Dimorfismo alélico na proteína de superfície MSP-6 de merozoítos de Plasmodium falciparum. / Allelic dimorphism in Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein-6 (MSP-6).

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

The development of a vaccine against malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum has been hampered by the high level of antigen polymorphism exhibited by this parasite. Allelic dimorphism is a pattern in which every observed allele of a gene is clearly grouped into one of two families. The dimorphic protein MSP-6 forms a complex with MSP-1 (also dimorphic) on merozoite surface. The msp-6 genes were sequenced in isolates obtained from 21 patients from Brazil, plus 2 isolates from Tanzania, Africa, to study nucleotide diversity and geographic distribution of alleles. Both families are globally distributed. Moreover, no association was observed between the MSP-1 and MSP-6 allelic types. Orthologous gene of msp-6 in P. reichenowi, chimpanzee parasite and sister group of P. falciparum, was sequenced for evolutionary studies. Dimorphic alleles of MSP-6 seem to have originated from an ancestral polymorphic population and are maintained by balancing selection. The high degree of conservation observed within each allelic family makes MSP-6 an promising target for vaccine development.

ASSUNTO(S)

membrane protein msp-6 dimorfismo alélico proteínas da membrana malaria allelic dimorphism plasmodium falciparum malária msp-6 plasmodium falciparum

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