Abstract
Antigens encoded by the var gene family are major virulence factors of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, exhibiting enormous intra- and interstrain diversity. Here we use network analysis to show that var architecture and mosaicism are conserved at multiple levels across the Laverania subgenus, based on var-like sequences from eight single-species and three multi-species Plasmodium infections of wild-living or sanctuary African apes. Using select whole-genome amplification, we also find evidence of multi-domain var structure and synteny in Plasmodium gaboni, one of the ape Laverania species most distantly related to P. falciparum, as well as a new class of Duffy-binding-like domains. These findings indicate that the modular genetic architecture and sequence diversity underlying var-mediated host-parasite interactions evolved before the radiation of the Laverania subgenus, long before the emergence of P. falciparum.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Evolution, Molecular
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Gorilla gorilla / parasitology*
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Host-Parasite Interactions / genetics*
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Pan troglodytes / parasitology*
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Plasmodium / genetics*
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Plasmodium / pathogenicity
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Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
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Sequence Analysis, DNA
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Synteny
Substances
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Protozoan Proteins
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erythrocyte membrane protein 1, Plasmodium falciparum
Associated data
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GENBANK/KJ801976
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GENBANK/KJ801977
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