What genetic factors provide protection against malaria?

The sickle cell trait (hemoglobin S), thalassemias, hemoglobin C, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency are protective against death from P falciparum malaria, with the sickle cell trait being relatively more protective than the other 3.

Is there a genetic component to malaria?

The genetic basis of resistance to malaria is complex at several levels. It is likely that many different genes are involved and that they interact with environmental variables and with parasite genetic factors.

Which 2 types of genetic hemoglobin disorders protect an individual in endemic areas from malaria?

2.3. 1 Sickle hemoglobin (HbS), hemoglobin C (HbC) and P. falciparum malaria. Sickle hemoglobin (HbS) and hemoglobin C (HbC) are both caused by point mutations in the beta globin gene, and both offer substantial malaria protection.

Can you be genetically immune to malaria?

(7) Some of the genes that confer resistance to malaria are among the most variable genes in the human genome. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA), G6PD, globin and ABO genes are all among the most variable genes in the human genome and all appear to have variants that confer resistance to malaria.

How does beta thalassemia protect against malaria?

For example, a beta hemoglobin mutation on its own is protective against malaria, but if the individual also has a mutation for sickle cell anemia, the two mutations essentially cancel each other out and the individual is susceptible to malaria infection.

Why does sickle cell protect against malaria?

The sickle cells have membranes, stretched by their unusual shape, that become porous and leak nutrients that the parasites need to survive and the faulty cells eventually get eliminated quite fast by the organisms, destroying the parasite along the way.

How does the mutation on the hemoglobin gene help prevent malaria?

Several studies suggested that, in one way or another, sickle hemoglobin might get in the way of the Plasmodium parasite infecting red blood cells, reducing the number of parasites that actually infect the host and thus conferring some protection against the disease.

Does G6PD deficiency protect against malaria?

As G6PD deficiency leads to increased oxidative stress in red blood cells, this may in turn have a negative influence on the parasite. As such, individuals who possess this mutation have some protection against malaria.

How are sickle cell and malaria related?

The sickle cell mutation is relevant to malaria because infection of a red blood cell with the malaria parasite leads to hypoxia. In individuals of the AS genotype such blood cells sickle and are then eliminated by macrophage cells of the body’s immune system, lessening the burden of infection (Luzzatto, 2012).

How does G6PD protect against malaria?

How does sickle cell trait protect against malaria?