An approach to identifying functional groups within the multi-copy <i>var</i> genes. Mary M. Rorick Edward B. Baskerville Thomas S. Rask Karen P. Day Mercedes Pascual 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006174.g002 https://plos.figshare.com/articles/figure/An_approach_to_identifying_functional_groups_within_the_multi-copy_i_var_i_genes_/6512681 <p><b>(A)</b> Graphical representation of a stochastic block model for the normalized co-occurrence matrix <b>Z</b>, for nine homology blocks divided into three functional groups (HB functional groups 1–3). The blocks within the matrix of a single color represent the <i>z</i>-scores between pairs of HB functional groups, which are assumed to be drawn from the same normal distribution. <b>(B)</b> Homology blocks recombine to form <i>var</i> gene sequences, so after homology blocks are classified into functional groups (7 shown here, represented by distinct colors), <i>var</i> functional types can be defined as unique combinations of homology block functional groups (HBFG types). Viewing <i>var</i> sequences as HBFG types reduces diversity by over two orders of magnitude.</p> 2018-06-13 17:54:15 sample var DBL α sequence types var gene diversity approach recombining var antigenic gene family malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum recombining parts recombining antigenic var genes multi-copy gene families