From multiplicity of infection to force of infection in sparsely sampled high-transmission Plasmodium falciparum populations (opens in new tab)

High multiplicity of infection (MOI), the number of genetically distinct parasite strains co-infecting a host, characterizes falciparum malaria and other infectious diseases under high transmission. High MOI in Plasmodium falciparum accompanies high prevalence of asymptomatic infection despite high exposure, creating a large transmission reservoir that challenges intervention. This pattern is enabled by parasite immune evasion through extensive antigenic diversity. The force of infection (FOI...