About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Study Reveals How Blood Group O Protects Against Malaria

by Dr. Trupti Shirole on March 11, 2015 at 11:57 AM
Font : A-A+

 Study Reveals How Blood Group O Protects Against Malaria

A new study by team of Scandinavian scientists has revealed how blood group O protects against malaria and suggests that the selective pressure imposed by malaria may contribute to the variable global distribution of ABO blood groups in the human population.

Previous studies have shown that people with blood type O are protected against severe malaria, while those with other types, such as A, often fall into a coma and die. Scientists led from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have now identified the key part played by the RIFIN protein.

Advertisement

Using data from different kinds of experiment on cell cultures and animals, the scientists have shown how the Plasmodium falciparum parasite secretes RIFIN, and how the protein makes its way to the surface of the blood cell, where it acts like glue. The research team also demonstrates how it bonds strongly with the surface of type A blood cells, but only weakly to type O.

Principal investigator Mats Wahlgren said, "The finding is conceptually simple. However, since RIFIN is found in many different variants, it has taken us a lot of time to isolate exactly which variant is responsible for this mechanism. Our study ties together previous findings, and we can explain the mechanism behind the protection that blood group O provides against severe malaria, which can, in turn, explain why the blood type is so common in the areas where malaria is common. In Nigeria, for instance, more than half of the population belongs to blood group O, which protects against malaria."

The study is published in Nature Medicine.

Source: Medindia
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Tropical Disease News

Hope for Pregnant Women: New Malaria Study Offers Optimistic News
Pregnant women in Korogwe, Tanzania are found to have a high risk of contracting malaria, which is one of the deadliest diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.
Nasal Swab can Help Detect Early Warning of Emerging Viruses
Can nasal swab test save you from emerging diseases? Yes, simple nasal swab can offer early detection of new deadly viruses.
<i>Naegleria Fowleri</i> Infection: Deadly Brain-Eating Amoeba Kills a South Korean Man
Brain-eating amoeba (Naegleria fowleri) infection claims a South Korean man's life.
Infrared Light Beam to Detect Malaria
Harmless infrared light is used to detect malaria with the help of a computer algorithm processed by a smart phone.
Monkeypox Virus in Testes of Non-human Primate Survivors Detected
Monkeypox virus may be shed into semen during both acute and convalescent stages of the disease in crab-eating macaques.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Study Reveals How Blood Group O Protects Against Malaria Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests