title: The evolution and diversity of a low complexity vaccine candidate, merozoite surface protein 9 (MSP-9), in Plasmodium vivax and closely related species.
abstract: The merozoite surface protein-9 (MSP-9) has been considered a target for an anti-malarial vaccine since it is one of many proteins involved in the erythrocyte invasion, a critical step in the parasite life cycle. Orthologs encoding this antigen have been found in all known species of Plasmodium parasitic to primates. In order to characterize and investigate the extent and maintenance of MSP-9 genetic diversity, we analyzed DNA sequences of the following malaria parasite species: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium reichenowi, Plasmodium chabaudi, Plasmodium yoelii, Plasmodium berghei, Plasmodium coatneyi, Plasmodium gonderi, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium inui, Plasmodium simiovale, Plasmodium fieldi, Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium vivax and evaluated the signature of natural selection in all MSP-9 orthologs. Our findings suggest that the gene encoding MSP-9 is under purifying selection in P. vivax and closely related species. We further explored how selection affected different regions of MSP-9 by comparing the polymorphisms in P. vivax and P. falciparum, and found contrasting patterns between these two species that suggest differences in functional constraints. This observation implies that the MSP-9 orthologs in human parasites may interact differently with the host immune response. Thus, studies carried out in one species cannot be directly translated into the other.
authors.affiliation: Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, Tempe, AZ, USA; Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. Electronic address: schenet@asu.edu.
authors.forename: Stella M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chenet
authors.forename: M Andreína
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Barnwell
authors.forename: Ananias A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Escalante
mesh_terms: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C455300:merozoite surface protein 9, Plasmodium
keywords: ABRA; Binding sites; Genetic diversity; MSP-9; Merozoite surface proteins; Plasmodium
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