Genome-wide patterns of genetic polymorphism and signatures of selection in Plasmodium vivax.

ABSTRACT: Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent human malaria parasite outside of Africa. Yet, studies aimed to identify genes with signatures consistent with natural selection are rare. Here, we present a comparative analysis of the pattern of genetic variation of five sequenced isolates of P. vivax and its divergence with two closely related species, Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium knowlesi, using a set of orthologous genes. In contrast to Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the most lethal form of human malaria, we did not find significant constraints on the evolution of synonymous sites genome wide in P. vivax. The comparative analysis of polymorphism and divergence across loci allowed us to identify 87 genes with patterns consistent with positive selection, including genes invo

SUBMITTER: Cornejo OE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4316620 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature