Rodent malaria parasites (RMPs) serve as tractable models for experimental genetics,
and as valuable tools to study malaria parasite biology and host-parasitevector
interactions. Plasmodium vinckei, one of four RMPs adapted to laboratory
mice, is the most geographically widespread species and displays considerable phenotypic
and genotypic diversity amongst its subspecies and strains. The phenotypes
and genotypes of P. vinckei isolates have been relatively less characterized compared
to other RMPs, hampering its use as an experimental model for malaria. Here, we
have studied the phenotypes and sequenced the genomes and transcriptomes of
ten P. vinckei isolates including representatives of all five subspecies, all of which
were collected from wild thicket rats (Thamnomys rutilans) in sub-Saharan Central
Africa between the late 1940s and mid 1960s. We have generated a comprehensive
resource for P. vinckei comprising of five high-quality reference genomes, growth
profiles and genotypes of P. vinckei isolates, and expression profiles of genes across
the intra-erythrocytic developmental stages of the parasite. We observe significant
phenotypic and genotypic diversity among P. vinckei isolates, making them particularly
suitable for classical genetics and genomics-driven studies on malaria parasite
biology. As part of a proof of concept study, we have shown that experimental genetic
crosses can be performed between P. vinckei parasites to potentially identify
genotype-phenotype relationships. We have also shown that they are amenable to
genetic manipulation in the laboratory.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:kaust.edu.sa/oai:repository.kaust.edu.sa:10754/626109 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Ramaprasad, Abhinay |
| Contributors | Pain, Arnab, Culleton, Richard, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, Gojobori, Takashi, Gao, Xin, Carter, Richard |
| Source Sets | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Rights | 2018-11-05, At the time of archiving, the student author of this dissertation opted to temporarily restrict access to it. The full text of this dissertation became available to the public after the expiration of the embargo on 2018-11-05. |
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