Characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi-gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS)
Background: The pir genes comprise the largest multi-gene family in Plasmodium, with members found in P. vivax, P. knowlesi and the rodent malaria species. Despite comprising up to 5% of the genome, little is known about the functions of the proteins encoded by pir genes. P. chabaudi causes chronic...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2013
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/98131 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/10890 |
| _version_ | 1824454334641864704 |
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| author | Lawton, Jennifer Brugat, Thibaut Yan, Yam Xue Reid, Adam James Böhme, Ulrike Otto, Thomas Dan Pain, Arnab Jackson, Andrew Berriman, Matthew Cunningham, Deirdre Preiser, Peter Rainer Langhorne, Jean |
| author2 | School of Biological Sciences |
| author_facet | School of Biological Sciences Lawton, Jennifer Brugat, Thibaut Yan, Yam Xue Reid, Adam James Böhme, Ulrike Otto, Thomas Dan Pain, Arnab Jackson, Andrew Berriman, Matthew Cunningham, Deirdre Preiser, Peter Rainer Langhorne, Jean |
| author_sort | Lawton, Jennifer |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Background: The pir genes comprise the largest multi-gene family in Plasmodium, with members found in P. vivax, P. knowlesi and the rodent malaria species. Despite comprising up to 5% of the genome, little is known about the functions of the proteins encoded by pir genes. P. chabaudi causes chronic infection in mice, which may be due to antigenic variation. In this model, pir genes are called cirs and may be involved in this mechanism, allowing evasion of host immune responses. In order to fully understand the role(s) of CIR proteins during P. chabaudi infection, a detailed characterization of the cir gene family was required. Results: The cir repertoire was annotated and a detailed bioinformatic characterization of the encoded CIR proteins was performed. Two major sub-families were identified, which have been named A and B. Members of each sub-family displayed different amino acid motifs, and were thus predicted to have undergone functional divergence. In addition, the expression of the entire cir repertoire was analyzed via RNA sequencing and microarray. Up to 40% of the cir gene repertoire was expressed in the parasite population during infection, and dominant cir transcripts could be identified. In addition, some differences were observed in the pattern of expression between the cir subgroups at the peak of P. chabaudi infection. Finally, specific cir genes were expressed at different time points during asexual blood stages. Conclusions: In conclusion, the large number of cir genes and their expression throughout the intraerythrocytic cycle of development indicates that CIR proteins are likely to be important for parasite survival. In particular, the detection of dominant cir transcripts at the peak of P. chabaudi infection supports the idea that CIR proteins are expressed, and could perform important functions in the biology of this parasite. Further application of the methodologies described here may allow the elucidation of CIR sub-family A and B protein functions, including their contribution to antigenic variation and immune evasion. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-19T03:20:40Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/98131 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-19T03:20:40Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/981312023-02-28T16:56:02Z Characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi-gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS) Lawton, Jennifer Brugat, Thibaut Yan, Yam Xue Reid, Adam James Böhme, Ulrike Otto, Thomas Dan Pain, Arnab Jackson, Andrew Berriman, Matthew Cunningham, Deirdre Preiser, Peter Rainer Langhorne, Jean School of Biological Sciences DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences Background: The pir genes comprise the largest multi-gene family in Plasmodium, with members found in P. vivax, P. knowlesi and the rodent malaria species. Despite comprising up to 5% of the genome, little is known about the functions of the proteins encoded by pir genes. P. chabaudi causes chronic infection in mice, which may be due to antigenic variation. In this model, pir genes are called cirs and may be involved in this mechanism, allowing evasion of host immune responses. In order to fully understand the role(s) of CIR proteins during P. chabaudi infection, a detailed characterization of the cir gene family was required. Results: The cir repertoire was annotated and a detailed bioinformatic characterization of the encoded CIR proteins was performed. Two major sub-families were identified, which have been named A and B. Members of each sub-family displayed different amino acid motifs, and were thus predicted to have undergone functional divergence. In addition, the expression of the entire cir repertoire was analyzed via RNA sequencing and microarray. Up to 40% of the cir gene repertoire was expressed in the parasite population during infection, and dominant cir transcripts could be identified. In addition, some differences were observed in the pattern of expression between the cir subgroups at the peak of P. chabaudi infection. Finally, specific cir genes were expressed at different time points during asexual blood stages. Conclusions: In conclusion, the large number of cir genes and their expression throughout the intraerythrocytic cycle of development indicates that CIR proteins are likely to be important for parasite survival. In particular, the detection of dominant cir transcripts at the peak of P. chabaudi infection supports the idea that CIR proteins are expressed, and could perform important functions in the biology of this parasite. Further application of the methodologies described here may allow the elucidation of CIR sub-family A and B protein functions, including their contribution to antigenic variation and immune evasion. Published version 2013-07-03T02:06:30Z 2019-12-06T19:51:03Z 2013-07-03T02:06:30Z 2019-12-06T19:51:03Z 2012 2012 Journal Article Lawton, J., Brugat, T., Yan, Y. X., Reid, A. J., Böhme, U., Otto, T. D., et al. (2012). Characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi-gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS). BMC Genomics, 13. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/98131 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/10890 10.1186/1471-2164-13-125 22458863 en BMC genomics © 2012 The Authors. This paper was published in BMC Genomics and is made available as an electronic reprint (preprint) with permission of The Authors. The paper can be found at the following official DOI: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-13-125]. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences Lawton, Jennifer Brugat, Thibaut Yan, Yam Xue Reid, Adam James Böhme, Ulrike Otto, Thomas Dan Pain, Arnab Jackson, Andrew Berriman, Matthew Cunningham, Deirdre Preiser, Peter Rainer Langhorne, Jean Characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi-gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS) |
| title | Characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi-gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS) |
| title_full | Characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi-gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS) |
| title_fullStr | Characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi-gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi-gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS) |
| title_short | Characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi-gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi (AS) |
| title_sort | characterization and gene expression analysis of the cir multi gene family of plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi as |
| topic | DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/98131 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/10890 |
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