Genetic Characterization of C-Terminal Region of SERA۵ Gene in Isolates of Plasmodium vivax in Southwestern Iran

Backgrounds: Plasmodium vivax is one of the leading causes of malaria as a severe and death disease. Malaria has always been a major challenge for human health. The study of the genetic diversity of genes in malaria-causing agents has always been a concern for researchers. One of these genes is SERA, which plays a key role in parasite escape from the immune system. Materials & Methods: DNA was extracted from ۴۰ blood samples taken from symptomatic malaria patients infected with P. vivax in southern and southwestern Iran using a DNA extraction kit. Then PCR was performed with specific primers, and the data were analyzed by sequencing and recording genes. Findings: In this study, ۱۴ different isolates were identified among all samples, which were recorded in the World Gene Bank. The number of haplotypes among the ۱۴ samples was ۱۲. Also, there were ۲۵ polymorphic nucleotide positions out of about ۴۰۰ nucleotide sites. The ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous mutations (۱.۸۷۰۹۴) and the amount of Tajima’s D (-۰.۵۷۶۷۱) indicated the positive effect of natural selection on the genetic diversity of C-terminal region in the SERA۵ gene. Conclusions: Considering the safety and relative immunogenicity of vaccines, in addition to performing clinical trials, a regional vaccine should be developed to overcome genetic variation and antigenic changes in proteins.  

Keywords:

Plasmodium vivax , Malaria , Genetics , Iran