Genetic polymorphism and natural selection in the C-terminal 42 kDa region of merozoite surface protein-1 among Plasmodium vivax Korean isolates

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Kang Jung-Mi, Ju Hye-Lim, Kang Yoo-Mi, Lee Dong-Hyun, Moon Sung-Ung, Sohn Woon-Mok, Park Jae-Won, Kim Tong-Soo, Na Byoung-Kuk
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012
• Subjects: Plasmodium vivax; Merozoite surface protein-1 C-terminal 42 kDa fragment; Genetic diversity; Natural selection; Korea; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-206; https://doaj.org/article/de044966a1fd41de8d237b86ed9e466f

Abstract Background The carboxy-terminal 42 kDa region of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1 (PvMSP-1 42 ) is a leading candidate antigen for blood stage vaccine development. However, this region has been observed to be highly polymorphic among filed isolates of P. vivax . Therefore it is important to analyse the existing diversity of this antigen in the field isolates of P. vivax . In this study, the genetic diversity and natural selection in PvMSP-1 42 among P. vivax Korean isolates were analysed. Methods A total of 149 P. vivax- infected blood samples collected from patients in Korea were used. The region flanking PvMSP-1 42 was amplified by PCR, cloned into Escherichia coli , and then sequenced. The polymorphic characteristic and natural selection of PvMSP-1 42 were analysed using the DNASTAR, MEGA4 and DnaSP programs. Results A total of 11 distinct haplotypes of PvMSP-1 42 with 40 amino acid changes, as compared to the reference Sal I sequence, were identified in the Korean P. vivax isolates. Most of the mutations were concentrated in the 33 kDa fragment (PvMSP-1 33 ), but a novel mutation was found in the 19 kDa fragment (PvMSP-1 19 ). PvMSP-1 42 of Korean isolates appeared to be under balancing selection. Recombination may also play a role in the resulting genetic diversity of PvMSP-1 42 . Conclusions PvMSP-1 42 of Korean P. vivax isolates displayed allelic polymorphisms caused by mutation, recombination and balancing selection. These results will be useful for understanding the nature of the P. vivax population in Korea and for development of a PvMSP-1 42 based vaccine against P. vivax .