title: Genetic diversity of the malaria vaccine candidate merozoite surface protein 1 gene of Plasmodium vivax field isolates in Republic of Korea.
abstract: The Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 (Pvmsp-1) locus codes for a major asexual blood-stage antigen currently proposed as a malaria vaccine candidate antigen. However, extensive polymorphism of this protein has been observed in isolates from different geographical areas. Here, we investigate the extent and the frequency of allelic diversity at the Pvmsp-1 locus in field isolates collected in the Republic of Korea during the past decade. Among the 45 Korean isolates, six Pvmsp-1 gene types (SKOR-I to SKOR-VI) were identified as unique combinations of type sequences in each variable block. Of these six different Pvmsp-1 gene types, two major Pvmsp-1 allelic types were found in 72% (SKOR-I) and 28% (SKOR-II) of field isolates collected in 1996 to 2000, and four different allelic types (SKOR-III to SKOR-VI) emerged in 70% (10-25%) of isolates collected in 2007 to 2009. These results suggest that allelic diversity of Pvmsp-1 increased in several variable regions, including the N- and C-terminals, after reemergence of P. vivax parasites in the Republic of Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Hyoja2-dong, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 200-701, Republic of Korea. ethan@kangwon.ac.kr
authors.forename: Eun-Taek
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chae Seung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jun Hwi
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jong-Yil
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chai
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000235:genetics; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000469:parasitology; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D056910:Republic of Korea
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1; D015800:Protozoan Proteins