ABO blood group phenotypes and Plasmodium falciparum malaria: unlocking a pivotal mechanism.

Host susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum infection is central for improved understanding of malaria in human populations. Red blood cell (RBC) polymorphisms have been proposed as factors associated with malaria infection or its severity, although no systematic appraisal of ABO phenotypes and malaria risk has been undertaken. This analysis summarises epidemiological, clinical and immunological evidence on the nature of ABO histo-blood antigens and their interaction with malaria in terms of population genetics, infection risk, severe malaria and placental malaria.

ABO blood group phenotypes influence parity specific immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Malawian women.

Background: Blood group O has been significantly associated with increased placental malaria infection in primiparae and reduced risk of infection in multiparae in the Gambia, an area with markedly seasonal malaria transmission. This study analyses the association between ABO blood group phenotypes in relation to placental malaria pathology and birth outcomes in southern Malawi, an area with perennial malaria transmission.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 647 mother/child pairs delivering in Montfort Hospital, Chikwawa District between February-June 2004 and January-July 2005 was undertaken.

ABO phenotypes and malaria related outcomes in mothers and babies in The Gambia: a role for histo-blood groups in placental malaria?

Background: Host susceptibility to P.falciparum is critical for understanding malaria in pregnancy, its consequences for the mother and baby, and for improving malaria control in pregnant women. Yet host genetic factors which could influence placental malaria risk are little studied and there are no reports of the role of blood group polymorphisms on pregnancy outcomes in malaria endemic areas.

Antibody response after RSV infection in children younger than 1 year of age living in a rural area of Mozambique.

Serological responses have been studied in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infected children < 1 year of age attending the outpatient department of the Manhiça District Hospital (Mozambique). Molecular characterization of viral RNA in nasopharyngeal aspirates from the infected children indicated a high level of genetic uniformity among the infecting viruses, all of which belonged to a single genotype of RSV group A. A representative virus strain, Moz00, was isolated from one of the infants and was used, together with the group A strain A2 and the group B strain 8/60, as antigens in the quantification of infant antibody responses.