Sympatric Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Venezuela have structured var gene repertoires.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum expresses adhesins belonging to the erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family on the surface of the infected host erythrocyte. These antigens elicit a strain-specific antibody response that is associated with protection from disease. During clonal expansion of blood-stage parasites, the surface phenotype of the infected erythrocyte changes because of transcriptional switching among the 40 to 50 members of the highly polymorphic var multi-gene family which encode PfEMP1 variants. Studies to date have compared var repertoires of natural isolates from various geographical locations but have not addressed any within-population structure that may exist among repertoires.

Methods

Distinct parasite genotypes from a si

SUBMITTER: Tami A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC155546 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature