title: In silico characterization of genetic homology in nuclear-encoded apicoplast-targeted genes between Plasmodium falciparum & P. vivax.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Resistance to anti-malarial drugs by the parasites is one of the major obstacles to malaria control. The primary objective of this work was to find specific nuclear-encoded-apicoplast-targeted genes that are conserved between two different human malaria parasite species, Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax to find a common drug/vaccine targets for both the species.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using computational genomics, possible nuclear-encoded-apicoplast-targeted genes were identified in P. falciparum genome. With comparative genomic approaches, homologous genes were identified between the two different human malaria species, P. falciparum and P. vivax.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total 545 reported nuclear-encoded-apicoplast-targeted genes in P. falciparum, we could narrow down to as less as five genes that were found to have highly conserved nucleotide stretches in P. vivax. However, two such genes were of importance, as the majority of the protein coding regions (exons) of these genes were found to be highly conserved between them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study shows that nuclear-encoded-apicoplast-targeted genes were conserved between the two human malaria parasites and these could be targeted for developing a common drug to cure both forms of malaria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology University, NOIDA, India. sujatam2005@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sujata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saklani
authors.forename: Mukesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahajan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D017125:Genes, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000235:genetics*; D017385:Sequence Homology