Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 13 3 2018 09 23 440 447 EN Ahmad ABOLGHAZI Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Aliehsan HEIDARI Dept. of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Vahideh MOIN-VAZIRI Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali HAGHIGHI Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Seyyed Javad SEYYED TABAEI Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hossein KESHAVARZ Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Saeedeh SHOJAEE Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2017 05 29 2018 09 23 Background: Vivax malaria is more prevalent in the malarious areas of Iran, which makes vaccine research a high priority. Serine Repeat Antigens (SERA) have essential role in the parasite life cycle and high expression profiles of PvSERA5 make it suitable vaccine candidates. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity of C-terminal region of PvSERA5 in Iranian isolates of Plasmodium vivax in Sistan and Baluchistan. Methods: Totally, 49 blood samples were taken from symptomatic malaria patients in Sistan and Baluchistan Province in 2016. Mono-infection to P. vivax was confirmed by 18srRNA-Nested-PCR. Genomic DNA was extracted and C-terminal region of PvSERA5 was amplified by specific primers. PCR-products have been sequenced and analysis was done by using bioinformatics software, mainly DnaSP & MEGA5. Results: Genetic diversity was calculated 14.8% in C-terminal region of PvSERA5 in Iranian isolates, 19 different sequences and 4 haplotypes existed. The amount of Tajima’s D (0.3805) and ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous mutation (1.82) showed that C-terminal region of PvSERA5 is under positive natural selection; also intragenic recombination could interfere. Conclusion: Results could be helpful in any research, regarding this antigen as vaccine candidate in Iran or worldwide. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/1609 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/1609/858