Genomic exploration of the complex journey of Plasmodium vivax in Latin America

Abstract

Plasmodium vivax, the predominant malaria parasite in Latin America, has a rich and complex colonization history in the region, with debated hypotheses about its origin. Our study employed cutting-edge population genomic techniques, to collect whole genome sequencing data from 620 P. vivax isolates, including 107 newly sequenced samples, thus representing nearly all potential source populations worldwide. Analyses of the genetic structure, diversity, ancestry, and also, coalescent-based inferences and scenario testing using Approximate Bayesian Computation, have revealed a more complex evolutionary history than previously envisioned. Indeed, according to our analysis, the current American P. vivax populations predominantly stemmed from a now-extinct European lineage, with the potential contribution also from unsampled populations, most likely of West African origin, during post-colonial human migration waves in the late 19th-century. This study provides a fresh perspective on P. vivax intricate evolutionary journey and brings insights into the possible contribution of West African P. vivax populations to the colonization history of Latin America.