Reference Genomes of Malaria-Causing Plasmodium Parasites Completed
Using DNA sequenced from patient blood samples, researchers assembled complete reference genomes of neglected malaria parasites, uncovering genetic regions potentially involved in immune evasion and providing new tools for disease surveillance. The post Reference Genomes of Malaria-Causing Plasmodium Parasites Completed appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News .
Researchers have generated comprehensive chromosome-level reference genomes for two previously understudied malaria-causing parasites, P. ovale wallikeri and P. malariae, as well as the more well-known P. falciparum. Published in PLOS Pathogens, the study reveals new genetic regions inaccessible in earlier fragmented references that could improve understanding of parasite persistence, transmission, immune evasion, and evolution.
The research team collected blood samples from naturally infected patients in Mali, isolating parasite DNA and using PacBio long-read sequencing combined with Hi-C to reconstruct chromosome organization. The new genome assemblies resolved subtelomeric regions containing repetitive DNA and gene families associated with host interactions, identifying over 2,000 PIR family genes accounting for about a quarter of P. ovale wallikeri's genome.
Notably, genetic rearrangements near chromosome ends were observed between parasites from the same region, suggesting mechanisms for antigenic variation and immune invasion. These reference genomes will be crucial for molecular diagnostics, therapeutic target identification, and monitoring drug resistance, particularly as global malaria elimination strategies expand to include non-falciparum species.
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