Parasites & Vectors, 2014, 02, 0─0

First characterization of Plasmodium vivax liver stage antigen (PvLSA) using synthetic peptides

Youn-Kyoung Goo, Eun-Jeong Seo, Yeon-kyung Choi, Hyun-Il Shin, Jetsumon Sattabongkot, So-Young Ji, Chom-Kyu Chong, Shin-Hyung Cho, Won-Ja Lee, Jung-Yeon Kim

Abstract

Background
Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread human malaria in tropical and subtropical countries, including the Republic of Korea. Vivax malaria is characterized by hypnozoite relapse and long latency infection by the retained liver stage of P. vivax, and somewhat surprisingly, little is known of the liver stage antigens of this parasite. Here, we report for the first time the characterization of a liver stage antigen of P. vivax (PvLSA).
Methods
Five peptides located inside PvLSA were synthesized, and specific anti-sera to the respective peptides were used to localize PvLSA on P. vivax parasites in human liver cells by immunofluorescence. Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed using the five peptides and sera collected from vivax malaria patients and from normal healthy controls.
Results
PvLSA was localized on P. vivax parasites in human liver cells. Vivax malaria-infected patients were detected using the five peptides by western blotting. Furthermore, the peptides reacted with the sera of vivax malaria patients.
Conclusions
These results suggest that PvLSA may function during the liver stage of P. vivax.

• ISBN or ISSN: 1756-3305

• 본 연구는 질병관리본부 연구개발과제(과제번호 2009-N54002-00) 연구비를 지원받아 수행되었습니다.
• This research was supported by a fund(code 2009-N54002-00) by Research of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.