Rapid turnover of Plasmodium falciparum var gene transcripts and genotypes during natural non-symptomatic infections.
The var genes of Plasmodium falciparum code for the antigenically variant erythrocyte membrane proteins 1 (PfEMP1), a major factor for cytoadherence and immune escape of the parasite. Herein, we analyzed the var gene transcript turnover in two ongoing, non-symptomatic infections at sequential time points during two weeks. The number of different circulating genomes was estimated by microsatellite analyses. In both infections, we observed a rapid turnover of plasmodial genotypes and var transcripts. The rapidly changing repertoire of var transcripts could have been caused either by swift elimination of circulating var-transcribing parasites stemming from different or identical genetic backgrounds, or by accelerated switching of var gene transcription itself.
Wunderlich
Gerhard
G
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas 2, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. gwunder@usp.br
Alves
Fabiana P
FP
Gölnitz
Uta
U
Tada
Mauro S
MS
Camargo
Erney F P de
EF
Pereira-da-Silva
Luiz H
LH
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; C085731:erythrocyte membrane protein 1, Plasmodium falciparum