Tools for Genomic Investigations of Plasmodium vivax

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Of the four species causing human malaria, Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax are responsible for more than 90% of the cases. Although much less prevalent than earlier times, vivax malaria is estimated to affect 70-80 million people each year, mainly in Asia, the Americas, and the Western Pacific region, thus making it the most widespread Plasmodium species. Investigations on P. vivax have lagged significantly because of the unavailability of facile tools for studying this parasite. The genome sequence of P. vivax is about to be completed at 10x coverage. However, tools to take advantage of the genomic sequence for molecular genetic studies are not available at present. To initiate such studies, this project will develop DNA microarray technology based on printed long oligonucleotide platform. Methods for optimal use of these microarrays will be developed and disseminated. These tools will be highly valuable in vivax malaria research as the field enters post-genomic era. Public Health Relevance: Malaria due to Plasmodium vivax is a major public health problem. Genomic sequencing of this parasite is now nearing completion, but tools to use this information to devise improved means to control vivax malaria are not available at present. This project aims to create such tools which will be made widely available to the research community.