The effects of a partitioned <it>var </it>gene repertoire of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>on antigenic diversity and the acquisition of clinical immunity
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The human malaria parasite <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>exploits antigenic diversity and within-host antigenic variation to evade the host's immune system. Of particular importance are the highly polymorphic <it...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2008-01-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Online Access: | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/18 |
| _version_ | 1811311143833042944 |
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| author | Arinaminpathy Nimalan Recker Mario Buckee Caroline O |
| author_facet | Arinaminpathy Nimalan Recker Mario Buckee Caroline O |
| author_sort | Arinaminpathy Nimalan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The human malaria parasite <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>exploits antigenic diversity and within-host antigenic variation to evade the host's immune system. Of particular importance are the highly polymorphic <it>var </it>genes that encode the family of cell surface antigens PfEMP1 (<it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1). It has recently been shown that in spite of their extreme diversity, however, these genes fall into distinct groups according to chromosomal location or sequence similarity, and that recombination may be confined within these groups.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study presents a mathematical analysis of how recombination hierarchies affect diversity, and, by using simple stochastic simulations, investigates how intra- and inter-genic diversity influence the rate at which individuals acquire clinical immunity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analysis demonstrates that the partitioning of the <it>var </it>gene repertoire has a limiting effect on the total diversity attainable through recombination and that the limiting effect is strongly influenced by the respective sizes of each of the partitions. Furthermore, by associating expression of one of the groups with severe malaria it is demonstrated how a small number of infections can be sufficient to protect against disease despite a seemingly limitless number of possible non-identical repertoires.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Recombination hierarchies within the <it>var </it>gene repertoire of <it>P. falciparum </it>have a severe effect on strain diversity and the process of acquiring immunity against clinical malaria. Future studies will show how the existence of these recombining groups can offer an evolutionary advantage in spite of their restriction on diversity.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:12:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06b22d7a49384a7d85c8769f149e4aff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:12:35Z |
| publishDate | 2008-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-06b22d7a49384a7d85c8769f149e4aff2022-12-22T02:50:49ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752008-01-01711810.1186/1475-2875-7-18The effects of a partitioned <it>var </it>gene repertoire of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>on antigenic diversity and the acquisition of clinical immunityArinaminpathy NimalanRecker MarioBuckee Caroline O<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The human malaria parasite <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>exploits antigenic diversity and within-host antigenic variation to evade the host's immune system. Of particular importance are the highly polymorphic <it>var </it>genes that encode the family of cell surface antigens PfEMP1 (<it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1). It has recently been shown that in spite of their extreme diversity, however, these genes fall into distinct groups according to chromosomal location or sequence similarity, and that recombination may be confined within these groups.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study presents a mathematical analysis of how recombination hierarchies affect diversity, and, by using simple stochastic simulations, investigates how intra- and inter-genic diversity influence the rate at which individuals acquire clinical immunity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analysis demonstrates that the partitioning of the <it>var </it>gene repertoire has a limiting effect on the total diversity attainable through recombination and that the limiting effect is strongly influenced by the respective sizes of each of the partitions. Furthermore, by associating expression of one of the groups with severe malaria it is demonstrated how a small number of infections can be sufficient to protect against disease despite a seemingly limitless number of possible non-identical repertoires.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Recombination hierarchies within the <it>var </it>gene repertoire of <it>P. falciparum </it>have a severe effect on strain diversity and the process of acquiring immunity against clinical malaria. Future studies will show how the existence of these recombining groups can offer an evolutionary advantage in spite of their restriction on diversity.</p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/18 |
| spellingShingle | Arinaminpathy Nimalan Recker Mario Buckee Caroline O The effects of a partitioned <it>var </it>gene repertoire of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>on antigenic diversity and the acquisition of clinical immunity Malaria Journal |
| title | The effects of a partitioned <it>var </it>gene repertoire of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>on antigenic diversity and the acquisition of clinical immunity |
| title_full | The effects of a partitioned <it>var </it>gene repertoire of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>on antigenic diversity and the acquisition of clinical immunity |
| title_fullStr | The effects of a partitioned <it>var </it>gene repertoire of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>on antigenic diversity and the acquisition of clinical immunity |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of a partitioned <it>var </it>gene repertoire of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>on antigenic diversity and the acquisition of clinical immunity |
| title_short | The effects of a partitioned <it>var </it>gene repertoire of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>on antigenic diversity and the acquisition of clinical immunity |
| title_sort | effects of a partitioned it var it gene repertoire of it plasmodium falciparum it on antigenic diversity and the acquisition of clinical immunity |
| url | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/7/1/18 |
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