title: The origin of antigenic diversity in Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: Most studies of genetic variability of Plasmodium falciparum have focused on protein antigens and the genes that encode them. The consensus is that populations exhibit high levels of genetic polymorphism, most notably the genes encoding surface proteins of the merozoite (Msp1, Msp2) and the sporozoite (Csp). The age and derivation of this variation is a subject that warrants further careful consideration, as discussed here by Stephen Rich, Marcelo Ferreira and Francisco Ayala.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Rd, Bldg 20, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. srich01@emerald.tufts.edu
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rich
authors.forename: M U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ayala
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D014644:Genetic Variation; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C041595:circumsporozoite protein, Protozoan