Journal article
Digital PCR Reveals High PvDBP1 but not PvEBP/DBP2 and PvRBP2b Copy Number in Plasmodium vivax From Duffy-Negative Individuals in Central Africa
The Journal of infectious diseases, v 233(1), pp 164-172
15 Jan 2026
PMID: 40503635
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Vivax malaria, once thought rare in Duffy-negative Africans, is now reported in various parts of Africa, suggesting alternate invasion mechanisms and parasite adaptability to Duffy-null (DN) cells. One hypothesis is that copy number variation (CNV) of genes involved in erythrocyte invasion may impact parasite invasion capability and/or host immune evasion, particularly in Duffy-negative individuals.
Using novel digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we assessed CNV of 3 key erythrocyte-binding genes of Plasmodium vivax isolated from DN individuals in 3 ecoepidemiological zones of Cameroon. For a subset of samples, we compare digital PCR (dPCR) results with quantitative PCR (qPCR) and PCR diagnostic approaches.
PvDBP1 duplications were detected in approximately 92% of DN P. vivax samples, compared to approximately 10% of the samples with multicopy PvEBP/DBP2 and PvRBP2b. A significant positive correlation was detected between PvDBP1 CNV and parasite load among the samples. Both Malagasy- and Cambodian-type PvDBP1 duplications were detected. About one-third of the samples harbored both duplication types and these samples were exclusively in northern highlands of Cameroon, suggesting either polyclonal infections or a third duplication type.
Multicopy PvDBP1 across all study sites may imply significant parasite adaptability and improved parasite invasion, potentially influencing parasitemia. This was confirmed by the significantly higher parasitemia observed in samples with Cambodian type and those with both duplication types compared to ones with no duplication. Furthermore, our data showed CNV analysis by qPCR may not be as precise as dPCR, particularly for low-parasitemia DN P. vivax samples. Predominantly low PvEBP/DBP2 and PvRBP2b CNV raises questions to their role in parasite adaptation to invading DN erythrocytes.
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Details
- Title
- Digital PCR Reveals High PvDBP1 but not PvEBP/DBP2 and PvRBP2b Copy Number in Plasmodium vivax From Duffy-Negative Individuals in Central Africa
- Creators
- Bernis Neneyoh Yengo - Drexel UniversityVictoria Ruszin - Drexel UniversityCheikh Cambel Dieng - Drexel UniversityCanelle Kipayko - Drexel UniversityNontokozo Mdluli - Drexel UniversityBate Ayukenchengamba - University of BueaEbai Calvin Bisong - University of BamendaDoris Tabi Sona - University of BueaZidedine Nematchoua Weyou - University of BueaIrene Sumbele - University of BueaHelen Kuokuo Kimbi - University of BamendaEugenia Lo - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- The Journal of infectious diseases, v 233(1), pp 164-172
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- R01 AI162947 / NIAID NIH HHS Drexel University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001520863700001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105027705105
- Other Identifier
- 991022192519404721
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- Collaboration types
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology