Cloning of genomic fragment from Plasmodium chabaudi expressing a 105 kilodalton antigen epitope

The 105 kDa antigen of Plasmodium chabaudi has many characteristics of the P. falciparum Pf 155 (RESA) molecule. A clone (pPC105e) from a P. chabaudi genomic library was isolated using immune screening with a 105 kDa antigen specific monoclonal antibody (B7E10). Southern, Northern and Western blotting analyses provide evidence for a lack of variability at the protein and DNA levels. A subclone of the insert in the expression vector pEX2, synthesises a fusion peptide which contains the epitope recognised by B7E10. Sequences homologous to the insert were detected in the genome of three other rodent and two primate malarias.