Population structure of the genes encoding the polymorphic Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1: implications for vaccine design.

ABSTRACT: Immunization with the highly polymorphic Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 (PfAMA1) induces protection in animals but primarily against parasites that express the same or similar alleles. One strategy to overcome the obstacle of polymorphism is to combine PfAMA1 proteins representing major haplotypes into one vaccine. To determine the minimum number of haplotypes that would confer broad protection, we sequenced the coding region of PfAMA1 from 97 clones from around the world and 61 isolates from Mali, identifying 150 haplotypes for domains 1 to 3 that included previous sequences. A clustering algorithm grouped the 150 haplotypes into six populations that were independent of geographic location. Each of the six populations contained haplotypes predominantly of that population

SUBMITTER: Duan J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2409418 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature