The genome of the zoonotic malaria parasite Plasmodium simium reveals adaptations to host switching.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plasmodium simium, a malaria parasite of non-human primates (NHP), was recently shown to cause zoonotic infections in humans in Brazil. We sequenced the P. simium genome to investigate its evolutionary history and to identify any genetic adaptions that may underlie the ability of this parasite to switch between host species.

Results

Phylogenetic analyses based on whole genome sequences of P. simium from humans and NHPs reveals that P. simium is monophyletic within the broader diversity of South American Plasmodium vivax, suggesting P. simium first infected NHPs as a result of a host switch of P. vivax from humans. The P. simium isolates show the closest relationship to Mexican P. vivax isolates. Analysis of erythrocyte invasion genes reveals differences between P.

SUBMITTER: Mourier T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8485552 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature