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Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum
Published on: December 4, 2015
Positive diversifying selection on Plasmodium vivax RON2 protein.
Jianxia Tang1, Yang Dai, Hongwei Zhang
1School of Basic Medical Science, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, PR China.
Parasitology
|February 11, 2012
Summary
The Plasmodium vivax RON2 gene, crucial for malaria parasite invasion, shows signs of positive selection. This suggests immune pressure may be driving its evolution in the parasite population.
Area of Science:
- Malariology
- Molecular Evolution
- Parasitology
Background:
- Plasmodium rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) is essential for malaria parasite invasion of red blood cells.
- RON2 interacts with Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA1), mediating host cell entry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential positive diversifying selection in the Plasmodium vivax RON2 gene.
- To explore the role of host immune pressure in the evolution of PvRON2.
Main Methods:
- Sequencing of the PvRON2 gene from 19 P. vivax isolates from central China.
- Comparative analysis with the P. vivax Sal-1 reference strain.
- McDonald-Kreitman test using P. knowlesi RON2 sequences.
Main Results:
- Identified 10 amino acid substitutions and indels in the PvRON2 open reading frame.
- Observed polymorphism in a repeat unit within the second tandem repeat region (amino acids 541-650).
- Detected significant departure from neutrality in the PvRON2 3' region (nucleotide positions 2668-6609).
Conclusions:
- The PvRON2 gene exhibits evidence of positive diversifying selection.
- Host immune pressure is a likely driver of PvRON2 evolution in Plasmodium vivax.
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