Researchers have gained new insights into the genes linked to risk of malaria, it was announced today on World Malaria Day.
Professor Alexandra Rowe, of the University of Edinburgh, UK, and her team carried out a study of more than 5,000 Kenyan children, alongside researchers from Oxford, Kenya and Mali.
They looked at two mutations of the CR1 gene, Sl2 and McCb. It is thought that these mutations may have developed as a protective response against malaria in some African populations. This study attempted to confirm this theory.
Analysis of these mutations showed that the Sl2 mutation protects against cerebral malaria and death, only under when a third gene mutation, known as alpha-thalassaemia, is not present. The team also showed that Sl2 helps prevent clumps of cells found in severe malaria, called rosettes.
Examining the other mutation, McCb, showed that it tended to increase the risk of cerebral malaria and death, but to lower the risk of childhood diseases such as respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.
Full details are published today (25 April) in eLife. The team believe their findings give new insights to explain why some children, but not all, develop severe malaria.
Professor Rowe says: "Genes have complex effects on one another and on the chances of disease. These findings point towards avenues for further research in understanding factors that influence life-threatening illness in African children."
Co-author Dr Olivia Swann added: "This study is a missing piece in the puzzle of how genes protect people against malaria. It also reminds us how complex this protection is and how hard it can be to untangle the influence of one gene from another."
Rowe, A. et al. eLife 25 April 2018
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