Genomic sequence of a new Plasmodium falciparum strain from Benin

Transmission-blocking vaccines and drugs are likely to be key interventions in efforts to achieve malaria elimination. However, transmission-blocking studies are reliant upon a limited number of culture-adapted strains of Plasmodium falciparum with limited genetic variability, or on field isolates which are only maintained transiently in the laboratory and therefore not amenable to replication studies. Herein, we investigated the gametocytogenesis capacity and infectivity to Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes of a P. falciparum field isolate collected from a malaria patient from Benin compared to those of NF54 strain. Whole genome of this P. falciparum field isolate has been sequenced.