Diversity of vir Genes in Plasmodium vivax from Endemic Regions in the Republic of Korea: an Initial Evaluation.
10.3347/kjp.2017.55.2.149
- Author:
Ui han SON
1
;
Sylvatrie Danne DINZOUNA-BOUTAMBA
;
Sanghyun LEE
;
Hae Soo YUN
;
Jung Yeon KIM
;
So Young JOO
;
Sookwan JEONG
;
Man Hee RHEE
;
Yeonchul HONG
;
Dong Il CHUNG
;
Dongmi KWAK
;
Youn Kyoung GOO
Author Information
1. Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu 41944, Korea. dmkwak@knu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Plasmodium vivax;
vir gene;
genetic diversity;
the Republic of Korea
- MeSH:
Antigenic Variation;
Antigens, Surface;
DNA;
Genetic Variation;
Haplotypes;
Humans;
Immune System;
Plasmodium vivax*;
Plasmodium*;
Republic of Korea*;
Trees;
United Nations
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2017;55(2):149-158
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Variant surface antigens (VSAs) encoded by pir families are considered to be the key proteins used by many Plasmodium spp. to escape the host immune system by antigenic variation. This attribute of VSAs is a critical issue in the development of a novel vaccine. In this regard, a population genetic study of vir genes from Plasmodium vivax was performed in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Eighty-five venous blood samples and 4 of the vir genes, namely vir 27, vir 21, vir 12, and vir 4, were selected for study. The number of segregating sites (S), number of haplotypes (H), haplotype diversity (Hd), DNA diversity (π and Θw), and Tajima’s D test value were conducted. Phylogenetic trees of each gene were constructed. The vir 21 (S=143, H=22, Hd=0.827) was the most genetically diverse gene, and the vir 4 (S=6, H=4, Hd=0.556) was the opposite one. Tajima’s D values for vir 27 (1.08530, P>0.1), vir 12 (2.89007, P<0.01), and vir 21 (0.40782, P>0.1) were positive, and that of vir 4 (−1.32162, P>0.1) was negative. All phylogenetic trees showed 2 clades with no particular branching according to the geographical differences and cluster. This study is the first survey on the vir genes in ROK, providing information on the genetic level. The sample sequences from vir 4 showed a clear difference to the Sal-1 reference gene sequence, whereas they were very similar to those from Indian isolates.
