Molecular identification of the chitinase genes in Plasmodium relictum.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Malaria parasites need to synthesize chitinase in order to go through the peritrophic membrane, which is created around the mosquito midgut, to complete its life cycle. In mammalian malaria species, the chitinase gene comprises either a large or a short copy. In the avian malaria parasites Plasmodium gallinaceum both copies are present, suggesting that a gene duplication in the ancestor to these extant species preceded the loss of either the long or the short copy in Plasmodium parasites of mammals. Plasmodium gallinaceum is not the most widespread and harmful parasite of birds. This study is the first to search for and identify the chitinase gene in one of the most prevalent avian malaria parasites, Plasmodium relictum.

Methods

Both copies of P. gallinaceum chiti

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Longoria L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4072489 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature