Structural and antigenic polymorphism of the 35- to 48-kilodalton merozoite surface antigen (MSA-2) of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 963-971
Author(s):  
B Fenton ◽  
J T Clark ◽  
C M Khan ◽  
J V Robinson ◽  
D Walliker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Surface Antigen ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Merozoite Surface Antigen ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Group B

Merozoite surface antigen MSA-2 of the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum is being considered for the development of a malaria vaccine. The antigen is polymorphic, and specific monoclonal antibodies differentiate five serological variants of MSA-2 among 25 parasite isolates. The variants are grouped into two major serogroups, A and B. Genes encoding two different variants from serogroup A have been sequenced, and their DNA together with deduced amino acid sequences were compared with sequences encoded by other alleles. The comparison shows that the serological classification reflects differences in DNA sequences and deduced primary structure of MSA-2 variants and serogroups. Thus, the overall homologies of DNA and amino acid sequences are over 95% among variants in the same serogroup. In contrast, similarities between the group A variants and a group B variant are only 70 and 64% for DNA and amino acid sequences, respectively. We propose that the MSA-2 protein is encoded by two highly divergent groups of alleles, with limited additional polymorphism displayed within each group.

scholarly journals Structural and antigenic polymorphism of the 35- to 48-kilodalton merozoite surface antigen (MSA-2) of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 963-971 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Fenton ◽  
J T Clark ◽  
C M Khan ◽  
J V Robinson ◽  
D Walliker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Surface Antigen ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Merozoite Surface Antigen ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Parasite Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Group B

Merozoite surface antigen MSA-2 of the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum is being considered for the development of a malaria vaccine. The antigen is polymorphic, and specific monoclonal antibodies differentiate five serological variants of MSA-2 among 25 parasite isolates. The variants are grouped into two major serogroups, A and B. Genes encoding two different variants from serogroup A have been sequenced, and their DNA together with deduced amino acid sequences were compared with sequences encoded by other alleles. The comparison shows that the serological classification reflects differences in DNA sequences and deduced primary structure of MSA-2 variants and serogroups. Thus, the overall homologies of DNA and amino acid sequences are over 95% among variants in the same serogroup. In contrast, similarities between the group A variants and a group B variant are only 70 and 64% for DNA and amino acid sequences, respectively. We propose that the MSA-2 protein is encoded by two highly divergent groups of alleles, with limited additional polymorphism displayed within each group.

Amino acid sequences recognized by T cells: studies on a merozoite surface antigen from the FCQ-27/PNG isolate of Plasmodium falciparum

1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 155-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.M. Rzepczyk ◽  
P.A. Csurhes ◽  
E.P. Baxter ◽  
T.J. Doran ◽  
D.O. Irving ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Surface Antigen ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Merozoite Surface Antigen

scholarly journals Genes for low-molecular-weight heat shock proteins of soybeans: sequence analysis of a multigene family.

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 3417-3428 ◽  
Author(s):  
R T Nagao ◽  
E Czarnecka ◽  
W B Gurley ◽  
F Schöffl ◽  
J L Key
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Regulatory Element ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Striking Similarity ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Flanking Regions

Soybeans, Glycine max, synthesize a family of low-molecular-weight heat shock (HS) proteins in response to HS. The DNA sequences of two genes encoding 17.5- and 17.6-kilodalton HS proteins were determined. Nuclease S1 mapping of the corresponding mRNA indicated multiple start termini at the 5' end and multiple stop termini at the 3' end. These two genes were compared with two other soybean HS genes of similar size. A comparison among the 5' flanking regions encompassing the presumptive HS promoter of the soybean HS-protein genes demonstrated this region to be extremely homologous. Analysis of the DNA sequences in the 5' flanking regions of the soybean genes with the corresponding regions of Drosophila melanogaster HS-protein genes revealed striking similarity between plants and animals in the presumptive promoter structure of thermoinducible genes. Sequences related to the Drosophila HS consensus regulatory element were found 57 to 62 base pairs 5' to the start of transcription in addition to secondary HS consensus elements located further upstream. Comparative analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of four soybean HS proteins illustrated that these proteins were greater than 90% homologous. Comparison of the amino acid sequence for soybean HS proteins with other organisms showed much lower homology (less than 20%). Hydropathy profiles for Drosophila, Xenopus, Caenorhabditis elegans, and G. max HS proteins showed a similarity of major hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, which suggests conservation of functional domains for these proteins among widely dispersed organisms.

scholarly journals Structural and Genetic Diversity of Group B Streptococcus Capsular Polysaccharides

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 3096-3103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Cieslewicz ◽  
Donald Chaffin ◽  
Gustavo Glusman ◽  
Dennis Kasper ◽  
Anup Madan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Antigenic Variation ◽  
Group B Streptococcus ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Capsular Polysaccharides ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Synthetic Enzymes ◽  
Group B

ABSTRACT Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an important pathogen of neonates, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. GBS isolates associated with human infection produce one of nine antigenically distinct capsular polysaccharides which are thought to play a key role in virulence. A comparison of GBS polysaccharide structures of all nine known GBS serotypes together with the predicted amino acid sequences of the proteins that direct their synthesis suggests that the evolution of serotype-specific capsular polysaccharides has proceeded through en bloc replacement of individual glycosyltransferase genes with DNA sequences that encode enzymes with new linkage specificities. We found striking heterogeneity in amino acid sequences of synthetic enzymes with very similar functions, an observation that supports horizontal gene transfer rather than stepwise mutagenesis as a mechanism for capsule variation. Eight of the nine serotypes appear to be closely related both structurally and genetically, whereas serotype VIII is more distantly related. This similarity in polysaccharide structure strongly suggests that the evolutionary pressure toward antigenic variation exerted by acquired immunity is counterbalanced by a survival advantage conferred by conserved structural motifs of the GBS polysaccharides.

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