The Isolation and Characterization of Plasmodial Genes

McCutchan, T.

Abstract

We have developed a method for cutting intact genes out of Plasmodium DNA with mung bean nuclease. The intact genes are then ligated into an expression vector in order to make a recombinant gene bank containing genes from all stages of the parasites life cycle. We have also analyzed what types of DNA structures are involved with mung bean nuclease cleavage and modified the reaction conditions used so that this procedure works with the DNA of many higher eucaryote. From gene banks produced in this fashion we have isolated 1) a gene whose sequence has been useful in the preparation of a trial vaccine for malaria, the circumsporozoite gene on P. falciparum, 2) genes that are specifically produced in the sexual stages of P. falciparum, and 3) a gene that is involved in pyrimethamine resistance.

Funding Agency

• Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Institute: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Type: Intramural Research (Z01)
• Project #: 1Z01AI000208-05
• Application #: 4688394
• Support Year: 5
• Fiscal Year: 1985

Institution

• Name: Niaid Extramural Activities
• Country: United States

Publications

Oakley, Miranda S; Majam, Victoria; Mahajan, Babita et al. (2009) Pathogenic roles of CD14, galectin-3, and OX40 during experimental cerebral malaria in mice. PLoS One 4:e6793

Raj, Dipak Kumar; Mu, Jianbing; Jiang, Hongying et al. (2009) Disruption of a Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-associated protein (PfMRP) alters its fitness and transport of antimalarial drugs and glutathione. J Biol Chem 284:7687-96

McCutchan, Thomas F (2008) Beyond bed nets. Science 319:33

Oakley, Miranda S; McCutchan, Thomas F; Anantharaman, Vivek et al. (2008) Host biomarkers and biological pathways that are associated with the expression of experimental cerebral malaria in mice. Infect Immun 76:4518-29

Grim, K Christiana; McCutchan, Thomas; Sullivan, Margery et al. (2008) Unidentified Plasmodium species in Australian black swans (Cygnus atratus) hatched and raised in North America. J Zoo Wildl Med 39:216-20

Joy, Deirdre A; Gonzalez-Ceron, Lilia; Carlton, Jane M et al. (2008) Local adaptation and vector-mediated population structure in Plasmodium vivax malaria. Mol Biol Evol 25:1245-52

McCutchan, Thomas F (2008) Is a monkey malaria from Borneo an emerging human disease? Future Microbiol 3:115-8

Li, Jian; Zhang, Yanhui; Sullivan, Margery et al. (2007) Typing Plasmodium yoelii microsatellites using a simple and affordable fluorescent labeling method. Mol Biochem Parasitol 155:94-102

Oakley, Miranda S M; Kumar, Sanjai; Anantharaman, Vivek et al. (2007) Molecular factors and biochemical pathways induced by febrile temperature in intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Infect Immun 75:2012-25

Rathore, Dharmendar; Nagarkatti, Rana; Jani, Dewal et al. (2005) An immunologically cryptic epitope of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein facilitates liver cell recognition and induces protective antibodies that block liver cell invasion. J Biol Chem 280:20524-9