Merozoite surface protein-1 genetic diversity in Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium brasilianum from Brazil

Author(s):Show less -

Guimaraes, Lilian O. ^[1] ; Wunderlich, Gerhard ^[2] ; Alves, Joao M. P. ^[2] ; Bueno, Marina G. ^[3] ; Roehe, Fabio ^[4] ; Catao-Dias, Jose L. ^[3] ; Neves, Amanda ^[5] ; Malafronte, Rosely S. ^{[5, 6]} ; Curado, Izilda ^[7] ; Domingues, Wilson ^[8] ; Kirchgatter, Karin ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Superintendencia Controle Endemias, Nucleo Estudos Malaria, Inst Med Trop, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Parasitol, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Dept Patol, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Wildlife Conservat Soc, BR-22461000 Rio De Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Med Trop, Lab Protozool, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Molestias Infecciosas & Parasitarias, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[7] Lab Imunoepidemiol Superintendencia Controle Ende, BR-01027000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[8] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, Lab Soroepidemiol & Imunobiol, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES; v. 15, NOV 16 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 7

Abstract

Background: The merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) gene encodes the major surface antigen of invasive forms of the Plasmodium erythrocytic stages and is considered a candidate vaccine antigen against malaria. Due to its polymorphisms, MSP1 is also useful for strain discrimination and consists of a good genetic marker. Sequence diversity in MSP1 has been analyzed in field isolates of three human parasites: P. falciparum, P. vivax, and P. ovale. However, the extent of variation in another human parasite, P. malariae, remains unknown. This parasite shows widespread, uneven distribution in tropical and subtropical regions throughout South America, Asia, and Africa. Interestingly, it is genetically indistinguishable from P. brasilianum, a parasite known to infect New World monkeys in Central and South America. Methods: Specific fragments (1 to 5) covering 60 % of the MSP1 gene (mainly the putatively polymorphic regions), were amplified by PCR in isolates of P. malariae and P. brasilianum from different geographic origin and hosts. Sequencing of the PCR-amplified products or cloned PCR fragments was performed and the sequences were used to construct a phylogenetic tree by the maximum likelihood method. Data were computed to give insights into the evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships of these parasites. Results: Except for fragment 4, sequences from all other fragments consisted of unpublished sequences. The most polymorphic gene region was fragment 2, and in samples where this region lacks polymorphism, all other regions are also identical. The low variability of the P. malariae msp1 sequences of these isolates and the identification of the same haplotype in those collected many years apart at different locations is compatible with a low transmission rate. We also found greater diversity among P. brasilianum isolates compared with P. malariae ones. Lastly, the sequences were segregated according to their geographic origins and hosts, showing a strong genetic and geographic structure. Conclusions: Our data show that there is a low level of sequence diversity and a possible absence of allelic dimorphism of MSP1 in these parasites as opposed to other Plasmodium species. P. brasilianum strains apparently show greater divergence in comparison to P. malariae, thus P. malariae could derive from P. brasilianum, as it has been proposed. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/14622-3 - Comparative genomics of Trypanosomatidae
• Grantee: João Marcelo Pereira Alves
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants