Identification of microsatellite markers in Plasmodium mexicanum,a lizard malaria parasite that infects nucleated erythrocytes |
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Authors: | JOS J. SCHALL ANNE M. VARDO |
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Abstract: | Reptile and bird hosts of malaria parasites (Plasmodium) have nucleated erythrocytes. Infected blood thus contains a mix of abundant host and scant parasite DNA which has prevented identification of Plasmodium microsatellites. We developed a protocol for isolation of microsatellite markers for Plasmodium mexicanum, a parasite of lizards. The ATT repeat was common in the genome of P. mexicanum, but most (87%) of these repeats were exceptionally long (50–206 + repeats). Seven microsatellite markers with polymerase chain reaction primers are described. The protocol should allow discovery of microsatellites of malaria parasites (with AT‐rich genomes) infecting bird and reptile hosts. |
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Keywords: | malaria parasite microsatellites Plasmodium mexicanum |
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