Genetic diversity in merozoite surface protein-1 and 2 among Plasmodium falciparum isolates from malarious districts of tribal dominant state of Jharkhand, India.

This is the first report on molecular characterization of P. falciparum field isolates from Jharkhand. The genetic diversity and allelic distribution found in this study is somewhat similar to other reports from India and Southeast Asian countries. However, P. falciparum infection can be highly complex and diverse in these disease-endemic regions of Jharkhand, suggesting continual genetic mixing that could have significant implications for the use of antimalarial drugs and vaccines.