Comparative genomics of the neglected human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax.
The human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax is responsible for 25-40% of the approximately 515 million annual cases of malaria worldwide. Although seldom fatal, the parasite elicits severe and incapacitating clinical symptoms and often causes relapses months after a primary infection has cleared. Despite its importance as a major human pathogen, P. vivax is little studied because it cannot be propagated continuously in the laboratory except in non-human primates. We sequenced the genome of P. vivax to shed light on its distinctive biological features, and as a means to drive development of new drugs and vaccines. Here we describe the synteny and isochore structure of P. vivax chromosomes, and show that the parasite resembles other malaria parasites in gene content and metabolic potential, but possesses novel gene families and potential alternative invasion pathways not recognized previously. Completion of the P. vivax genome provides the scientific community with a valuable resource that can be used to advance investigation into this neglected species.
Carlton
Jane M
JM
The Institute for Genomic Research/J. Craig Venter Institute, 9704 Medical Research Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA. jane.carlton@nyumc.org
Adams
John H
JH
Silva
Joana C
JC
Bidwell
Shelby L
SL
Lorenzi
Hernan
H
Caler
Elisabet
E
Crabtree
Jonathan
J
Angiuoli
Samuel V
SV
Merino
Emilio F
EF
Amedeo
Paolo
P
Cheng
Qin
Q
Coulson
Richard M R
RM
Crabb
Brendan S
BS
Del Portillo
Hernando A
HA
Essien
Kobby
K
Feldblyum
Tamara V
TV
Fernandez-Becerra
Carmen
C
Gilson
Paul R
PR
Gueye
Amy H
AH
Guo
Xiang
X
Kang'a
Simon
S
Kooij
Taco W A
TW
Korsinczky
Michael
M
Meyer
Esmeralda V-S
EV
Nene
Vish
V
Paulsen
Ian
I
White
Owen
O
Ralph
Stuart A
SA
Ren
Qinghu
Q
Sargeant
Tobias J
TJ
Salzberg
Steven L
SL
Stoeckert
Christian J
CJ
Sullivan
Steven A
SA
Yamamoto
Marcio M
MM
Hoffman
Stephen L
SL
Wortman
Jennifer R
JR
Gardner
Malcolm J
MJ
Galinski
Mary R
MR
Barnwell
John W
JW
Fraser-Liggett
Claire M
CM
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D053626:Atovaquone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018503:Genome, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D023281:Genomics; D000882:Haplorhini / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D032085:Isochores / Q000235:genetics; D008024:Ligands; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D005810:Multigene Family; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D026801:Synteny / Q000235:genetics
D037621:Artemisinins; D032085:Isochores; D008024:Ligands; C031327:artemisinin; D053626:Atovaquone