Identification and characterization of the <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria caused by <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>is a major public health problem worldwide that affects 70-80 million people in the Middle East, Asia, Western Pacific, South America and the Caribbean. Despite its epidemiologi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2010-10-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Online Access: | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/9/1/283 |
| _version_ | 1818211377648500736 |
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| author | Villarreal-Gonzalez Silvana Moreno-Perez Darwin A Angel Diana I Mongui Alvaro Almonacid Hannia Vanegas Magnolia Patarroyo Manuel A |
| author_facet | Villarreal-Gonzalez Silvana Moreno-Perez Darwin A Angel Diana I Mongui Alvaro Almonacid Hannia Vanegas Magnolia Patarroyo Manuel A |
| author_sort | Villarreal-Gonzalez Silvana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria caused by <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>is a major public health problem worldwide that affects 70-80 million people in the Middle East, Asia, Western Pacific, South America and the Caribbean. Despite its epidemiological importance, few antigens from this parasite species have been characterized to date compared to <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>, due in part to the difficulties of maintaining an <it>in vitro </it>culture of <it>P. vivax</it>. This study describes the identification of the <it>P. falciparum </it>thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein homologue in <it>P. vivax </it>(PvTRAMP) and examines its potential to be further evaluated as vaccine candidate.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The gene encoding PvTRAMP was identified through an extensive search of the databases hosting the genome sequence of <it>P. vivax</it>. Genes adjacent to <it>pvtramp </it>were identified <it>in silico </it>to determine the degree of similarity between the protein sequences encoded by equivalent chromosomic fragments in <it>P. falciparum </it>and <it>Plasmodium knowlesi</it>. The <it>pvtramp </it>gene was amplified from cDNA of <it>P. vivax </it>schizont stages, cloned and expressed in <it>Escherichia coli</it>. Anti-PvTRAMP antisera was obtained by inoculating rabbits with PvTRAMP B cell epitopes produced as synthetic peptides in order to assess its recognition in parasite lysates by Western blot and in intact parasites by indirect immunofluorescence. The recognition of recombinant PvTRAMP by sera from <it>P. vivax-</it>infected individuals living in endemic areas was also assessed by ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The PfTRAMP homologue in <it>P. vivax</it>, here denoted as PvTRAMP, is a 340-amino-acid long antigen encoded by a single exon that could have a potential role in cytoadherence, as indicated by the presence of a thrombospondin structural homology repeat (TSR) domain. According to its transcription and expression profile, PvTRAMP is initially located at the parasite's apical end and later on the parasite surface. Recombinant PvTRAMP is recognized by sera from infected patients, therefore, indicating that it is targeted by the immune system during a natural infection with <it>P. vivax.</it></p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of this work support conducting further studies with PvTRAMP to evaluate its immunogenicity and protection-inducing ability in the <it>Aotus </it>animal model.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T05:31:32Z |
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| id | doaj.art-54bc597642b840ff94d6c7f956a98e69 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T05:31:32Z |
| publishDate | 2010-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| spelling | doaj.art-54bc597642b840ff94d6c7f956a98e692022-12-22T00:36:17ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752010-10-019128310.1186/1475-2875-9-283Identification and characterization of the <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>thrombospondin-related apical merozoite proteinVillarreal-Gonzalez SilvanaMoreno-Perez Darwin AAngel Diana IMongui AlvaroAlmonacid HanniaVanegas MagnoliaPatarroyo Manuel A<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria caused by <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>is a major public health problem worldwide that affects 70-80 million people in the Middle East, Asia, Western Pacific, South America and the Caribbean. Despite its epidemiological importance, few antigens from this parasite species have been characterized to date compared to <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it>, due in part to the difficulties of maintaining an <it>in vitro </it>culture of <it>P. vivax</it>. This study describes the identification of the <it>P. falciparum </it>thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein homologue in <it>P. vivax </it>(PvTRAMP) and examines its potential to be further evaluated as vaccine candidate.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The gene encoding PvTRAMP was identified through an extensive search of the databases hosting the genome sequence of <it>P. vivax</it>. Genes adjacent to <it>pvtramp </it>were identified <it>in silico </it>to determine the degree of similarity between the protein sequences encoded by equivalent chromosomic fragments in <it>P. falciparum </it>and <it>Plasmodium knowlesi</it>. The <it>pvtramp </it>gene was amplified from cDNA of <it>P. vivax </it>schizont stages, cloned and expressed in <it>Escherichia coli</it>. Anti-PvTRAMP antisera was obtained by inoculating rabbits with PvTRAMP B cell epitopes produced as synthetic peptides in order to assess its recognition in parasite lysates by Western blot and in intact parasites by indirect immunofluorescence. The recognition of recombinant PvTRAMP by sera from <it>P. vivax-</it>infected individuals living in endemic areas was also assessed by ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The PfTRAMP homologue in <it>P. vivax</it>, here denoted as PvTRAMP, is a 340-amino-acid long antigen encoded by a single exon that could have a potential role in cytoadherence, as indicated by the presence of a thrombospondin structural homology repeat (TSR) domain. According to its transcription and expression profile, PvTRAMP is initially located at the parasite's apical end and later on the parasite surface. Recombinant PvTRAMP is recognized by sera from infected patients, therefore, indicating that it is targeted by the immune system during a natural infection with <it>P. vivax.</it></p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of this work support conducting further studies with PvTRAMP to evaluate its immunogenicity and protection-inducing ability in the <it>Aotus </it>animal model.</p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/9/1/283 |
| spellingShingle | Villarreal-Gonzalez Silvana Moreno-Perez Darwin A Angel Diana I Mongui Alvaro Almonacid Hannia Vanegas Magnolia Patarroyo Manuel A Identification and characterization of the <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein Malaria Journal |
| title | Identification and characterization of the <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein |
| title_full | Identification and characterization of the <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein |
| title_fullStr | Identification and characterization of the <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification and characterization of the <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein |
| title_short | Identification and characterization of the <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>thrombospondin-related apical merozoite protein |
| title_sort | identification and characterization of the it plasmodium vivax it thrombospondin related apical merozoite protein |
| url | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/9/1/283 |
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