Genetic diversity and natural selection of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte invasion genes in Ecuador
Abstract Background Knowledge of the diversity of invasion ligands in malaria parasites in endemic regions is essential to understand how natural selection influences genetic diversity of these ligands and their feasibility as possible targets for future vaccine development. In this study the divers...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04640-0 |
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| author | Andrés Núñez Francis B. Ntumngia Yasel Guerra John H. Adams Fabián E. Sáenz |
| author_facet | Andrés Núñez Francis B. Ntumngia Yasel Guerra John H. Adams Fabián E. Sáenz |
| author_sort | Andrés Núñez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Knowledge of the diversity of invasion ligands in malaria parasites in endemic regions is essential to understand how natural selection influences genetic diversity of these ligands and their feasibility as possible targets for future vaccine development. In this study the diversity of four genes for merozoite invasion ligands was studied in Ecuadorian isolates of Plasmodium vivax. Methods Eighty-eight samples from P. vivax infected individuals from the Coast and Amazon region of Ecuador were obtained between 2012 and 2015. The merozoite invasion genes pvmsp-1-19, pvdbpII, pvrbp1a-2 and pvama1 were amplified, sequenced, and compared to the Sal-1 strain. Polymorphisms were mapped and genetic relationships between haplotypes were determined. Results Only one nonsynonymous polymorphism was detected in pvmsp-1-19, while 44 nonsynonymous polymorphisms were detected in pvdbpII, 56 in pvrbp1a-2 and 33 in pvama1. While haplotypes appeared to be more related within each area of study and there was less relationship between parasites of the coastal and Amazon regions of the country, diversification processes were observed in the two Amazon regions. The highest haplotypic diversity for most genes occurred in the East Amazon of the country. The high diversity observed in Ecuadorian samples is closer to Brazilian and Venezuelan isolates, but lower than reported in other endemic regions. In addition, departure from neutrality was observed in Ecuadorian pvama1. Polymorphisms for pvdbpII and pvama1 were associated to B-cell epitopes. Conclusions pvdbpII and pvama1 genetic diversity found in Ecuadorian P. vivax was very similar to that encountered in other malaria endemic countries with varying transmission levels and segregated by geographic region. The highest diversity of P. vivax invasion genes in Ecuador was found in the Amazonian region. Although selection appeared to have small effect on pvdbpII and pvrbp1a-2, pvama1 was influenced by significant balancing selection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:16:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a565ca9439b4b9ab56d7fcf965869ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:16:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a565ca9439b4b9ab56d7fcf965869ca2023-11-19T12:26:16ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752023-08-0122111710.1186/s12936-023-04640-0Genetic diversity and natural selection of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte invasion genes in EcuadorAndrés Núñez0Francis B. Ntumngia1Yasel Guerra2John H. Adams3Fabián E. Sáenz4Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorCenter for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South FloridaGrupo de Bio-Quimioinformática, Universidad de Las AméricasCenter for Global Health and Interdisciplinary Research, College of Public Health, University of South FloridaCentro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorAbstract Background Knowledge of the diversity of invasion ligands in malaria parasites in endemic regions is essential to understand how natural selection influences genetic diversity of these ligands and their feasibility as possible targets for future vaccine development. In this study the diversity of four genes for merozoite invasion ligands was studied in Ecuadorian isolates of Plasmodium vivax. Methods Eighty-eight samples from P. vivax infected individuals from the Coast and Amazon region of Ecuador were obtained between 2012 and 2015. The merozoite invasion genes pvmsp-1-19, pvdbpII, pvrbp1a-2 and pvama1 were amplified, sequenced, and compared to the Sal-1 strain. Polymorphisms were mapped and genetic relationships between haplotypes were determined. Results Only one nonsynonymous polymorphism was detected in pvmsp-1-19, while 44 nonsynonymous polymorphisms were detected in pvdbpII, 56 in pvrbp1a-2 and 33 in pvama1. While haplotypes appeared to be more related within each area of study and there was less relationship between parasites of the coastal and Amazon regions of the country, diversification processes were observed in the two Amazon regions. The highest haplotypic diversity for most genes occurred in the East Amazon of the country. The high diversity observed in Ecuadorian samples is closer to Brazilian and Venezuelan isolates, but lower than reported in other endemic regions. In addition, departure from neutrality was observed in Ecuadorian pvama1. Polymorphisms for pvdbpII and pvama1 were associated to B-cell epitopes. Conclusions pvdbpII and pvama1 genetic diversity found in Ecuadorian P. vivax was very similar to that encountered in other malaria endemic countries with varying transmission levels and segregated by geographic region. The highest diversity of P. vivax invasion genes in Ecuador was found in the Amazonian region. Although selection appeared to have small effect on pvdbpII and pvrbp1a-2, pvama1 was influenced by significant balancing selection.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04640-0Plasmodium vivaxEcuadorGenetic diversityMerozoite invasionReticulocytesNatural selection |
| spellingShingle | Andrés Núñez Francis B. Ntumngia Yasel Guerra John H. Adams Fabián E. Sáenz Genetic diversity and natural selection of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte invasion genes in Ecuador Malaria Journal Plasmodium vivax Ecuador Genetic diversity Merozoite invasion Reticulocytes Natural selection |
| title | Genetic diversity and natural selection of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte invasion genes in Ecuador |
| title_full | Genetic diversity and natural selection of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte invasion genes in Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | Genetic diversity and natural selection of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte invasion genes in Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic diversity and natural selection of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte invasion genes in Ecuador |
| title_short | Genetic diversity and natural selection of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte invasion genes in Ecuador |
| title_sort | genetic diversity and natural selection of plasmodium vivax reticulocyte invasion genes in ecuador |
| topic | Plasmodium vivax Ecuador Genetic diversity Merozoite invasion Reticulocytes Natural selection |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04640-0 |
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