Cloning of genes of Plasmodium berghei associated with benflumetol resistance / 军事医学科学院院刊

ABSTRACT

Objective:To isolate genes related to benflumetol resistance in the rodent malaria P.berghei K173 strain.Methods:The mRNA differential display technique was used to identify differentially expressed genes between drug-sensitive P.berghei K173 strain and benflumetol-resistant strain selected under benflumetol pressure.Northern blot was performed in order to determine the genes actually derived from maternal strains.Results:PCR reactions were prepared respectively with twenty-four pairs of primers in each of the strains.Thirty-three differentially displayed genes fragments were cloned and eight of them were sequenced. The eight sequences were novel ESTs and were submitted to GenBank. Homology searching revealed that clone CB52 was slightly homologous to P.falciparum cyclophilin gene. Hybridization confirmed that the gene fragment CB52 was upregulated in the benflumetol-resistant parasite strain, while downregulated in the chloroquine-resistant strain.Conclusions:CB52 fragment was involved in the benflumetol resistance in P.berghei and the genetic mechanisms of drug-resistance to benflumetol and chloroquine were different.