title: Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 in the China-Myanmar border area.
abstract: Deletion of the Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (pfhrp2) gene may affect the performance of PfHRP2-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Here we investigated the genetic diversity of the pfhrp2 gene in clinical parasite isolates collected in recent years from the China-Myanmar border area. Deletion of pfhrp2 has been identified in 4 out of 97 parasite isolates. Sequencing of the pfhrp2 exon2 from 67 isolates revealed a high level of genetic diversity in pfhrp2, which is reflected in the presence of many repeat types and their variants, as well as variable copy numbers and different arrangements of these repeats in parasite isolates. In addition, we observed pfhrp3 deletion in three of the four parasites harboring pfhrp2 deletion, suggesting of double deletions of both genes in these three isolates. Analysis of two cases, which were P. falciparum-positive by microscopy and PCR but failed by two PfHRP2-based RDTs, did not find pfhrp2 deletion. Further correlational studies of pfhrp2 polymorphisms with detection sensitivity are needed to identify factors influencing the performance of RDTs in malaria-endemic areas.
authors: Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, PR China. Electronic address: ppttkx@163.com.
authors: Peipei
authors: P
authors: Li
authors: Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, PR China. Electronic address: xinghua_2013@outlook.com.
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Xing
authors: Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, PR China. Electronic address: zhenzhen1029@126.com.
authors: Zhenjun
authors: Z
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Parasitology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China. Electronic address: zhaoqingy@yahoo.com.
authors: Zhaoqing
authors: Z
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Immunology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, PR China. Electronic address: ymcao@mail.cmu.edu.cn.
authors: Yaming
authors: Y
authors: Cao
authors: Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, Liaoning, PR China. Electronic address: biolwl@dlut.edu.cn.
authors: Wenli
authors: W
authors: Li
authors: Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA. Electronic address: guiyuny@uci.edu.
authors: Guiyun
authors: G
authors: Yan
authors: Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. Electronic address: jetsumon.pra@mahidol.ac.th.
authors: Jetsumon
authors: J
authors: Sattabongkot
authors: Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Electronic address: luc2@psu.edu.
authors: Liwang
authors: L
authors: Cui
authors: Dalian Institute of Biotechnology, Dalian, Liaoning, PR China. Electronic address: qifan10001@163.com.
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Fan
mesh_terms: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002681:China; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000469:parasitology*; D002052:Myanmar; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D011506:Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D000099053:Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein
keywords: Deletion; Malaria; Pfhrp2; Rapid diagnostic tests; Variation