Distinct genetic difference between the Duffy binding protein (PkDBP?II) of Plasmodium knowlesi clinical isolates from North Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia.
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ABSTRACT: Plasmodium knowlesi is one of the monkey malaria parasites that can cause human malaria. The Duffy binding protein of P. knowlesi (PkDBP?II) is essential for the parasite's invasion into human and monkey erythrocytes. A previous study on P. knowlesi clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia reported high level of genetic diversity in the PkDBP?II. Furthermore, 36 amino acid haplotypes were identified and these haplotypes could be separated into allele group I and allele group II. In the present study, the PkDBP?II of clinical isolates from the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah in North Borneo was investigated, and compared with the PkDBP?II of Peninsular Malaysia isolates.Blood samples from 28 knowlesi malaria patients were used. These samples were collected between 2011 and 2013 from hospitals in North Borneo. The PkDBP?II region of the isolates was amplified by PCR, cloned into Escherichia coli, and sequenced. The genetic diversity, natural selection and phylogenetics of PkDBP?II haplotypes were analysed using MEGA5 and DnaSP ver. 5.10.00 programmes.Forty-nine PkDBP?II sequences were obtained. Comparison at the nucleotide level against P. knowlesi strain H as reference sequence revealed 58 synonymous and 102 non-synonymous mutations. Analysis on these mutations showed that PkDBP?II was under purifying (negative) selection. At the amino acid level, 38 different PkDBP?II haplotypes were identified. Twelve of the 28 blood samples had mixed haplotype infections. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the haplotypes were in allele group I, but they formed a sub-group that was distinct from those of Peninsular Malaysia. Wright's FST fixation index indicated high genetic differentiation between the North Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia haplotypes.This study is the first to report the genetic diversity and natural selection of PkDBP?II of P. knowlesi from Borneo Island. The PkDBP?II haplotypes found in this study were distinct from those from Peninsular Malaysia. This difference may not be attributed to geographical separation because other genetic markers studied thus far such as the P. knowlesi circumsporozoite protein gene and small subunit ribosomal RNA do not display such differentiation. Immune evasion may possibly be the reason for the differentiation.
SUBMITTER: Fong MY
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4339428 | biostudies-literature | 2015
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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