Dataset Information

Evolution of the merozoite surface protein 7 (msp7) family in Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum: A comparative approach.

ABSTRACT: Malaria parasites (genus Plasmodium) are a diverse group found in many species of vertebrate hosts. These parasites invade red blood cells in a complex process comprising several proteins, many encoded by multigene families, one of which is merozoite surface protein 7 (msp7). In the case of Plasmodium vivax, the most geographically widespread human-infecting species, differences in the number of paralogs within multigene families have been previously explained, at least in part, as potential adaptations to the human host. To explore this in msp7, we studied its orthologs in closely related nonhuman primate parasites; investigating both paralog evolutionary history and genetic polymorphism. The emerging patterns were then compared with the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We found that the evolution of the msp7 family is consistent with a birth-and-death model, where duplications, pseudogenizations, and gene loss events are common. However, all paralogs in P. vivax and P. falciparum had orthologs in their closely related species in non-human primates indicating that the ancestors of those paralogs precede the events leading to their origins as human parasites. Thus, the number of paralogs cannot be explained as an adaptation to human hosts. Although there is no functional information for msp7 in P. vivax, we found evidence for purifying selection in the genetic polymorphism of some of its paralogs as well as their orthologs in closely related non-human primate parasites. We also found evidence indicating that a few of P. vivax's paralogs may have diverged from their orthologs in non-human primates by episodic positive selection. Hence, they may had been under selection when the lineage leading to P. vivax diverged from the Asian non-human primates and switched into Homininae. All these lines of evidence suggest that msp7 is functionally important in P. vivax.

SUBMITTER: Castillo AI

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5919258 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Evolution of the merozoite surface protein 7 (msp7) family in Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum: A comparative approach.

Castillo Andreína I AI Andreína Pacheco M M Escalante Ananias A AA

Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases 20170202

Malaria parasites (genus Plasmodium) are a diverse group found in many species of vertebrate hosts. These parasites invade red blood cells in a complex process comprising several proteins, many encoded by multigene families, one of which is merozoite surface protein 7 (msp7). In the case of Plasmodium vivax, the most geographically widespread human-infecting species, differences in the number of paralogs within multigene families have been previously explained, at least in part, as potential ada ...[more]

PMID: 28163236

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Project description:BackgroundThree members of the Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-3 (PvMSP3) family (PvMSP3-?, PvMSP3-? and PvMSP3-?) were initially characterized and later shown to be part of a larger highly diverse family, encoded by a cluster of genes arranged head-to-tail in chromosome 10. PvMSP3-? and PvMSP3-? have become genetic markers in epidemiological studies, and are being evaluated as vaccine candidates. This research investigates the gene and protein expression of the entire family and pertinent implications.Methodology/principal findingsA 60 kb multigene locus from chromosome 10 in P. vivax (Salvador 1 strain) was studied to classify the number of pvmsp3 genes present, and compare their transcription, translation and protein localization patterns during blood-stage development. Eleven pvmsp3 paralogs encode an N-terminal NLRNG signature motif, a central domain containing repeated variable heptad sequences, and conserved hydrophilic C-terminal features. One additional ORF in the locus lacks these features and was excluded as a member of the family. Transcripts representing all eleven pvmsp3 genes were detected in trophozoite- and schizont-stage RNA. Quantitative immunoblots using schizont-stage extracts and antibodies specific for each PvMSP3 protein demonstrated that all but PvMSP3.11 could be detected. Homologs were also detected by immunoblot in the closely related simian species, P. cynomolgi and P. knowlesi. Immunofluorescence assays confirmed that eight of the PvMSP3s are present in mature schizonts. Uniquely, PvMSP3.7 was expressed exclusively at the apical end of merozoites.Conclusion/significanceSpecific proteins were detected representing the expression of 10 out of 11 genes confirmed as members of the pvmsp3 family. Eight PvMSP3s were visualized surrounding merozoites. In contrast, PvMSP3.7 was detected at the apical end of the merozoites. Pvmsp3.11 transcripts were present, though no corresponding protein was detected. PvMSP3 functions remain unknown. The ten expressed PvMSP3s are predicted to have unique and complementary functions in merozoite biology.

Dataset Information

Evolution of the merozoite surface protein 7 (msp7) family in Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum: A comparative approach.

Publications

Evolution of the merozoite surface protein 7 (msp7) family in Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum: A comparative approach.

Similar Datasets

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