title: [Erythrocyte polymorphism in Mali: epidemiology and resistance mechanisms against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria].
abstract: Homo sapiens and Plasmodium falciparum have co-evolved since the beginning of agriculture, 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. By domesticating plants and animals, humans linked their destiny to one of the main vectors of malaria, Anopheles gambiae sl complex. The biological interaction between these three species led to exchanges of genes and biochemical processes with significant mutual influence. Humans acquired mutations with selective protective advantages against serious and fatal forms of this hemosporidiosis. This is the case of hemoglobin S, hemoglobin C, hemoglobin E, thalassemias, ovalocytosis and G6PD deficiency, among others. Many epidemiological studies published since 1949 have shown a geographic link between malaria and certain erythrocyte polymorphisms. The link with hemoglobin C was discovered only recently, in 2000, initially in Mali in the Dogon population, then in Burkina Faso. Epidemiological and molecular and cellular biology studies done in Mali and elsewhere showed that the C and S alleles, and G6PD deficiency [A-], conferred significant protection against lethal forms of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Molecular genetic studies, based on functional genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, provided possible explanations. Advances in molecular biology and a better understanding of the immune mechanisms underlying this protection will hopefully lead to the development of effective second- and third-generation malaria vaccines. Epidemiological and fundamental research efforts have identified some of the mechanisms by which these erythrocyte polymorphisms protect against the most lethal hematozoan parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.
authors.affiliation: Département d'Epidémiologie des affections parasitaires, Faculté de médecine de Bamako, Mali.
authors.forename: Ogobara
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Doumbo
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005955:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency / Q000276:immunology; D006444:Hemoglobin C / Q000235:genetics; D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle; D006444:Hemoglobin C