title: Gene Models, Expression Repertoire, and Immune Response of Plasmodium vivax Reticulocyte Binding Proteins.
abstract: Members of the Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte binding protein (PvRBP) family are believed to mediate specific invasion of reticulocytes by P. vivax. In this study, we performed molecular characterization of genes encoding members of this protein family. Through cDNA sequencing, we constructed full-length gene models and verified genes that are protein coding and those that are pseudogenes. We also used quantitative PCR to measure their in vivo transcript abundances in clinical P. vivax isolates. Like genes encoding related invasion ligands of P. falciparum, Pvrbp expression levels vary broadly across different parasite isolates. Through antibody measurements, we found that host immune pressure may be the driving force behind the distinctly high diversity of one of the family members, PvRBP2c. Mild yet significant negative correlation was found between parasitemia and the PvRBP2b antibody level, suggesting that antibodies to the protein may interfere with invasion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jenni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hietanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Anongruk
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chim-Ong
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thanprakorn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chiramanewong
authors.affiliation: The Walter and Eliza Hall Research Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gruszczyk
authors.affiliation: Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wanlapa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Roobsoong
authors.affiliation: The Walter and Eliza Hall Research Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Wai-Hong
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7950-8699
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tham
authors.affiliation: Mahidol Vivax Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jetsumon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sattabongkot
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand wang.ngu@mahidol.edu.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nguitragool
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C075483:reticulocyte-binding protein, Plasmodium vivax