Navigating parasite antigen genetic diversity in the design of <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> serological exposure markers for malaria.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plasmodium vivax poses a major obstacle to malaria elimination because it can lie dormant in the liver for weeks or months before reactivating and causing a relapse of infection. These dormant forms (hypnozoites) cannot be detected using standard diagnostics, but recent P. vivax exposure and by proxy, hypnozoite carriage, can be inferred using antibody-based tests (serological markers). In this study, we examined how genetic variation in P. vivax affects the utility of these antibody markers, and whether redesigned antigens could improve performance.

Methods

We analysed global P. vivax genetic data to assess variation in leading serological markers. Based on this, we produced new antigen versions (haplotypes) that better reflect global

SUBMITTER: Bareng P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12265567 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature