Differential var gene transcription in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from patients with cerebral malaria compared to hyperparasitaemia.

Abstract

The Plasmodium falciparum variant erythrocyte surface antigens known as PfEMP1, encoded by the var gene family, are thought to play a crucial role in malaria pathogenesis because they mediate adhesion to host cells and immuno-modulation. Var genes have been divided into three major groups (A, B and C) and two intermediate groups (B/A and B/C) on the basis of their genomic location and upstream sequence. We analysed expressed sequence tags of the var gene DBLalpha domain to investigate var gene transcription in relation to disease severity in Malian children. We found that P. falciparum isolates from children with cerebral malaria (unrousable coma) predominantly transcribe var genes with DBLalpha1-like domains that are characteristic of Group A or B/A var genes. In contrast, isolates from children with equally high parasite burdens but no symptoms or signs of severe malaria (hyperparasitaemia patients) predominantly transcribe var genes with DBLalpha0-like domains that are characteristic of the B and C-related var gene groups. These results suggest that var genes with DBLalpha1-like domains (Group A or B/A) may be implicated in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria, while var genes with DBLalpha0-like domains promote less virulent malaria infections.

• Authors: Helen M Kyriacou, Graham N Stone, Richard J Challis, Ahmed Raza, Kirsten E Lyke, Mahamadou A Thera, Abdoulaye K Koné, Ogobara K Doumbo, Christopher V Plowe, J Alexandra Rowe
• Journal: Molecular and biochemical parasitology (Mol Biochem Parasitol) Vol. 150 Issue 2 Pg. 211-8 (Dec 2006) ISSN: 0166-6851 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 16996149 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Protozoan Proteins
• erythrocyte membrane protein 1, Plasmodium falciparum

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Child, Preschool
• Expressed Sequence Tags
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Genes, Protozoan
• Humans
• Infant
• Malaria, Cerebral (genetics, parasitology)
• Malaria, Falciparum (parasitology)
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Parasitemia (genetics, parasitology)
• Phylogeny
• Plasmodium falciparum (genetics, isolation & purification, pathogenicity)
• Protein Structure, Tertiary
• Protozoan Proteins (chemistry, genetics)
• Sequence Alignment
• Transcription, Genetic
• Virulence