Phylogenetic analysis of CSP and MSP-9 gene sequences demonstrates the close relationship of Plasmodium coatneyi to Plasmodium knowlesi. |
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| Authors: | Esmeralda Vargas-Serrato Vladimir Corredor Mary R Galinski |
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| Institution: | Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. |
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| Abstract: | Plasmodium coatneyi is a simian malaria parasite with various biological features similar to the human malaria P. falciparum and potential as a model for severe cases of malaria. We have characterized two single-copy genes from P. coatneyi, the circumsporozoite protein and merozoite surface protein-9 genes, and determined its phylogenetic relationship among Plasmodium species. This study demonstrates that while it has similarities to P. falciparum, P. coatneyi belongs to a distant clade including several simian malaria parasites and the human malaria P. vivax. P. coatneyi forms a monophyletic group with P. knowlesi, demonstrating their close relationship despite some very distinctive biological characteristics. |
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