Rapid turnover of Plasmodium falciparum var gene transcripts and genotypes during natural non-symptomatic infections

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo

Gerhard Wunderlich²  Fabiana P. Alves²  Uta Gölnitz²  Mauro S. Tada¹  Erney F.p. De Camargo²  Luiz H. Pereira-da-silva¹ 

[1] ,Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas 2 Departamento de InmunologíaSão Paulo SP ,Brasil

关键词: Plasmodium falciparum;    Switching;    Antigenic variation;    PfEMP1;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0036-46652005000400004

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

The var genes of Plasmodium falciparum code for the antigenically variant erythrocyte membrane proteins 1 (PfEMP1), a major factor for cytoadherence and immune escape of the parasite. Herein, we analyzed the var gene transcript turnover in two ongoing, non-symptomatic infections at sequential time points during two weeks. The number of different circulating genomes was estimated by microsatellite analyses. In both infections, we observed a rapid turnover of plasmodial genotypes and var transcripts. The rapidly changing repertoire of var transcripts could have been caused either by swift elimination of circulating var-transcribing parasites stemming from different or identical genetic backgrounds, or by accelerated switching of var gene transcription itself.

【 授权许可】

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