BACKGROUND: The reservoir of @entity3964 infection in @entity1 has traditionally been defined by blood slide positivity. This study was designed to characterize the local reservoir of infection in relation to the diverse var genes that encode the major surface antigen of @entity3964 blood stages and underlie the parasite's ability to establish @entity281 and transmit from @entity1 to mosquito. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We investigated the molecular epidemiology of the var multigene family at local sites in Gabon, Senegal and Kenya which differ in parasite prevalence and transmission intensity. 1839 distinct var gene types were defined by sequencing DBLa domains in the three sites. Only 76 (4.1%) var types were found in more than one population indicating spatial heterogeneity in var types across the African continent. The majority of var types appeared only once in the population sample. Non-parametric statistical estimators predict in each population at minimum five to seven thousand distinct var types. Similar diversity of var types was seen in sites with different parasite prevalences. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Var population genomics provides new insights into the epidemiology of @entity3964 in Africa where @entity311 has never been conquered. In particular, we have described the extensive reservoir of infection in local African sites and discovered a unique var population structure that can facilitate superinfection through minimal overlap in var repertoires among parasite genomes. Our findings show that var typing as a molecular surveillance system defines the extent of genetic complexity in the reservoir of infection to complement measures of @entity311 prevalence. The observed small scale spatial diversity of var genes suggests that var genetics could greatly inform current @entity311 mapping approaches and predict complex @entity311 population dynamics due to the import of var types to areas where no widespread pre-existing immunity in the population exists.

A molecular epidemiological study of var gene diversity to characterize the reservoir of @entity3964 in XXXX in Africa.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['humans', 'human'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['chronic infection'] @entity311 :: ('MESH:D008288', 'Disease') :: ['malaria'] @entity3964 :: ('5833', 'Species') :: ['P. falciparum', 'Plasmodium falciparum', 'Plasmodium']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['humans']
