In Silico Analysis Reveals High Levels of Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium knowlesi Cell Traversal Protein for Ookinetes and Sporozoites (PkCelTOS) in Clinical Samples

The cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (CelTOS), expressed on the surface of sporozoitesin Plasmodium species, is a promising malaria vaccine candidate. CelTOS essential parasite invasion into mosquito midgut human hepatocytes, thereby contributing to transmission disease pathogenesis. This study explores genetic diversity, polymorphisms, haplotypes, natural selection, phylogenetic analysis, epitope prediction in full-length knowlesi gene clinical samples from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, long-term laboratory strains Peninsular Malaysia Philippines. Our analysis revealed high level variation PkCelTOS gene, with nucleotide diversity π ~ 0.021, which was skewed towards 3’ end gene. double that observed PfCelTOS 20 times PvCelTOS worldwide samples. Tests selection evidence positive within Phylogenetic amino acid sequence presence two distinct groups, although no geographical clustering observed. Epitope identified potential epitopes (96AQLKATA102 124TIKPPRIKED133) using IEDB server one (125IKPPRIKED133) by Bcepred C’ terminal region protein. Both servers predicted common nine length (IKPPRIKED) peptide, can be studied future as candidate development. These findings shed light polymorphism, provide insights about its prospects P.