title: Polymorphism at the merozoite surface protein-3alpha locus of Plasmodium vivax: global and local diversity.
abstract: Allelic diversity at the Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-3alpha (PvMsp-3alpha) locus was investigated using a combined polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) protocol. Symptomatic patient isolates from global geographic origins showed a high level of polymorphism at the nucleotide level. These samples were used to validate the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the PCR/RFLP method. It was then used to investigate PvMsp3alpha diversity in field samples from children living in a single village in a malaria-endemic region of Papua New Guinea, with the aim of assessing the usefulness of this locus as an epidemiologic marker of P. vivax infections. Eleven PvMsp-3alpha alleles were distinguishable in 16 samples with single infections, revealing extensive parasite polymorphism within this restricted area. Multiple infections were easily detected and accounted for 5 (23%) of 22 positive samples. Pairs of samples from individual children provided preliminary evidence for high turnover of P. vivax populations.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Galinski
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Barnwell
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Snounou
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004544:El Salvador / Q000453:epidemiology; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers; D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C089133:merozoite surface protein 3, Plasmodium