Genotyping of MSP3β gene in Indian Plasmodium vivax.
OBJECTIVE
The search for effective polymorphic markers in Plasmodium vivax is highly demanding to understand its transmission in a population. Due to the limited knowledge existing for P. vivax, the search for polymorphic markers for population studies is ongoing. The MSP gene family of Plasmodia has been linked with immune evasion. To study the circulating parasite population P. vivax merozoite surface protein 3β (PvMSP3β) polymorphic marker was used to investigate the genetic diversity of P. vivax in natural infections.


METHODS
Polymorphism of PvMSP3β gene was determined in 46 P. vivax blood samples from six different regions of India by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with PstI.


RESULTS
Two different parasite genotypes, viz. type-A and type-B were detected among 46 samples that were positive for PCR, based on the size of the amplification. RFLP analysis with PstI showed 22 allelic groups and 15.2% samples revealed mixed infections on analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
PvMSP3β was found to be an effective molecular marker for P. vivax as it shows high diversity in India and multiple genotypes easily distinguishable without the need for sequencing.
National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
Purva
P
Gupta
Veena
V
Pande
Alex
A
Eapen
Vineeta
V
Singh
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005819:Genetic Markers; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C436735:merozoite surface protein 3beta