Resistance to malaria through structural variation of red blood cell invasion receptors

Authors: Ellen M. Leffler, Gavin Band, George Busby, Katja Kivinen, Si Quang Le, Geraldine M Clarke, Kalifa Bojang, David J. Conway, Muminatou Jallow, Fatoumatta Sisay-Joof, Edith C. Bougouma, Valentina Mangano, David Modiano, Sodiomon B. Sirima, Eric Achidi, Tobias O. Apinjoh, Kevin Marsh, Carolyne Ndila, Norbert Peshu, Thomas N. Williams, Chris Drakeley, Alphaxard Manjurano, Hugh Reyburn, Eleanor M. Riley, David Kachala, Malcolm E. Molyneux, Vysaul Nyirongo, Terrie E. Taylor, Nicole Thornton, Louise Tilley, Shane Grimsley, Eleanor Drury, Jim Stalker, Victoria Cornelius, Christina Hubbart, Anna E. Jeffreys, Kate Rowlands, Kirk A. Rockett, Chris C. A. Spencer, Dominic Kwiatkowski, Malaria Genomic Epidemiology Network - Science 2017 cited by 195

hybrid genes, which encode a serologically distinct blood group antigen known as Dantu. This variant reduces the risk of severe malaria by 40% and has recently increased in frequency in parts of Kenya, yet it appears to be absent from west Africa. These findings link structural variation of red blood cell invasion receptors with natural resistance to severe malaria.