title: Dynamic changes of Plasmodium vivax population structure in South Korea.
abstract: The vivax malaria epidemic has persisted in South Korea since its reemergence in 1993. Although there has been a significant decrease in the number of malaria cases in recent years, vivax malaria is still a major public health concern. To gain in-depth insight into the genetic makeup of Korean Plasmodium vivax, we analyzed polymorphic patterns of two major antigens, merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) and MSP-3α, in 255 Korean P. vivax isolates collected over an extended period from 1998 to 2013. Combinational genetic analysis of polymorphic patterns of MSP-1 and MSP-3α in the isolates suggests that the P. vivax population in South Korea has been diversifying rapidly, with the appearance of parasites with new genotypes, despite the recent reduction of disease incidence. These results highlight the importance of molecular epidemiological investigations to supervise the genetic variation of the parasite in South Korea.
authors: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 52727, South Korea; BK21Plus Team for Anti-aging Biotechnology and Industry, Department of Convergence Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, South Korea.
authors: Jung-Mi
authors: JM
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 52727, South Korea.
authors: Jinyoung
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Tropical Medicine, and Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, South Korea.
authors: Pyo-Yun
authors: PY
authors: Cho
authors: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 52727, South Korea.
authors: Tae Im
authors: TI
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 52727, South Korea.
authors: Woon-Mok
authors: WM
authors: Sohn
authors: Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon 21986, South Korea.
authors: Jae-Won
authors: JW
authors: Park
authors: Department of Tropical Medicine, and Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, South Korea.
authors: Tong-Soo
authors: TS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju 52727, South Korea; BK21Plus Team for Anti-aging Biotechnology and Industry, Department of Convergence Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, South Korea. Electronic address: bkna@gnu.ac.kr.
authors: Byoung-Kuk
authors: BK
authors: Na
mesh_terms: D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1
keywords: Genetic polymorphism; MSP-3α; Merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1); Plasmodium vivax; South Korea