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Quantification of Plasmodium falciparum malaria from complex infections in the Peruvian Amazon using quantitative PCR of the merozoite surface protein 1, block 2 (PfMSP1-B2): in vitro dynamics reveal density-dependent interactions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 February 2012

THOMAS M. ZERVOS
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Parasitology, New York University School of Medicine, 341 E 25th St, OPH, New York, NY 10010, USA
JEAN N. HERNANDEZ
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana, Laboratorio de Investigaciones Productos Naturales Anti-Parasitarios, Iquitos, Peru
PATRICK L. SUTTON
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Parasitology, New York University School of Medicine, 341 E 25th St, OPH, New York, NY 10010, USA
ORALEE H. BRANCH*
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Parasitology, New York University School of Medicine, 341 E 25th St, OPH, New York, NY 10010, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Department of Medical Parasitology, New York University School of Medicine, 341 E 25th St, OPH, New York, NY 10010, USA. Tel: +011 212 263 4364. Fax: +011 212 263 8116. E-mail: OraLee.Branch@nyumc.org

Summary

The majority of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates are defined as complex infections because they contain multiple genetically distinct clones. Studying interactions between clones in complex infections in vivo and in vitro could elucidate important phenomena in malaria infection, transmission and treatment. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR) of the P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 1, block 2 (PfMSP1-B2), we provide a sensitive and efficient genotyping method. This is important for epidemiological studies because it makes it possible to study genotype-specific growth dynamics. We compared 3 PfMSP1-B2 genotyping methods by analysing 79 field isolates from the Peruvian Amazon. In vivo observations from other studies using these techniques led to the hypothesis that clones within complex infections interact. By co-culturing clones with different PfMSP1-B2 genotypes, and measuring parasitaemia using qPCR, we found that suppression of clonal expansion was a factor of the collective density of all clones present in a culture. PfMSP1-B2 qPCR enabled us to find in vitro evidence for parasite-parasite interactions and could facilitate future investigations of growth trends in naturally occurring complex infections.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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