Genetic diversity of secreted protein with an altered thrombospondin repeat (SPATR) of Plasmodium knowlesi clinical isolates from Malaysia
https://doi.org/10.47665/tb.39.4.006
- Author:
Azlan, U.W.
1
;
Lau, Y.L.
1
;
Hamid, M.H.A.
2
;
Jelip, J.
2
;
Ooi, C.H.
3
;
Mudin, R.N.
4
;
Jaimin, J.J.
5
;
Fong, M.Y.
1
Author Information
1. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2. Vector Borne Disease Sector, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, 62590 Putrajaya, Malaysia
3. Sarawak Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
4. Sabah Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, 88590 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
5. Public Health Laboratory Kota Kinabalu, Ministry of Health Malaysia, 88850 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Tropical Biomedicine
2022;39(No.4):504-510
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The Plasmodium knowlesi secreted protein with an altered thrombospondin repeat (PkSPATR) is an
important protein that helps in the parasite’s invasion into the host cell. This protein has been regarded
as one of the potential vaccine candidates against P. knowlesi infection. This study investigates the
genetic diversity and natural selection of PkSPATR gene of P. knowlesi clinical isolates from Malaysia.
PCR amplification of the full length PkSPATR gene was performed on 60 blood samples of infected P.
knowlesi patients from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. The amplified PCR products were
cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis of PkSPATR from Malaysia showed higher nucleotide diversity
(CDS p: 0.01462) than previously reported Plasmodium vivax PvSPATR (p = 0.0003). PkSPATR from
Peninsular Malaysia was observed to have slightly higher diversity (CDS p: 0.01307) than those from
Malaysian Borneo (CDS p: 0.01212). Natural selection analysis on PkSPATR indicated significant purifying
selection. Multiple amino acid sequence alignment revealed 69 polymorphic sites. The phylogenetic
tree and haplotype network did not show any distinct clustering of PkSPATR. The low genetic diversity
level, natural selection and absence of clustering implied functional constrains of the PkSPATR protein.
- Full text:8.2022my1369.pdf
