce, R.; Bredenkamp, B.; Gumede, J.; Drakeley, C.; Mosha, F.; Chandramohan, D.; Sharp, B.
Lancet, 2003; 361(9364):1174-81
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