Inter simple sequence repeats (ISSRs): Neglected DNA markers for molecular dissection of Plasmodium species in long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

Understanding the genetic variation of the Plasmodium parasites could play an important role in controlling and preventing this lethal infection. Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers have successfully been tested for investigating the genetic diversity of malaria vectors. It is hypothesized that ISSRs could lead to fruitful results in studying the genetic variation of Plasmodium species, as well. To illustrate the genetic diversity of two infectious Plasmodium species, including Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium cynomolgi, infected and uninfected monkey blood samples were separately collected on filter papers (FTA cards), and used for DNA extraction. A total of 103 and 95 polymorphic ISSR loci were detected in infected and uninfected samples, respectively. Cluster analysis of the Plasmodium and Macaca fascicularis accessions both resulted in the generation of three clusters. However, the most significant result of the cluster analysis was revealing the high efficiency of ISSR markers in the discrimination of the two Plasmodium species from each other. The cluster analysis showed a wide range of genetic diversity among both Plasmodium and the long-tailed Macaque accessions. The principal component analysis (PCA) also confirmed the cluster analysis results.