Population genomics of virulence genes of Plasmodium falciparum in clinical isolates from Uganda.

ABSTRACT: Plasmodium falciparum causes a spectrum of malarial disease from asymptomatic to uncomplicated through to severe. Investigations of parasite virulence have associated the expression of distinct variants of the major surface antigen of the blood stages known as Pf EMP1 encoded by up to 60 var genes per genome. Looking at the population genomics of var genes in cases of uncomplicated malaria, we set out to determine if there was any evidence of a selective sweep of specific var genes or clonal epidemic structure related to the incidence of uncomplicated disease in children. By sequencing the conserved DBLα domain of var genes from six sentinel sites in Uganda we found that the parasites causing uncomplicated P. falciparum disease in children were highly diverse and that every child had a uni

SUBMITTER: Ruybal-Pesantez S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5603532 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature