title: Inferring natural selection signals in Plasmodium vivax-encoded proteins having a potential role in merozoite invasion.
abstract: Detecting natural selection signals in Plasmodium parasites antigens might be used for identifying potential new vaccine candidates. Fifty-nine Plasmodium vivax-Sal-I genes encoding proteins having a potential role in invasion were used as query for identifying them in recent P. vivax strain genome sequences and two closely-related Plasmodium species. Several measures of DNA sequence variation were then calculated and selection signatures were detected by using different approaches. Our results may be used for determining which genes expressed during P. vivax merozoite stage could be prioritised for further population genetics or functional studies for designing a P. vivax vaccine which would avoid allele-specific immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá DC, Colombia; Basic Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Carrera 24 No. 63C-69, Bogotá DC, Colombia. Electronic address: degarzon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garzón-Ospina
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá DC, Colombia. Electronic address: lady2007_10@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forero-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50 No. 26-20, Bogotá DC, Colombia; Basic Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Carrera 24 No. 63C-69, Bogotá DC, Colombia. Electronic address: mapatarr.fidic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Manuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Patarroyo
mesh_terms: D019295:Computational Biology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D010802:Phylogeny; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000502:physiology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins
keywords: Allele-specific response; Anti-malarial vaccine; Natural selection signal; Plasmodium vivax