Mating patterns in malaria parasite populations of Papua New Guinea

Science. 1995 Sep 22;269(5231):1709-11. doi: 10.1126/science.7569897.

Abstract

Description of the genetic structure of malaria parasite populations is central to an understanding of the spread of multiple-locus drug and vaccine resistance. The Plasmodium falciparum mating patterns from madang, Papua New Guinea, where intense transmission of malaria occurs, are described here. A high degree of inbreeding occurs in the absence of detectable linkage disequilibrium. This contrasts with other studies, indicating that the genetic structure of malaria parasite populations is neither clonal nor panmictic but will vary according to the transmission characteristics of the region.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Anopheles / parasitology
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology
  • Base Sequence
  • Drug Resistance / genetics
  • Female
  • Genes, Protozoan*
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genotype
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Inbreeding
  • Insect Vectors / parasitology
  • Linkage Disequilibrium
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / transmission
  • Male
  • Merozoite Surface Protein 1
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / physiology
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Reproduction

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Merozoite Surface Protein 1
  • Protein Precursors
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • glutamate-rich protein, Plasmodium