Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Genetic diversity gives Plasmodium falciparum the ability to evade the host’s immune response and produce drug- and vaccine-resistant variants. Different authors have documented the existence of strains or clones of P. falciparum, whose genetic diversity has been confirmed through different PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assays. The goal was to describe the genetic diversity of P. falciparum. METHODS: For the narrative review a search of published literature was conducted, that included books, original scientific articles, verifying the subject, and technical reports. The documents were consulted in August and December 2019 through Internet access and libraries of the Academic Search Complete of search engine Medline, Science Direct, Scopus, Redalyc and Psicodoc. RESULTS: Polymorphic sequences useful as genetic markers of P. falciparum populations were identified, with the genes of the merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 (MSP-1, MSP-2) and the gene of the glutamate-rich protein (GLURP) that produce drug- and vaccine-resistant variants. DISCUSSION: According to the findings in the different regions studied, the genetic diversity, the multiplicity of infection and the time dynamics of P. falciparum infections are affected by the degree of endemicity of malaria in each country.