title: Evidence for intragenic recombination in Plasmodium falciparum: identification of a novel allele family in block 2 of merozoite surface protein-1: Asembo Bay Area Cohort Project XIV.
abstract: We have investigated intragenic recombination in Block 2 of the merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1), where three allele-specific families: K1, Mad20, and RO33 were previously known. Using parasites from western Kenya, we have found a fourth Block 2 allele type, which is a recombinant between Mad20 and RO33 alleles. These recombinant alleles, which we have termed MR, contain sequence from the 5' region of Mad20 and the 3' region of RO33. The results of this study provide new data on the complexity of the MSP-1 antigen gene, which is a candidate vaccine antigen, and further support the importance of intragenic recombination in generating genetic variability in Plasmodium falciparum parasites in nature.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Vaccine Section, Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail Stop-F12, 4770 Buford Hwy., Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takala
authors.forename: OraLee
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Branch
authors.forename: Ananias A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Escalante
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kariuki
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wootton
authors.forename: Altaf A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005784:Gene Amplification; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007630:Kenya; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1