Multilocus genotyping reveals high heterogeneity and strong local population structure of the Plasmodium vivax population in the Peruvian Amazon

The measurement of recent malaria exposure can support malaria control efforts. This study evaluated serological responses to an in-house Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 8 (PvMSP8) expressed in a Baculovirus system as sero-marker of recent exposure to P. vivax (Pv) in the Peruvian Amazon. In a first evaluation, IgGs against PvMSP8 and PvMSP10 proteins were measured by Luminex in a cohort of 422 Amazonian individuals with known history of Pv exposure (monthly data of infection status by qPCR and/or microscopy over five months). Both serological responses were able to discriminate between exposed and non-exposed individuals in a good manner, with slightly higher performance of anti-PvMSP10 IgGs (area under the curve AUC = 0.78 [95% CI = 0.72–0.83]) than anti-PvMSP8 IgGs (AUC = 0.72 [95% CI = 0.67–0.78]) (p = 0.01). In a second evaluation, the analysis by ELISA of 1251 plasma samples, collected during a population-based cross-sectional survey, confirmed the good performance of anti-PvMSP8 IgGs for discriminating between individuals with Pv infection at the time of survey and/or with antecedent of Pv in the past month (AUC = 0.79 [95% CI = 0.74–0.83]). Anti-PvMSP8 IgG antibodies can be considered as a good biomarker of recent Pv exposure in low-moderate transmission settings of the Peruvian Amazon.

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Genetic diversity and population structure of genes encoding vaccine candidate antigens of Plasmodium vivax

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/1475-2875-11-68 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 68 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Stella M Chenet ◽

Lorena L Tapia ◽

Ananias A Escalante ◽

Salomon Durand ◽

Carmen Lucas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Plasmodium Vivax ◽

Vaccine Candidate ◽

Genes Encoding

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Anti–MSP-10 IgG indicates recent exposure to Plasmodium vivax infection in the Peruvian Amazon

JCI Insight ◽

10.1172/jci.insight.130769 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Angel Rosas-Aguirre ◽

Kailash P. Patra ◽

Maritza Calderón ◽

Katherine Torres ◽

Dionicia Gamboa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasmodium Vivax ◽

Vivax Infection ◽

Peruvian Amazon ◽

Recent Exposure

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Genetic Diversity and Natural Selection of Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein-II From China-Myanmar Border of Yunnan Province, China

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.758061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Tian-Qi Shi ◽

Hai-Mo Shen ◽

Shen-Bo Chen ◽

Kokouvi Kassegne ◽

Yan-Bing Cui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Natural Selection ◽

Genetic Differentiation ◽

Positive Selection ◽

Plasmodium Vivax ◽

Yunnan Province ◽

Duffy Binding Protein ◽

Synonymous Mutations ◽

Selection Of

Malaria incidence has declined dramatically over the past decade and China was certified malaria-free in 2021. However, the presence of malaria in border areas and the importation of cases of malaria parasites are major challenges for the consolidation of the achievements made by China. Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) performs a significant role in erythrocyte invasion, and is considered a promising P. vivax vaccine. However, the highly polymorphic region of PvDBP (PvDBP-II) impedes the development of blood-stage vaccine against P. vivax. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity and natural selection of PvDBP-II among 124 P. vivax isolates collected from the China-Myanmar border (CMB) in Yunnan Province, China, during 2009–2011. To compare genetic diversity, natural selection, and population structure with CMB isolates, 85 pvdbp-II sequences of eastern Myanmar isolates were obtained from GenBank. In addition, global sequences of pvdbp-II were retrieved from GenBank to establish genetic differentiation relationships and networks with the CMB isolates. In total, 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms reflected in 20 non-synonymous and two synonymous mutations were identified. The overall nucleotide diversity of PvDBP-II from the 124 CMB isolates was 0.0059 with 21 haplotypes identified (Hd = 0.91). The high ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous mutations suggests that PvDBP-II had evolved under positive selection. Population structure analysis of the CMB and eastern Myanmar isolates were optimally grouped into five sub-populations (K = 5). Polymorphisms of PvDBP-II display that CMB isolates were genetically diverse. Mutation, recombination, and positive selection promote polymorphism of PvDBP-II of P. vivax population. Although low-level genetic differentiation in eastern Myanmar was identified along with the more effective malaria control measures, the complexity of population structure in malaria parasites has maintained. In conclusion, findings from this study advance knowledge of the understanding of the dynamic of P. vivax population, which will contribute to guiding the rational design of a PvDBP-II based vaccine.

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Monitoring Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax using microsatellite markers indicates limited changes in population structure after substantial transmission decline in Papua New Guinea

10.22541/au.159015516.68850426 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Johanna Kattenberg ◽

Zahra Razook ◽

Raksmei Keo ◽

Cristian Koepfli ◽

Charlie Jennison ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasmodium Falciparum ◽

Population Structure ◽

Microsatellite Markers ◽

Plasmodium Vivax ◽

Papua New Guinea ◽

New Guinea

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Local Population Structure and Seasonal Variability of Borrelia garinii Genotypes in Ixodes ricinus Ticks, Slovakia

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17103607 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (10) ◽

pp. 3607 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zuzana Mtierová ◽

Markéta Derdáková ◽

Michal Chvostáč ◽

Yuliya M. Didyk ◽

Barbara Mangová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Ixodes Ricinus ◽

Local Population ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Infection Intensity ◽

Breeding Period ◽

Borrelia Garinii ◽

Wide Range ◽

Questing Ticks ◽

Ixodes Ricinus Ticks

Lyme disease (LD) is the most common tick-borne human disease in Europe, and Borrelia garinii, which is associated with avian reservoirs, is one of the most genetically diverse and widespread human pathogenic genospecies from the B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex. The clinical manifestations of LD are known to vary between regions and depend on the genetic strain even within Borrelia genospecies. It is thus of importance to explore the genetic diversity of such pathogenic borreliae for the wide range of host and ecological contexts. In this study, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was employed to investigate the local population structure of B. garinii in Ixodes ricinus ticks. The study took place in a natural wetland in Slovakia, temporally encompassing spring and autumn bird migration periods as well as the breeding period of resident birds. In total, we examined 369 and 255 ticks collected from 78 birds and local vegetation, respectively. B. burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 43.4% (160/369) of ticks recovered from birds and in 26.3% (67/255) of questing ticks, respectively. Considering the ticks from bird hosts, the highest prevalence was found for single infections with B. garinii (22.5%). Infection intensity of B. garinii in bird-feeding ticks was significantly higher than that in questing ticks. We identified ten B. garinii sequence types (STs) occurring exclusively in bird-feeding ticks, two STs occurring exclusively in questing ticks, and one ST (ST 244) occurring in both ticks from birds and questing ticks. Four B. garinii STs were detected for the first time herein. With the exception of ST 93, we detected different STs in spring and summer for bird-feeding ticks. Our results are consistent with previous studies of the low geographic structuring of B. garinii genotypes. However, our study reveals some consistency in local ST occurrence and a geographic signal for one of the clonal complexes.

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Genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax cases at the University Hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-78103-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hugo O. Valdivia ◽

Fredy E. Villena ◽

Stephen E. Lizewski ◽

Jorge Garcia ◽

Jackeline Alger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Resistance ◽

Population Structure ◽

Plasmodium Vivax ◽

Artemisinin Resistance ◽

Population Diversity ◽

University Hospital ◽

Parasite Diversity ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Local Case ◽

Imported Cases

AbstractMalaria continues to be an important health problem in Honduras despite major progress achieved reducing its incidence in the last two decades. In a context of case reduction, continuing surveillance of parasite diversity and drug resistance is an important component to assist effective malaria control strategies and support risk assessments. In this study, we employed next generation sequencing on collected Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum samples from the Hospital Escuela (University Hospital) in Honduras between 2005 and 2017. Hospital Escuela is the main public health hospital in Honduras and receives suspected malaria cases from endemic regions within the country. The resulting sequencing data was used to assess complexity of infections, parasite population structure, parasite diversity and drug resistance profiling. All P. vivax samples and all autochtonous P. falciparum samples were monoclonal and presented a low intra population diversity (π = 0.25 and 0.07, respectively). Genotyping of drug resistance markers showed that three P. falciparum samples presented the chloroquine resistant haplotype SVMNT on pfcrtr (positions 72–76). Epidemiological data suggested that two of these samples were imported cases from Africa whereas the third one was a local case. Three suspected imported cases (two of which were also pfcrt mutants) presented the pfmdr1 86Y mutation that further enhances the CQ resistant genotype. No evidence was found for kelch13 artemisinin resistance associated mutations nor parasite genetic background mutations. Discriminant analysis of principal components and phylogenetic analysis showed two P. vivax and two P. falciparum parasite sub-populations with limited recombination between them. It also confirmed the closer relationship of the three imported cases with African strains. Our findings showed that local Honduras P. falciparum strains do not hold CQ resistance polymorphisms which aligns with clinical data reported by the country and supports the continuity of CQ based treatment in Honduras. In addition, our findings highlight the need of using genomic approaches to provide key information about parasite biology including drug resistance, population structure and HRP2/HRP3 deletions which are becoming relevant as the country move towards elimination.

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