title: Homozygosity for the CD1E*02 allele is associated with a resistance to Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection in Gabonese school children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the possible association between polymorphisms in CD1 genes and both asymptomatic and mild Plasmodium falciparum infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two clusters of 85 school children, from the village of Dienga (Gabon) were investigated. The first group was analysed for the prevalence and the multiplicity of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection, whereas the second group was screened for the frequency of malarial attacks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings showed that homozygosity for the CD1E*02 allele was associated with a low frequency of malarial attacks. Furthermore, a strong association between CD1E*02 homozygotes and the resistance to multiple malarial attacks was identified. The CD1A*01 allele showed a weak association with a small number of malarial attacks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a possible role of CD1E polymorphisms in malaria protection among school children and that CD1e molecules are involved in anti-malarial immunity.
authors.affiliation: Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), BP 769, Franceville, Gabon; INSERM U458, Hôpital Robert Debré, 48 Bd Sérurier, 75019, Paris, France. Electronic address: lemombo.ustm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Landry-Erik
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Mombo
authors.affiliation: Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), BP 769, Franceville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ntoumi
authors.affiliation: Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), BP 769, Franceville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Cyrille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bisseye
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Immunologie et d'Histocompatibilité AP-HP, IUH and INSERM U662, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Rajendranath
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramasawmy
authors.affiliation: Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), BP 769, Franceville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Millet
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Immunologie et d'Histocompatibilité AP-HP, IUH and INSERM U662, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Ryad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamouza
keywords: CD1A; CD1E; GPI; Gabon; Malaria