Population genetic structure analysis of thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) as a vaccine candidate antigen in worldwide Plasmodium falciparum isolates.

Antigenic diversity is a major concern in malaria vaccine development that requires to be considered in developing a malaria vaccine. Plasmodium falciparum thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (PfTRAP) is a leading malaria vaccine candidate antigen. In the current study, we investigated the level of genetic diversity and natural selection of pftrap sequences in P.