Volume : 4, Issue : 9, September - 2015

Genetic Polymorphism of the Merozoit Surface Protein-1 (PfMSP-1) in the Block 4 region in Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Isolates from South-East of Iran

Ebrahimzadeh Adel, Davoodi Tahareh, Ebrahimzadeh Parastoo

Abstract :

<p>Malaria is still a public health problem in Iran especially in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Many malarial proteins have been proposed for use as vaccine candidate antigens, but merozoit surface protein-1 (MSP-1) is the most used. The aim of the present study was to investigate the polymorphism in block 4 of MSP-1 gene among Plasmodium falciparum isolates in Iran. A total of 94 P. falciparum infected persons were included in this descriptive cross-sectional survey. Genomic DNA was extracted and genetic polymorphism of PfMSP-1 block 4 was investigated by nested polymerase chain reactions(PCR).All four alleles of MSP1 block 4 genotypes were detected, although MKwas the predominant type (25.8%) and KM was the least frequent (16.9%). Multiple infections with at least two genotypes were detected in 11.2% of samples. The results of this study showed that PfMSP-1 polymorphism is relatively low in Study area and most of infections are composed of one clone, which is consistent with an area of low malaria transmission. These data are useful for malaria prevention and control in Iran.</p>