Figure 1

Primer and fluorescence probe positions selected for FRET PCR of Plasmodium 18S rRNA gene. Sequences of forward (underline left panel) and reverse (underline right panel) primers were aligned with the corresponding target sequences. FRET probes for detection of parasite (blue and red for anchor and acceptor FRET hybridization probes, respectively). Acceptor FRET hybridization probe was designed on the basis of one nucleotide mismatch difference (shown in pink colour) that distinguish 18S rRNA gene of P. falciparum (GenBank Accession number: AL010278) from that of the P. vivax (GenBank Accession number: U83877) or P. ovale (GenBank Accession number: L48986) or P. malariae (GenBank Accession number: M54897).