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Genetic Diversity, Repeat Motifs, and Natural Selection at the C-Terminal Knob-Associated Histidine Rich Protein (KAHRP) of Plasmodium falciparum Clinical Samples from Saudi Arabia. J Trop Med 2022; 2022:3740889. [PMID: 35387278 PMCID: PMC8979686 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3740889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria is still a public health problem in Saudi Arabia specifically in the Jazan region. Plasmodium falciparum knob-associated histidine-rich proteins (PfKAHRPs) play an important role in cerebral malaria pathophysiology as well as pathogenesis of P. falciparum infections. The repeat region of PfKAHRP C-terminal interaction domain has been found to bind to the infected red blood cells and the vascular endothelium. Thus, this study aimed to assess the allelic variations, genetic diversity, and natural selection acting at the C-terminal PfKAHRP between parasite isolates from Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods The PfKHARP C-terminal interaction domain was successfully PCR-amplified and sequence data from 441 clinical isolates from Saudi Arabia were obtained. The DnaSP v5.10 software was used to determine the genetic diversity, polymorphism, haplotype, and natural selection. Haplotype network analysis was constructed by using the median-joining method in the NETWORK version 5.0.0.1 software. Results Alignment and analysis of 441 C-terminal PfKAHRP-deduced amino acid sequences identified 5 genotypes (I–V) based on the decapeptide repeat arrangements (TKEASTSKEA, TKEASTSKGA, TKEASTTEGA, and TKEASTSKRA). Among the repeat types, Type I (49.43%, 218/441) was the most abundant in Saudi Arabia, followed by Type II (48.29%, 213/441). Overall, the nucleotide diversity in the PfKHARP C-terminal region was found to be low in Saudi Arabia (π = 0.00142); however, natural selection tests indicated positive selection (dN-dS = 1.64, P < 0.05) which was due to the variations within the repeat motifs. Genealogical relationship haplotype network of PfKAHRP from 4 different countries (i.e., Saudi Arabia, Iran, Burundi, and India) revealed 1 major shared haplotype cluster (H_1) with samples representative from all 4 countries (Saudi Arabia; n = 441, Burundi; n = 4, Iran; n = 13, and India; n = 1). Conclusion Since this is the first study to report on genetic diversity of C-terminal PfKAHRP interaction domain and the repeat motifs from clinical samples in Saudi Arabia, it will contribute towards the rational design of antiadhesion drug therapies for P. falciparum malaria.
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Almeida-de-Oliveira NK, de Abreu-Fernandes R, Lima-Cury L, de Lavigne AR, de Pina-Costa A, Perce-da-Silva DDS, Catanho M, Rossi AD, Brasil P, Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro C, Ferreira-da-Cruz MDF. Balancing selection and high genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite central region in parasites from Brazilian Amazon and Rio de Janeiro Atlantic Forest. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241426. [PMID: 33166298 PMCID: PMC7652573 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is the primary pre-erythrocytic vaccine target in Plasmodium species. Knowledge about their genetic diversity can help predict vaccine efficacy and the spread of novel parasite variants. Thus, we investigated pvcsp gene polymorphisms in 219 isolates (136 from Brazilian Amazon [BA], 71 from Rio de Janeiro Atlantic Forest [AF], and 12 from non-Brazilian countries [NB]). Forty-eight polymorphic sites were detected, 46 in the central repeat region (CR), and two in the C-terminal region. Also, the CR presents InDels and a variable number of repeats. All samples correspond to the VK210 variant, and 24 VK210 subtypes based on CR. Nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0135) generated a significant number of haplotypes (168) with low genetic differentiation between the Brazilian regions (Fst = 0.208). The haplotype network revealed similar distances among the BA and AF regions. The linkage disequilibrium indicates that recombination does not seem to be acting in diversity, reinforcing natural selection's role in accelerating adaptive evolution. The high diversity (low Fst) and polymorphism frequencies could be indicators of balancing selection. Although malaria in BA and AF have distinct vector species and different host immune pressures, consistent genetic signature was found in two regions. The immunodominant B-cell epitope mapped in the CR varies from seven to 19 repeats. The CR T-cell epitope is conserved only in 39 samples. Concerning to C-terminal region, the Th2R epitope presented nonsynonymous SNP only in 6% of Brazilian samples, and the Th3R epitope remained conserved in all studied regions. We conclude that, although the uneven distribution of alleles may jeopardize the deployment of vaccines directed to a specific variable locus, a unique vaccine formulation could protect populations in all Brazilian regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Ketrin Almeida-de-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Reference Laboratory for Malaria in the Extra-Amazonian Region for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, SVS & Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rebecca de Abreu-Fernandes
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Reference Laboratory for Malaria in the Extra-Amazonian Region for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, SVS & Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lidiane Lima-Cury
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Reference Laboratory for Malaria in the Extra-Amazonian Region for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, SVS & Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Aline Rosa de Lavigne
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Reference Laboratory for Malaria in the Extra-Amazonian Region for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, SVS & Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anielle de Pina-Costa
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Reference Laboratory for Malaria in the Extra-Amazonian Region for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, SVS & Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Doenças Febris Agudas, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro Universitário Serra dos Órgãos (UNIFESO), Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daiana de Souza Perce-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Reference Laboratory for Malaria in the Extra-Amazonian Region for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, SVS & Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Catanho
- Laboratório de Genética Molecular de Microrganismos, IOC, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Atila Duque Rossi
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Brasil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Reference Laboratory for Malaria in the Extra-Amazonian Region for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, SVS & Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Doenças Febris Agudas, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cláudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Reference Laboratory for Malaria in the Extra-Amazonian Region for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, SVS & Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria de Fátima Ferreira-da-Cruz
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisa, Diagnóstico e Treinamento em Malária (CPD-Mal), Reference Laboratory for Malaria in the Extra-Amazonian Region for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, SVS & Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Frickmann H, Wegner C, Ruben S, Loderstädt U, Tannich E. A comparison of two PCR protocols for the differentiation of Plasmodium ovale species and implications for clinical management in travellers returning to Germany: a 10-year cross-sectional study. Malar J 2019; 18:272. [PMID: 31399031 PMCID: PMC6688346 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2901-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To assess the occurrence of Plasmodium ovale wallikeri and Plasmodium ovale curtisi species in travellers returning to Germany, two real-time PCR protocols for the detection and differentiation of the two P. ovale species were compared. Results of parasite differentiation were correlated with patient data. METHODS Residual nucleic acid extractions from EDTA blood samples of patients with P. ovale spp. malaria, collected between 2010 and 2019 at the National Reference Centre for Tropical Pathogens in Germany, were subjected to further parasite discrimination in a retrospective assessment. All samples had been analysed by microscopy and by P. ovale spp.-specific real-time PCR without discrimination on species level. Two different real-time PCR protocols for species discrimination of P. o. curtisi and P. o. wallikeri were carried out. Results were correlated with patient data on gender, age, travel destination, thrombocyte count, and duration of parasite latency. RESULTS Samples from 77 P. ovale spp. malaria patients were assessed, with a male:female ratio of about 2:1 and a median age of 30 years. Parasitaemia was low, ranging from few visible parasites up to 1% infected erythrocytes. Discriminative real-time PCRs revealed 41 cases of P. o. curtisi and 36 cases of P. o. wallikeri infections. Concordance of results by the two PCR approaches was 100%. Assessment of travel destinations confirmed co-existence of P. o. curtisi and P. o. wallikeri over a wide range of countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Latency periods for the two P. ovale species were similar, with median values of 56.0 days for P. o. curtisi and 58.0 days for P. o. wallikeri; likewise, there was no statistically significant difference in thrombocyte count with median values of 138.5/µL for patients with P. o. curtisi and 152.0/µL for P. o. wallikeri-infected patients. CONCLUSIONS Two different real-time PCR protocols were found to be suitable for the discrimination of P. o. curtisi and P. o. wallikeri with only minor differences in sensitivity. Due to the overall low parasitaemia and the lack of differences in severity-related aspects like parasite latency periods or thrombocyte counts, this study supports the use of P. ovale spp. PCR without discrimination on species level to confirm the diagnosis and to inform clinical management of malaria in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagen Frickmann
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, External Site at the Bernhard Nocht Institute, Tropical Microbiology and Entomology, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, Bernhard Nocht Str. 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany. .,Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
| | - Christine Wegner
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, National Reference Center for Tropical Pathogens, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Ruben
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, National Reference Center for Tropical Pathogens, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Loderstädt
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, National Reference Center for Tropical Pathogens, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Egbert Tannich
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, National Reference Center for Tropical Pathogens, Hamburg, Germany
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