Genetic Diversity of CD14 Promoter Gene Polymorphism () is Associated With Regulation of Malaria Parasitemia and Susceptibility to Infection.

CD14 is a multifunctional receptor expressed on many cell types and has been shown to mediate immune response resulting in the activation of an inflammatory cascade, with polymorphism of its promoter (rs2569190) found to be associated with susceptibility to several diseases. In malaria infection, the CD14 gene demonstrated a pathogenic profile in regulating experimental cerebral malaria, with reports of elevated levels of soluble CD14 in serum of patients but no definitive conclusion. We present a detailed analysis of genetic diversity of CD14 promoter gene (snp -159 C/T; rs2519190) polymorphism between a malaria-infected group and uninfected controls and its association with clinical parameters of disease.

Genetic variants of tumor necrosis factor-α -308G/A (rs1800629) but not Toll-interacting proteins or vitamin D receptor genes enhances susceptibility and severity of malaria infection.

Susceptibility to malaria infection has been associated with host genetic polymorphisms that differs between groups. We hypothesize that Toll-interacting proteins (TOLLIP), vitamin D receptor (VDR) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) genes are significant contributors to susceptibility and disease severity in Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) infection. Our aim is to explore the genomic diversity and haplotype frequency of these genes, as well as extrapolate possible association with markers of severity, between malaria-infected and healthy controls.