An immune basis for malaria protection by the sickle cell trait
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
Malaria resistance by the sickle cell trait (genotype HbAS) has served as the prime example of genetic selection for over half a century. Nevertheless, the mechanism of this resistance remains the subject of considerable debate. While it probably involves innate factors such as the reduced ability of Plasmodium falciparum parasites to grow and multiply in HbAS erythrocytes, recent observations suggest that it might also involve the accelerated acquisition of malaria-specific immunity.
Methods and Findings
We studied the age-specific protection afforded by HbAS against clinical malaria in children living on the coast of Kenya. We found that protection increased with age from only 20% in the first 2 y of life to a maximum of 56% by the age of 10 y, returning thereafter to 30% in participants greater than 10 y old.
Conclusions
Our observations suggest that malaria protection by HbAS involves the enhancement of not only innate but also of acquired immunity to the parasite. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms might yield important insights into both these processes.
Malaria resistance by the sickle cell trait (genotype HbAS) has served as the prime example of genetic selection for over half a century. Nevertheless, the mechanism of this resistance remains the subject of considerable debate. While it probably involves innate factors such as the reduced ability of Plasmodium falciparum parasites to grow and multiply in HbAS erythrocytes, recent observations suggest that it might also involve the accelerated acquisition of malaria-specific immunity.
Methods and Findings
We studied the age-specific protection afforded by HbAS against clinical malaria in children living on the coast of Kenya. We found that protection increased with age from only 20% in the first 2 y of life to a maximum of 56% by the age of 10 y, returning thereafter to 30% in participants greater than 10 y old.
Conclusions
Our observations suggest that malaria protection by HbAS involves the enhancement of not only innate but also of acquired immunity to the parasite. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms might yield important insights into both these processes.
Date Issued
2005-05-31
Date Acceptance
2005-03-18
Citation
PLoS Medicine, 2005, 2 (5), pp.0441-0445
ISSN
1549-1277
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Start Page
0441
End Page
0445
Journal / Book Title
PLoS Medicine
Volume
2
Issue
5
Copyright Statement
© 2005 Williams et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-22144467359&partnerID=40&md5=e799eefd92886a893f3925d42d97b9a9
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, General & Internal
General & Internal Medicine
PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA
RED-CELLS
MECHANISM
ANTIGENS
HEMOGLOBIN
RESISTANCE
ERYTHROCYTES
INFECTION
RESPONSES
CHILDREN
Age Factors
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Female
Hemoglobin, Sickle
Humans
Immunity, Innate
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Kenya
Malaria
Male
Sickle Cell Trait
Humans
Malaria
Sickle Cell Trait
Hemoglobin, Sickle
Cohort Studies
Age Factors
Child
Child, Preschool
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Kenya
Female
Male
Immunity, Innate
General & Internal Medicine
11 Medical and Health Sciences
Notes
Cited By :99 Export Date: 21 April 2015
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
5
Date Publish Online
2005-05-31