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    Gene polymorphism of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface proteins 4 and 5
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    The destruction of erythrocytes is one of the most frequently observed causes of severe malarial anemia. Recently, we showed that tagging normal erythrocytes and cells of erythroid precursors with rhoptry-derived proteins can trigger their destruction. In the present study, we used rhoptry-associated protein (RAP)-1 and RAP-3 gene-disruption mutant Plasmodium falciparum parasites and showed that 2 members of a rhoptry protein complex, RAP-1 and RAP-2, bind to the surface of normal erythrocytes. Surface iodination experiments showed that RAP-1 but not RAP-3 mutant parasites lose their capacity to tag erythrocytes. This work opens new doors into the investigation of the molecular mechanism of anemia in patients with malaria.
    Rhoptry
    Surface protein
    Merozoite surface protein
    Plasmodium (life cycle)
    Molecular mass
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    Anthemosomatidae fam. n. is proposed for the apicomplexan protozoan genus Anthemosoma. It is placed in the order Piroplasmorida Wenyon, 1926. This genus appears intermediate between the haemospororids and the piroplasmorids. Since its discovery in Ethiopia, Anthemo- soma garnhami, an apicomplexan protozoan parasite occurring in the erythrocytes of the
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    The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum by analyzing the polymorphism of the msp-1 and msp-2 genes and the multiplicity of infection in children with uncomplicated malaria in southern Benin. Blood samples of children with fever or history of fever with thick smear positive P. falciparum were collected on filter paper. After extraction of DNA by Chelex®, the samples underwent nested PCR. 93 isolates from children were genotyped. For the msp-1 gene, the K1 and R033 sequences were the most represented in the study population with 85.2% and 83% prevalence, respectively. Regarding the msp-2 gene, the FC27 family was more highly represented with 99% prevalence against 81.5% for 3D7. Mixed infections accounted for 80.4% of the samples. Twenty-five alleles were identified for msp-1 and 28 for msp-2. Fourteen and ten alleles belonged to the K1 (100-500 bp) and MAD20 (100-500 bp) families, respectively. The RO33 sequence did not show any polymorphism, with only one variant (160 bp) detected. The msp-2 gene was present as 16 FC27 family fragments (250-800 bp) and 12 of the 3D7 family (350-700 bp). The multiplicity of infection was estimated at 3.8 for msp-1 and 3.9 for msp-2 with 77 (87.5%) and 84 (91.3%) samples harboring more than one parasite genotype for msp-1 and msp-2, respectively. The multiplicity of infection (MOI) was influenced neither by age nor by parasite density. This study shows a significant diversity of P. falciparum in southern Benin with an MOI unaffected by age or by parasite density.
    Merozoite surface protein
    Surface protein
    Citations (36)