Genetic Diversity in the Circumsporozoite Protein Gene of Plasmodiumfalciparum from Major Endemic Regions of Iran

Circumsporozoite protein (csp) is one of the stage specific antigens, which is used for the development of vaccines and toinvestigate the genetic diversity in plasmodium jalciparum malaria parasite. polymerase chain reaction was used for typingof csp genes on 67 positive jalciparum malaria patients from sistan and baluchistan province of iran. three fragmentswere detected for csp gene. twenty, 38 and 4 samples showed 700, 750 and 800 bp fragments, respectively. sequences ofsome samples were aligned and compared with p.falciparum csp gene in gene bank. while the falciparum malaria endemicregion of iran is classified in low to moderate group but, extensive polymorphism was observed in the samples that could betaken into account in designing malaria vaccine.