Project name: Genetic diversity of P. berghei strains with different defined phenotypes

Description: The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Pathogen Genomics group is sequencing of a number of rodent malaria parasite strains. As part of this project, several strains (with distinct phenotypic differences) of the mouse malaria parasite P. berghei are being sequenced to high coverage using the Illumina sequencing technology platform. The strain 233 was derived from 234 parent strain but they are phenotypically different. The 233 strain is a non-gametocyte producing strain whereas its parent strain (i.e. the 234 strain) produces gametocytes at a level comparable to the reference genome strain ANKA. Hence, comparative genome analysis of these 3 strains is expected to generate new information about locus or loci responsible for controlling gametocyte production in malaria parasites. The K173 is a cloned laboratory strain of P. berghei that completely lacks gametocyte production and sequestration of schizonts. The genetic basis of the loss of gametocyte production and non-sequestering phenotype is currently unknown. Most likely this can be explained by the laboratory history of this line; it has been kept for more than 20 years in mice by mechanical blood passage. K173 induces ECM pathology in ECM-susceptible mouse strains. Beside the reduced size of a number of chromosomes and the reduced number of copies of the 2.3kb repeat element (compared to the reference strain ANKA), Chis Janse’s group in Leiden also has evidence that it has a reduced number of copies subtelomerically located genes such as BIRs and Pbfam1 genes (by FIGE hybridization). . This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/

Data type: Other

Sample scope: Monoisolate

Release date: 2010-08-13