title: Minimal association of common red blood cell polymorphisms with Plasmodium falciparum infection and uncomplicated malaria in Papua New Guinean school children.
abstract: Southeast Asian ovalocytosis (SAO), α(+)-thalassemia, and low expression of complement receptor 1 (CR1) have been associated with protection against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In a cohort of children 5-14 years of age the effect of α(+)-thalassemia, SAO (SLC4A1Δ27), CR1 polymorphisms, and Gerbich negativity (GYPCΔex3) on risk of P. falciparum infections and uncomplicated illness were evaluated. The risk of acquiring polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-diagnosed P. falciparum infections was significantly lower for α(+)-thalassemia heterozygotes (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.56) and homozygotes (HR: 0.51) than wild-type children. No such differences were seen in light of microscopy diagnosed infections (P = 0.71) or were α(+)-thalassemia genotypes associated with a reduced risk of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. No significant associations between the risk of P. falciparum infection or illness were observed for any of the other red blood cell polymorphisms (P > 0.2). This suggests that these polymorphisms are not associated with significant protection against P. falciparum blood-stage infection or uncomplicated malaria in school-aged children.
authors.affiliation: Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Papua, New Guinea. enmoorelin@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Enmoore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Livingstone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tavul
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michon
authors.forename: Jack S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Elijah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dabod
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Beeson
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004612:Elliptocytosis, Hereditary / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D011951:Receptors, Complement