title: Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 block 2 gene polymorphism in field isolates along the slope of mount Cameroon: a cross - sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malaria remains a major global health burden despite the intensification of control efforts, due partly to the lack of an effective vaccine. Information on genetic diversity in natural parasite populations constitutes a major impediment to vaccine development efforts and is limited in some endemic settings. The present study characterized diversity by investigating msp1 block 2 polymorphisms and the relationship between the allele families with ethnodemographic indices and clinical phenotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with asymptomatic parasitaemia (AP) or uncomplicated malaria (UM) were enrolled from rural, semi-rural and semi-urban localities at varying altitudes along the slope of mount Cameroon. P. falciparum malaria parasitaemic blood screened by light microscopy was depleted of leucocytes using CF11 cellulose columns and the parasite DNA genotyped by nested PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Length polymorphism was assessed in 151 field isolates revealing 64 (5) and 274 (22) distinct recombinant and major msp1 allelic fragments (genotypes) respectively. All family specific allelic types (K1, MAD20 and RO33) as well as MR were observed in the different locations, with K1 being most abundant. Eighty seven (60 %) of individuals harbored more than one parasite clone, with a significant proportion (p = 0.009) in rural compared to other settings. AP individuals had higher (p = 0.007) K1 allele frequencies but lower (p = 0.003) mean multiplicity of genotypes per infection (2.00 ± 0.98 vs. 2.56 ± 1.17) compared to UM patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate enormous diversity of P. falciparum in the area and suggests that allele specificity and complexity may be relevant for the progression to symptomatic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. apinjohtoby@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Tobias O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Apinjoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. rollandbantar@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rolland B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tata
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. kuoh2000@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Anchang-Kimbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. hanesh_chi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hanesh F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. fon.eleanor@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Eleanor M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fon
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. mugri72@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Regina N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Mugri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. anyetang@yahoo.com.|Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. anyetang@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Delphine A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tangoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. robert.nyinchu@gmail.com.|Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. robert.nyinchu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Robert V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Nyingchu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. mbigha@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ghogomu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. wifon@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nkuo-Akenji
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. achidi_e@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Achidi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D002163:Cameroon; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012424:Rural Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1