Verma Kanika, Razack Sirajunnisa Abdul, Schneider Kristan Alexander, Bharti Praveen Kumar
Department of Molecular Epidemiology, National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector-8, Dwarka, Delhi 110077, India; Center of Excellence on Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-Ageing (Neur-Age NatChula), India; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
College of Public Health Sciences (CPHS), Chulalongkorn University Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2025 Apr;111(4):116667. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116667. Epub 2024 Dec 20.
Microsatellites, or simple sequence repeats (SSRs), are short tandemly repeated DNA sequences widely dispersed throughout the genome. Their high variability, co-dominant inheritance, and ease of detection make them valuable genetic markers, frequently used to study genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary processes. In the context of malaria research, particularly with Plasmodium falciparum (P.falciparum), the deadliest malaria parasite in humans, microsatellites have been extensively utilized to track genetic variation, monitor drug resistance, and understand transmission patterns. This study highlights the significance of microsatellite markers in unraveling the genetic complexity of P. falciparum, providing insights into its biology and epidemiology. We discuss their application in the study of parasite population genetics, the challenges associated with their use, and their potential in guiding malaria control strategies. By focusing on P. falciparum, this work emphasizes the critical role of microsatellite markers in advancing our understanding of malaria transmission, drug resistance, and potential vaccine development.
微卫星，即简单序列重复序列（SSRs），是短串联重复DNA序列，广泛分布于整个基因组中。它们具有高度变异性、共显性遗传以及易于检测的特点，使其成为有价值的遗传标记，常用于研究遗传多样性、种群结构和进化过程。在疟疾研究领域，尤其是针对人类最致命的疟原虫——恶性疟原虫（P. falciparum），微卫星已被广泛用于追踪遗传变异、监测耐药性以及了解传播模式。本研究强调了微卫星标记在揭示恶性疟原虫遗传复杂性方面的重要性，为其生物学和流行病学研究提供了见解。我们讨论了它们在寄生虫群体遗传学研究中的应用、使用过程中面临的挑战以及它们在指导疟疾控制策略方面的潜力。通过聚焦恶性疟原虫，这项工作强调了微卫星标记在推进我们对疟疾传播、耐药性和潜在疫苗开发理解方面的关键作用。
