Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
13:39
Protocol for Production of a Genetic Cross of the Rodent Malaria Parasites
Published on: January 3, 2011
Linkage group selection: towards identifying genes controlling strain specific protective immunity in malaria
Sittiporn Pattaradilokrat1, Sandra J Cheesman, Richard Carter
1Ashworth Laboratories, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|September 13, 2007
Summary
Strain Specific Protective Immunity in malaria is linked to parasite genetics. This study identifies the merozoite surface protein-1 gene on Plasmodium chabaudi chromosome 8 as a key target for this immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Parasitology
Background:
- Protective immunity against malaria can be strain-specific.
- Target antigens for strain-specific immunity are expected to vary between parasite strains.
- Identifying these targets is crucial for developing effective malaria vaccines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To locate the genetic targets of strain-specific protective immunity in Plasmodium chabaudi.
- To investigate the role of merozoite surface protein-1 and apical membrane antigen-1 in strain-specific immunity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Linkage Group Selection analysis in Plasmodium chabaudi.
- Crossed Plasmodium chabaudi lines CB-pyr10 and AJ to study genetic segregation.
- Analyzed immune selection on specific genomic regions.
Main Results:
- Strain-specific immune selection strongly targeted the Plasmodium chabaudi chromosome 8 region encoding merozoite surface protein-1.
- Weaker selection was observed on the chromosome 9 region encoding apical membrane antigen-1.
- Previous studies also implicated merozoite surface protein-1 in strain-specific immunity.
Conclusions:
- Strain-specific protective immunity in Plasmodium chabaudi is primarily determined by the genomic region containing the merozoite surface protein-1 gene.
- The apical membrane antigen-1 gene region may have a weaker association with strain-specific immunity.
- These findings highlight MSP-1 as a major determinant of strain-specific malaria immunity.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Malaria
Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
01:11Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
02:32Exon Recombination
The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes.
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...