Zeshuai Deng1, Qing Li1, Haoan Yi1, Yanjie Zhang1, Fang Yang1, Hong Li1, Lan Luo1, Limei Ma2, Zhaoqing Yang3, Yongshu He4, Liwang Cui5. 1. Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. 2. Department of Histology and Embryology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. 3. Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. 4. Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. Electronic address: yongshuhe@hotmail.com. 5. Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, United States of America. Electronic address: luc2@psu.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Hemoglobin E (HbE, β26 Glu-Lys) is the most prevalent hemoglobinopathy in Southeast Asia. This study aimed to determine whether HbE protects against clinical Plasmodium vivax malaria in Southeast Asia. METHODS: In a case-control study performed in villages along the China-Myanmar border, we determined the prevalence of HbE in 257 villagers who had acute P. vivax infections and in 157 control healthy villagers. RESULTS: HbE in P. vivax patients (17.4%) was significantly less prevalent than in the healthy villager population (36.3%). Moreover, there was a complete lack of HbEE homozygotes in the vivax patients as compared to 9.5% prevalence in the healthy villagers. Using the HbAA group as the reference, both the HbEA heterozygotes and HbEE homozygotes had significantly lower odds of presenting with acute P. vivax infections. Furthermore, HbEA heterozygotes also had significantly lower P. vivax asexual parasite densities. HbEA did not affect the proportion of P. vivax patients with gametocytemia nor the gametocyte densities. CONCLUSIONS: HbE offers significant protection against the occurrence and parasite density of acute P. vivax infections and provides a renewed perspective on P. vivax malaria as a potentially strong driving force behind the high frequencies of HbE in the Kachin population.
OBJECTIVES: Hemoglobin E (HbE, β26 Glu-Lys) is the most prevalent hemoglobinopathy in Southeast Asia. This study aimed to determine whether HbE protects against clinical Plasmodium vivaxmalaria in Southeast Asia. METHODS: In a case-control study performed in villages along the China-Myanmar border, we determined the prevalence of HbE in 257 villagers who had acute P. vivax infections and in 157 control healthy villagers. RESULTS:HbE in P. vivaxpatients (17.4%) was significantly less prevalent than in the healthy villager population (36.3%). Moreover, there was a complete lack of HbEE homozygotes in the vivax patients as compared to 9.5% prevalence in the healthy villagers. Using the HbAA group as the reference, both the HbEA heterozygotes and HbEE homozygotes had significantly lower odds of presenting with acute P. vivax infections. Furthermore, HbEA heterozygotes also had significantly lower P. vivax asexual parasite densities. HbEA did not affect the proportion of P. vivaxpatients with gametocytemia nor the gametocyte densities. CONCLUSIONS:HbE offers significant protection against the occurrence and parasite density of acute P. vivax infections and provides a renewed perspective on P. vivax malaria as a potentially strong driving force behind the high frequencies of HbE in the Kachin population.
Authors: Ric N Price; Emiliana Tjitra; Carlos A Guerra; Shunmay Yeung; Nicholas J White; Nicholas M Anstey Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2007-12 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: A O'Donnell; A Premawardhena; M Arambepola; R Samaranayake; S J Allen; T E A Peto; C A Fisher; J Cook; P H Corran; Nancy F Olivieri; D J Weatherall Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2009-10-19 Impact factor: 11.205