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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
Comparative transcriptional and genomic analysis of Plasmodium falciparumfield isolates
PLoS Pathogens, Volume 5, No. 10, Article e1000644, Year 2009
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Description
Mechanisms for differential regulation of gene expression may underlie much of the phenotypic variation and adaptability of malaria parasites. Here we describe transcriptional variation among culture-adapted field isolates of Plasmodium falciparum, the species responsible for most malarial disease. It was found that genes coding for parasite protein export into the red cell cytosol and onto its surface, and genes coding for sexual stage proteins involved in parasite transmission are upregulated in field isolates compared with long-term laboratory isolates. Much of this variability was associated with the loss of small or large chromosomal segments, or other forms of gene copy number variation that are prevalent in the P. falciparum genome (copy number variants, CNVs). Expression levels of genes inside these segments were correlated to that of genes outside and adjacent to the segment boundaries, and this association declined with distance from the CNV boundary. This observation could not be explained by copy number variation in these adjacent genes. This suggests a localacting regulatory role for CNVs in transcription of neighboring genes and helps explain the chromosomal clustering that we observed here. Transcriptional co-regulation of physical clusters of adaptive genes may provide a way for the parasite to readily adapt to its highly heterogeneous and strongly selective environment. © 2009 Mackinnon et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
MacKinnon, Margaret J.
Kenya, Nairobi
Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories Nairobi
Li, Jinguang
Singapore, Singapore City
Nanyang Technological University
Mok, Sachel
Singapore, Singapore City
Nanyang Technological University
Kortok, Moses Mosobo
Kenya, Nairobi
Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories Nairobi
Marsh, Kevin
Kenya, Nairobi
Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories Nairobi
Preiser, Peter R.
Singapore, Singapore City
Nanyang Technological University
Bozdech, Zbynek
Singapore, Singapore City
Nanyang Technological University
Statistics
Citations: 88
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.ppat.1000644
ISSN:
15537366
e-ISSN:
15537374
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Infectious Diseases
Sexual And Reproductive Health