As Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax co-exist in most malaria-endemic regions outside sub-Saharan Africa, malaria control strategies in these areas must target both species in order to succeed. Population genetic analyses can predict the effectiveness of interventions including vaccines, by providing insight into patterns of diversity and evolution.
The aim of this study was to investigate the population genetics of leading malaria vaccine candidate AMA1 in sympatric P. falciparum and P.
vivax populations of Papua New Guinea (PNG), an area of similarly high prevalence (Pf = 22.3 to 38.8%, Pv = 15.3 to 31.8%).
Methods:
A total of 72 Pfama1 and 102 Pvama1 sequences were collected from two distinct areas, Madang and Wosera, on the highly endemic PNG north coast.
Results:
Despite a greater number of polymorphic sites in the AMA1 genes of P. falciparum (Madang = 52; Wosera = 56) compared to P.
vivax (Madang = 36, Wosera = 34), the number of AMA1 haplotypes, haplotype diversity (Hd) and recombination (R) was far lower for P. falciparum (Madang = 12, Wosera = 20; Hd
vivax (Madang = 50, Wosera = 38; Hd = 0.99, R =
vivax, and in both domains I and III for P. falciparum.
Conclusions:
Higher diversity in the genes encoding P.
vivax AMA1 than in P. falciparum AMA1 in this highly endemic area has important implications for development of AMA1-based vaccines in PNG and beyond.
These results also suggest a smaller effective population size of P. falciparum compared to P.
vivax, a finding that warrants further investigation. Differing patterns of selection on the AMA1 genes indicate that critical antigenic sites may differ between the species, highlighting the need for independent investigations of these two leading vaccine candidates.
Author: Alicia ArnottJohanna WaplingIvo MuellerPaul A RamslandPeter M SibaJohn C ReederAlyssa E Barry
Credits/Source: Malaria Journal 2014, 13:233
Published on: 2014-06-14
Tweet
News Provider: 7thSpace Interactive
Social Bookmarking
RETWEET This! | Digg this! | Post to del.icio.us | Post to Furl | Add to Netscape | Add to Yahoo! | Rojo
There are no comments available. Be the first to write a comment.