Natural polymorphism in the thrombospondin-related adhesive protein of Plasmodium falciparum

Robson, Kathryn J.H., Dolo, Amagana, Hackford, Ian R., Doumbo, Ogobara, Richards, Martin B., Keita, Mamadou M., Sidibe, Touman, Bosman, Andrea, Modiano, David and Crisanti, Andrea (1998) Natural polymorphism in the thrombospondin-related adhesive protein of Plasmodium falciparum. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 58 (1). pp. 81-89. ISSN 0002-9637

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Abstract

We have developed a typing system using natural sequence variation in the thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) gene of Plasmodium falciparum. This method permits a haplotype to be assigned to any particular TRAP gene. We have applied this method to a hospital-based, case control-study in Mali. Previous sequence variation and conservation in TRAP has been confirmed. Particular TRAP haplotypes can be used as geographic hallmarks. Because of the high level of conflict between characters, we have examined the phylogenetic relationships between parasites using a network approach. Having received patient samples from urban and periurban areas of Bamako, the majority of haplotypes were closely related and distinct from TRAP sequences present in other continents. This suggests that the structure of TRAP can only tolerate a limited number of sequence variations to preserve its function but that this is sufficient to allow the parasite to evade the host's immune system until a long-lived immune response can be maintained. It may also reflect host genetics in that certain variants may escape the host immune response more efficiently than others. For vaccine design, sequences from the major regional variants may need to be considered in the production of effective subunit vaccines.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
Schools:	School of Applied Sciences
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
Depositing User:	Sara Taylor
Date Deposited:	07 Aug 2014 10:04
Last Modified:	01 Apr 2018 13:16
URI:	http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/21307

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