Imbalanced distribution of GM immunoglobulin allotypes according to the clinical presentation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Beninese children.

Selection pressure exerted by pathogens contributes to the persistence of polymorphisms in GM and KM allotypes, which are antigenic determinants of immunoglobulins. This study investigated the impact of GM and KM allotypes on the clinical response to Plasmodium falciparum infection among Beninese children, including 65 with severe malaria, 37 with uncomplicated malaria, and 53 with asymptomatic carriage. An inverse relationship was found between the GM 5,6,13,14; 1,17 phenotype and uncomplicated malaria. Genetic markers implicated in the composition and activity of immunoglobulins may be associated with the genetic control of both malaria infection and morbidity.