Genome-wide analysis of population structure and adaptation of Plasmodium knowlesi in peninsular Malaysia

Almost all malaria in Malaysia is now caused by Plasmodium knowlesi, a zoonotic parasite species consisting of at least three divergent genetic populations, two occurring in Borneo and a third causing all cases in mainland Peninsular Malaysia. To investigate the genetic structure in depth and test for evidence of recent adaptation on the mainland, clinical samples of P. knowlesi infections were obtained from malaria patients presenting to hospitals in three states within Peninsular Malaysia. Whole-genome sequence data with high read coverage were generated from 28 of the infections from five different hospitals, and as anticipated, all the parasites belong to the third genetic population termed Cluster 3.