A survey of the Th2R and Th3R allelic variants in the circumsporozoite protein gene of P. falciparum parasites from western Thailand
Kumkhaek, C.; Phra-ek, K.; Singhasivanon, P.; Looareesuwan, S.; Hirunpetcharat, C.; Brockman, A.; Grüner, A.Charlotte.; Lebrun, N.; Rénia, L.; Nosten, Fçois.; Snounou, G.; Khusmith, S.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 35(2): 281-287
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 15691125 Document Number: 580603
Allelic variation in the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CS) gene has been determined by sequencing the immunodominant T-cell epitopes, Th2R and Th3R, from 95 isolates from two malaria-endemic areas in the west of Thailand. Comparison with a reference sequence revealed only non-synonymous point mutations in the two epitope regions. Point mutations were found outside these epitopes in a minority of samples, and all but four were also non-synonymous. A relatively high number of variants, 11 Th2R and 9 Th3R, were detected and comprised some that had not been previously observed. However, the Th2R*05 and the Th3R*01 allelic variants predominated, as they were found in more than 70% of the 101 sequences obtained.