Genetic complexity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of treated Gambian children

13Citations
Citations of this article
52Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

The genetic complexity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes isolated from Gambian children participating in a controlled trial of anti-malarial therapy was investigated. RNA and DNA were prepared from gametocytepositive blood, which was also used in transmission experiments with Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Amplification by a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of transcripts from the genes for the ring-infected erythrocyte surface antigen and the 16-kD antigen, which exhibit asexual and sexual stage-specific expression, was used to identify 30 post-treatment gametocyte isolates in which trophozoites persisted below the threshold of detection by microscopy. These included isolates from children who received sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine plus artesunate. Twentynine gametocyte-positive isolates that were free of subpatent trophozoites were examined further by PCR amplification of polymorphic genomic loci. We estimate that an average minimum of 2.3 genotypes occurred in these gametocyte-only isolates, and many of these were shown to be infective to mosquitoes. Thus, meiotic recombination between different genotypes is predicted to be a common event in this study area.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Sutherland, C. J., Alloueche, A., McRobert, L., Ord, R., Leggat, J., Snounou, G., … Targett, G. A. T. (2002). Genetic complexity of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of treated Gambian children. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 66(6), 700–705. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2002.66.700

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free