Low genetic polymorphism of merozoite surface proteins 7 and 10 in Colombian Plasmodium vivax isolates

• Published in: Infection, genetics and evolution genetics and evolution, 2011-03, Vol.11 (2), p.528-531
• Main Authors: Garzón-Ospina, Diego, Romero-Murillo, Liza, Tobón, Luisa F., Patarroyo, Manuel A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antigens; Antigens, Protozoan - genetics; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Colombia; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; erythrocytes; evolution; General aspects; genes; Genetic polymorphism; Genetic Variation; Genotype; haplotypes; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; immune response; immune system; Infectious diseases; malaria; Malaria Vaccines - genetics; Malaria Vaccines - immunology; Malaria, Vivax - immunology; Malaria, Vivax - parasitology; Medical sciences; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - immunology; Merozoite surface protein; merozoites; Molecular Sequence Data; P. vivax; Plasmodium vivax; Plasmodium vivax - genetics; Plasmodium vivax - immunology; Plasmodium vivax - isolation & purification; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Genetic; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; Protozoan Proteins - immunology; surface proteins; Vaccine candidate; vaccine development
• ISSN: 1567-1348; 1567-7257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2010.12.002

▶Pvmsp-7A, Pvmsp-7K and Pvmsp-10 genes display a low polymorphism among isolates. ▶ A single haplotype for Pvmsp-7A and Pvmsp-10 genes was found in Colombian parasites. ▶ The Pvmsp-7K gene displays 9 haplotypes in the Colombian parasite population. ▶P. vivax msp-7 family members show different genetic variability patterns. ▶ Low variability of Pvmsp-7A and Pvmsp-7K might avoid inducing allele-specific immunity. The merozoite surface protein (MSP) family is involved in the initial interaction between merozoites and erythrocytes in Plasmodium species, its members are therefore becoming major targets for vaccine development. Considering that antigens included in a subunit malaria vaccine should be both accessible to the immune system and lack genetic diversity or have very limited polymorphism, we have analyzed the genetic diversity of three msp genes (msp-7A, msp-7K and msp-10) in different geographical regions of Colombia. The results showed that these genes follow the neutral model of evolution and also display low genetic diversity. The strong conservation found for msp-7 haplotypes in isolates from geographically different regions further suggests that these proteins could be good components of a vaccine against Plasmodium vivax malaria, thereby avoiding strain-specific immune responses.