Glutamate-Rich Protein Gene Sequences of a Rodent Malaria Parasite, Plasmodium berghei NK65, and Human Plasmodium falciparum Strains are Homologous
Published: 2020-11-17
Page: 149-158
Issue: 2020 - Volume 3 [Issue 4]
Ishaya Yohanna Longdet *
Department of Biochemistry, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Richard Joseph Kutshik
Department of Biochemistry, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Ngozi Yvonne Chibundu
Department of Biochemistry, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Bitrus Yakubu
Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, Jos, Nigeria.
Dinci Tyem Davou
Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, Jos, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To explore the molecular characteristics of glutamine rich protein (GLURP) gene in Plasmodium berghei NK65 and compare its genetic relatedness with those of Plasmodium falciparum. The GLURP is a key surface antigen and its gene a genetic marker for genotyping in malaria epidemiology.
Study Design: The design chose for this study was an experimental research.
Place and Duration: The study was undertaken in the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos between October 2018 and June 2019.
Methods: Total Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from the whole blood of Plasmodium berghei NK65 infected mice using ZR Quick-gDNA™ Miniprep Kit (ZYMO RESEARCH). PCR was done using Gene Ampp9700. The amplicon was analyzed in 2% agarose gel, documented with ChemiGenuis® Gel Documentation System (Synegene) and sequenced at Inqaba Biotec Industries, South Africa. Finch TV® (GeoPiza) was used to access the GLURP nucleotide sequence and analysed using National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLASTn) and CLUSTAL O analyses tools.
Result: The polymerase chain reaction product, about 1kb, gave 863bp partial length GLURP gene of Plasmodium berghei NK65 strain. The bioinformatics analyses gave Blast Hits: Plasmodium falciparum GLURP gene (AF191065.1) with 98.23% identity; (AF247634.1) with 94.93% identity; and (XM_001347592.1) with 94.66% identity. This shows high similarity between Plasmodium berghei NK65 GLURP gene sequence and that of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
Conclusion: The presence of GLURP gene was reported for the first time in Plasmodium berghei NK65 which is homologous to strains of the deadliest human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.
Keywords: Plasmodium berghei NK65, GLURP gene, malaria.