Glutamate-Rich Protein Gene Sequences of a Rodent Malaria Parasite, Plasmodium berghei NK65, and ...

The aim of this study was to look into the molecular characteristics of the glutamine rich protein (GLURP) gene in Plasmodium berghei NK65 and compare them to those of Plasmodium falciparum. In malaria epidemiology, the GLURP antigen is a primary surface antigen, and its gene is a genetic marker for genotyping. Research Design: The experimental research design was chosen for this study.

Between October 2018 and June 2019, the research was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos. The ZR Quick-gDNATM Miniprep Kit was used to extract total Deoxyribonucleic acid from the whole blood of Plasmodium berghei NK65 infected mice (ZYMO RESEARCH). Gene Ampp9700 was used for PCR. The amplicon was run on a 2% agarose gel, registered with Synegene's ChemiGenuis® Gel Documentation System, and sequenced at South Africa's Inqaba Biotec Industries. The GLURP nucleotide sequence was accessed using Finch TV® (GeoPiza) and analysed using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLASTn) and CLUSTAL O analyses software from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The 863bp partial length GLURP gene of Plasmodium berghei NK65 strain was obtained from the polymerase chain reaction product, which was about 1kb in size. Blast Hits were found for the Plasmodium falciparum GLURP gene (AF191065.1) with 98.23 percent identity, (AF247634.1) with 94.93 percent identity, and (XM 001347592.1) with 94.66 percent identity, according to bioinformatics analyses. The NK65 GLURP gene sequence of Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum, the human malaria parasite, are strikingly similar.

Conclusion: The existence of the GLURP gene in Plasmodium berghei NK65, which is homologous to strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest human malaria parasite, was discovered for the first time. Please see the link : - https://www.journalsajp.com/index.php/SAJP/article/view/30125