Overview of the improvement of the ring-stage survival assay-a novel phenotypic assay for the detection of artemisinin-resistant <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>.

Abstract

Artemisinin resistance in <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> threatens the remarkable efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies worldwide. Thus, greater insight into the resistance mechanism using monitoring tools is essential. The ring-stage survival assay is used for phenotyping artemisinin-resistance or decreased artemisinin sensitivity. Here, we review the progress of this measurement assay and explore its limitations and potential applications.