Population genomics of Plasmodium ovale species in sub-Saharan Africa
Plasmodium ovale curtisi (Poc) and Plasmodium ovale wallikeri (Pow) are relapsing malaria parasites endemic to Africa and Asia that were previously thought to represent a single species. Amid increasing detection of ovale malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, we present a population genomic study of both species across the continent. We conducted whole-genome sequencing of 25 isolates from Central and East Africa and analyzed them alongside 20 previously published African genomes. Isolates are predominantly monoclonal (43/45), with their genetic similarity aligning with geography. Pow shows lower average nucleotide diversity (1.8×10<sup>-4</sup>) across the genome compared to Poc (3.0×10<sup>-4</sup>) (p < 0.0001). Signatures of selective sweeps involving the dihydrofolate reductase gene have been found in both species, as are signs of balancing selection at the merozoite surface protein 1 gene. Differences in the nucleotide diversity of Poc and Pow may reflect unique demographic history, even as similar selective forces facilitate their resilience to malaria control interventions.
Authors
- Karamoko Niaré (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7406-9508)
- Alfred Simkin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9408-0053)
- Jessica T. Lin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4516-723X)
- Jeffrey A. Bailey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6899-8204)
- Wenqiao He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0579-6955)
- Antoinette Tshefu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7657-6901)
- Sindew Mekasha Feleke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5778-653X)
- Özkan Aydemir (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3458-6527)
- Albert Kalonji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4779-857X)
- Colin J. Sutherland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1592-6407)
- Claudia Gaither (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1484-352X)
- Billy Ngasala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9300-7719)
- Zachary R. Popkin-Hall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8308-5294)
- Bokretsion Gidey Brhane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5442-134X)
- Jonathan B. Parr (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4465-9830)
- Deus S. Ishengoma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2040-3416)
- Christopher M. Hennelly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5325-6753)
- Kara A. Moser (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9247-7388)
- Kelly Carey-Ewend (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3200-1644)
- Meredith Muller
- Jonathan J. Juliano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0591-0850)
- Fernandine Phanzu
- Innocent Mbulli Ali (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1112-6376)
- Melchior Mwandagalirwa Kashamuka
- Farhang Aghakanian
Institutions
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Ministry of Public Health (CD)
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (TZ)
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US)
- Université de Dschang (CM)
- Brown University (US)
- Kampala International University in Tanzania (TZ)
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
- Ethiopian Public Health Institute (ET)
- Sanru (CD)
- Department of Health (ZA)
- National Institute for Medical Research (TZ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2024-11-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54667-3
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Malaria Research and Control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.26
Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- Fogarty International Center