title: The genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax--a review.
abstract: The genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax has been investigated in several malaria-endemic areas, including the Brazilian Amazon region, where this is currently the most prevalent species causing malaria in humans. This review summarizes current views on the use of molecular markers to examine P. vivax populations, with a focus on studies performed in Brazilian research laboratories. We emphasize the importance of phylogenetic studies on this parasite and discuss the perspectives created by our increasing understanding of genetic diversity and population structure of this parasite for the development of new control strategies, including vaccines, and more effective drugs for the treatment of P. vivax malaria.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Súo José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil. wanejan@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Wanessa Christina
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: de Souza-Neiras
authors.forename: Luciane Moreno Storti
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.forename: Ricardo Luiz Dantas
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Machado
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D001938:Brazil; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010802:Phylogeny; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D005819:Genetic Markers; D015800:Protozoan Proteins