ANALYSIS OF MEROZOITE SURFACE PROTEIN-3? IN PLASMODIUM VIVAX ISOLATES COLLECTED FROM SOUTHWESTERN COASTAL REGION OF INDIA

Shiny Joy, Dr. Susanta K. Ghosh, Dr. Rajeshwara N. Achur, Dr. Sucheta Kumari, Prof. D. Channe Gowda, Prof. Namita Surolia*

ABSTRACT

Background: Malaria is one of the major infectious diseases and is a global health threat. Malarial parasites exhibit high genetic diversity, Which is one of the reasons hampering the vaccine development. Analysis of genetic variations in known vaccine candidates is crucial for developing an effective vaccine. The current study was aimed at analysing one of the members of the merozoite surface family of proteins, MSP- 3β, of Plasmodium vivax (Pv) in parasite samples collected from patients from southwestern coastal region of India, where prevalence of P. vivax predominates compared to P. falciparum. Method: A total of 25 field isolates were analysed in the study. Allelic diversity at the Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-3β locus was investigated using a combined polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP) procedure. Results: PCR products of PvMSP-3β revealed three allelic variants. Digestion with Pst 1 restriction enzyme yielded suballelic variants. A total of five different alleles were observed in the current study. Conclusion: Even though the samples were limited, PvMSP-3β was found to be significantly variant in the isolates from this area. Further studies using substantially more samples would provide definitive information about the extent of polymorphisms in P. vivax isolates in this area.

Keywords: Malaria, merozoite surface protein 3 beta, Plasmodium vivax, Mangalore.