title: Hemoglobin E Prevalence among Ethnic Groups Residing in Malaria-Endemic Areas of Northern Thailand and Its Lack of Association with Plasmodium falciparum Invasion In Vitro.
abstract: Hemoglobin E (HbE) is one of the most common hemoglobin variants caused by a mutation in the β-globin gene, and found at high frequencies in various Southeast Asian groups. We surveyed HbE prevalence among 8 ethnic groups residing in 5 villages selected for their high period malaria endemicity, and 5 for low endemicity in northern Thailand, in order to uncover factors which may affect genetic persistence of HbE in these groups. We found the overall HbE prevalence 6.7%, with differing frequencies from 0% in the Pwo Karen, the Lawa, and the Skaw Karen to 24% in the Mon. All HbE genes were heterozygous (AE). Differences in HbE prevalence among the studied ethnic groups indirectly documents that ancestries and evolutionary forces, such as drift and admixture, are the important factors in the persistence of HbE distribution in northern Thailand. Furthermore, the presence of HbE in groups of northern Thailand had no effect on the in vitro infectivity and proliferation of Plasmodium falciparum, nor the production of hemozoin, a heme crystal produced by malaria parasites, when compared to normal red-blood-cell controls. Our data may contribute to a better understanding on the persistence of HbE among ethnic groups and its association with malaria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pathrapol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lithanatudom
authors.affiliation: Research Institutes for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jiraprapa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wipasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pitsinee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Inti
authors.affiliation: Research Institutes for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kriangkrai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chawansuntati
authors.affiliation: Thalassemia Research Center, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakornpathom, Thailand.
authors.forename: Saovaros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Svasti
authors.affiliation: Thalassemia Research Center, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakornpathom, Thailand.
authors.forename: Suthat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fucharoen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Daoroong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kangwanpong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jatupol
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kampuansai
mesh_terms: D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006446:Hemoglobin E / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D006446:Hemoglobin E