Genetic polymorphism of the extracellular region in surface associated interspersed 1.1 gene of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from Thailand.

A novel variable surface antigens (VSAs), Surface-associated interspersed proteins (SUFRINs), is a protein that is modified on the surface of infected red blood cell (iRBC). Modified proteins on the iRBC surface cause severe malaria, which can lead to death throughout the life cycle of a malaria parasite. Previous study suggested that SURFIN is an immunogenic membrane-associated protein which was encoded by using the surf gene expressed during the trophozoite and schizont stages. This study aimed to identify the regions of SURFIN and investigate the genetic diversity of the extracellular region of the surf gene.