Genetic Mutation – Prevent people from Malaria

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) are one of the world's largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. Scientists discovered a Genetic mutation that may protect people from malaria. It was thought to be rare. They suggest a finding on how humans who live in close quarters with malaria-carrying mosquitos may evolve defences against the disease.



They have identified a gene PIEZO1, which codes for pressure sensing protein. It dehydrates the red blood cells. In mouse this mutation might be harder for malaria parasite and plasmodium to infect red cells then it will cause cerebral malaria (a severe neurological complication of Plasmodium infection) this dehydration condition is called xerocytosis and it was thought to be extremely rare, so the researchers were find it could be present in one in three people of African descent.

The gene PIEZO1 is an uncommon gene in non African descent. It is also more likely to have a genetic condition called sickle cell disease. This makes it harder for Plasmodium to enter their red blood cells. Research group says, large-scale genomic association studies will be needed to confirm the PIEZO1 mutation's role in malaria resistance.


This research study is a good example of a host/pathogen arms race playing out in real-time this time with the host a likely winner,” says Kristian Andersen, PhD, an assistant professor at TSRI and director of Infectious Disease Genomics at the Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI).



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