Rapid turnover of Plasmodium falciparum var gene transcripts and genotypes during natural non-symptomatic infections

the var genes of plasmodium falciparum code for the antigenically variant erythrocyte membrane proteins 1 (pfemp1), a major factor for cytoadherence and immune escape of the parasite. herein, we analyzed the var gene transcript turnover in two ongoing, non-symptomatic infections at sequential time points during two weeks. the number of different circulating genomes was estimated by microsatellite analyses. in both infections, we observed a rapid turnover of plasmodial genotypes and var transcripts. the rapidly changing repertoire of var transcripts could have been caused either by swift elimination of circulating var-transcribing parasites stemming from different or identical genetic backgrounds, or by accelerated switching of var gene transcription itself.