Project description:Transcription profile of the Plasmodium vivax intraerythrocytic cycle Total RNA in Plasmodium vivax strain at every 6 hour of intraerythrocytic cycle using RNA-seq
Project description:Vir/pvpir genes, a multigene family in Plasmodium vivax that are a part of a larger superfamily of genes called the pir (Plasmodium interspersed repeat) genes have been reported earlier to be possibly involved in cytoadherence and evasion of splenic clearance. Plasmodium vivax, historically characterized as a "benign" malaria parasite, has been associated with clinical outcomes including hepatic dysfunction, renal failure, and cerebral malaria in India and several global regions. It constitutes an economic burden and presents a public health challenge alongside other Plasmodium species. Here, we present a part of global transcriptomic studies by custom designed microarray, that compare the transcriptome of the parasite responsible for severe Plasmodium vivax manifestations, specifically hepatic dysfunction and cerebral malaria from India, with an emphasis on the vir/pvpir genes, some of which are reported to play a role in cytoadherence. 23 patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria (Uncomplicated=6, Hepatic dysfunction=12 and Cerebral malaria=5) were subjected to microarray hybridization and the data so obtained showed a wide range of vir/pvpir subtelomeric subfamilies have been differentially expressed. Upregulation has been seen in 24 vir/pvpir genes in cerebral malaria samples (n=5) and 28 genes in hepatic dysfunction samples (n=12) belonging to different subfamily in at least 50% of the patient samples. Out of the upregulated vir/pvpir genes in cerebral malaria manifestation, members of vir subfamily E and pvpir H are maximum in number whereas in hepatic dysfunction manifestation, members of vir subfamily E and C comprise a significant proportion.
Project description:Unlike in Asia and Latin America, Plasmodium vivax infections were rare in Sub-Saharan Africa due to the absence of the Duffy blood group antigen (Duffy Antigen), the only known erythrocyte receptor for the P. vivax merozoite invasion ligand, Duffy Binding Protein 1 (DBP1). However, P. vivax infections have been documented in Duffy-negative individuals throughout Africa, suggesting that P. vivax may use ligands other than DBP1 to invade Duffy-negative erythrocytes through other receptors. To identify potential P. vivax ligands, we compared parasite gene expression in Saimiri and Aotus monkey erythrocytes infected with P. vivax Salvador I (Sal I). DBP1 binds Aotus but does not bind to Saimiri erythrocytes, and thus P. vivax Sal I must invade Saimiri erythrocytes independently of DBP1. Comparing RNA sequencing (RNAseq) data for late stage infections in Saimiri and Aotus erythrocytes when invasion ligands are expressed, we identified genes that belong to tryptophan-rich antigen and MSP3 families that were more abundantly expressed in Saimiri infections as compared to Aotus infections. These genes may encode potential ligands responsible for P. vivax infections of Duffy-negative Africans.