Extended Data Fig. 7: Parasite connection network based on pair-wise genetic relatedness.
Networks were illustrated using Cytoscape and were colored according to the geographical origin (a) or kelch13 alleles (b). Lines indicate connections with relatedness (r) ≥ 0.35. There was no connection detected between east and west of Southeast Asia with r ≥ 0.15. Closely related parasites (r ≥ 0.35) were found between Kayin state and SMRU clinics on Thailand-Myanmar border. To assess the directionality of long-distance connectivity between Kayin State and the SMRU clinics, we used these closely related parasite pairs (r ≥ 0.35) sampled from both locations. Two Kayin parasites were closely related to common parasite genotypes from SMRU, consistent with geneflow from SMRU to Kayin. Similarly, five SMRU parasites were related to common genotypes from Kayin, consistent with geneflow from SMRU to Kayin. These findings indicate bidirectional connectivity, although interpretation is limited by lack of contemporary sampling at SMRU.
