{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.023169218038891187, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0012412081092263137, 'mean_word_length': 5.06015037593985, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Caracterização do receptor DARC (Duffy Antigen/Receptor for Chemokines) e da resposta imune anti Duffy Binding Protein em indivíduos expostos ao Plasmodium vivax

The complex process of erythrocyte invasion by malaria parasites is mediated by specific molecular interactions. In Plasmodium vivax, invasion is dependent on the interaction between Duffy blood group antigen (DARC) and Duffy binding protein (PvDBP). Due to its importance in erythrocyte invasion, we used real-time PCR to investigate the genotype of the DARC receptors. The technique was performed using a multiplex system, which optimized the genotyping method on a large scale and reduced costs. This methodology was used to genotype the DARC receptor of 
individuals living in an area experiencing a malaria epidemic as well as other areas 
within the Brazilian Amazon. In this study, to evaluate the influence of DARC in P. 
vivax infection two methodological approaches were used: a prevalence study and an incidence study (prospective). In the prevalence study, it was observed that 
individuals who possessed two functional DARC alleles had a higher risk of infection 
with P. vivax. In a prospective study, the DARC receptor was genotyped in 800 
individuals native to the Amazon. The results showed no association between DARC 
genotype and P. vivax infection. Nevertheless, the results suggested that the DARC receptor does influence the antibody response, with individuals possessing only one functional allele (FY*B/FY*BES) showing a greater response to anti-PvDBP. These 
findings are important because the relationship between DARC genotype and immune 
response to PvDBP has not previously been explored. We also determined the DARC 
genotypes and evaluated the response of anti-PvDBP in individuals living in a P. 
vivax epidemic area (an outbreak in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, MG). In 
this outbreak area, different DARC genotypes were equally distributed among infected and uninfected individuals. Finally, we evaluated the kinetics of anti-PvDBP 
responses among individuals in this outbreak area. The results showed that anti-PvDBP antibodies were short and specific to the parasite variant responsible for the 
outbreak. Together, we believe that the results presented here can contribute to an 
improved understanding of the relationship between DARC receptor, immune response and susceptibility to P. vivax infection.