| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Identification and characterization of novel <it>Plasmodium </it>gene families is necessary for developing new anti-malarial therapeutics. The products of the <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>gene, <it>MB2</it>, were shown previously to have a stage-specific pattern of subcellular localization and proteolytic processing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Genes homologous to <it>MB2 </it>were identified in five additional parasite species, <it>P. knowlesi</it>, <it>P. gallinaceum</it>, <it>P. berghei</it>, <it>P. yoelii</it>, and <it>P. chabaudi</it>. Sequence comparisons among the <it>MB2 </it>gene products reveal amino acid conservation of structural features, including putative S1 and GTP-binding domains, and putative signal peptides and nuclear localization signals.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The combination of domains is unique to this gene family and indicates that <it>MB2 </it>genes comprise a novel family and therefore may be a good target for drug development.</p>
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