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Background: Genome-wide studies have mapped several loci controlling Plasmodium falciparum mild malaria and parasitaemia, only two of them being significant at the genome level. The objective of the present study was to identify malaria resistance loci in individuals living in Burkina Faso., Methods: A genome scan that involved 314 individuals belonging to 63 families was performed. Markers located within chromosomes 6p21.3 and 17p12 were genotyped in 247 additional individuals belonging to 55 families. The linkage and the association of markers with parasitaemia and mild malaria were assessed by using the maximum-likelihood binomial method extended to quantitative trait linkage and the quantitative trait disequilibrium test, respectively., Results: Multipoint linkage analysis showed a significant linkage of mild malaria to chromosome 6p21.3 (LOD score 3.73, P = 1.7 10-5), a suggestive linkage of mild malaria to chromosome 19p13.12 (LOD score 2.50, P = 3.5 10-4), and a suggestive linkage of asymptomatic parasitaemia to chromosomes 6p21.3 (LOD score 2.36, P = 4.9 10-4) and 17p12 (LOD score 2.87, P = 1.4 10-4). Genome-wide family-based association analysis revealed a significant association between three chromosome 5q31 markers and asymptomatic parasitaemia, whereas there was no association with mild malaria. When taking into account 247 additional individuals, a significant linkage of asymptomatic parasitaemia to chromosome 17p12 (LOD score 3.6, P = 2 10-5) was detected., Conclusion: A new genome-wide significant malaria locus on chromosome 17p12 and a new suggestive locus on chromosome 19p13.12 are reported. Moreover, there was evidence that confirmed the influence of chromosomes 5q31 and 6p21.3 as loci controlling mild malaria or asymptomatic parasitaemia.

Background: HBB, IL4, IL12, TNF, LTA, NCR3 and FCGR2A polymorphisms have been associated with malaria resistance in humans, whereas cytophilic immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies are thought to play a critical role in immune protection against asexual blood stages of the parasite. Furthermore, HBB, IL4, TNF, and FCGR2A have been associated with both malaria resistance and IgG levels. This suggests that some malaria resistance genes influence the levels of IgG subclass antibodies., Methods: In this study, the effect of HBB, IL4, IL12, TNF, LTA, NCR3 and FCGR2A polymorphisms on the levels of IgG responses against Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage extract was investigated in 220 individuals living in Burkina Faso. The Pearson's correlation coefficient among IgG subclasses was determined. A family-based approach was used to assess the association of polymorphisms with anti-P. falciparum IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 levels., Results: After applying a multiple test correction, several polymorphisms were associated with IgG subclass or IgG levels. There was an association of i) haemoglobin C with IgG levels; ii) the FcγRIIa H/R131 with IgG2 and IgG3 levels; iii) TNF-863 with IgG3 levels; iv) TNF-857 with IgG levels; and, v) TNF1304 with IgG3, IgG4, and IgG levels., Conclusion: Taken together, the results support the hypothesis that some polymorphisms affect malaria resistance through their effect on the acquired immune response, and pave the way towards further comprehension of genetic control of an individual's humoral response against malaria.

Background: There is accumulating evidence that host heparan sulphate proteoglycans play an important role in the life cycle of Plasmodium through their heparan sulphate chains, suggesting that genetic variations in genes involved in heparan sulphate biosynthesis may influence parasitaemia. Interestingly, Hs3st3a1 and Hs3st3b1 encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of heparan sulphate are located within a chromosomal region linked to Plasmodium chabaudi parasitaemia in mice. This suggests that HS3ST3A1 and HS3ST3B1 may influence P. falciparum parasitaemia in humans., Methods: Polymorphisms within HS3ST3A1 and HS3ST3B1 were identified in 270 individuals belonging to 44 pedigrees and living in Burkina Faso. Linkage and association between parasitaemia and the polymorphisms were assessed with MERLIN and FBAT. A genetic interaction analysis was also conducted based on the PGMDR approach., Results: Linkage between P. falciparum parasitaemia and the chromosomal region containing HS3ST3A1 and HS3ST3B1 was detected on the basis of the 20 SNPs identified. In addition, rs28470223 located within the promoter of HS3ST3A1 was associated with P. falciparum parasitaemia, whereas the PGMDR analysis revealed a genetic interaction between HS3ST3A1 and HS3ST3B1. Seventy-three significant multi-locus models were identified after correcting for multiple tests; 37 significant multi-locus models included rs28470223, whereas 38 multi-locus models contained at least one mis-sense mutation within HS3ST3B1., Conclusion: Genetic variants of HS3ST3A1 and HS3ST3B1 are associated with P. falciparum parasitaemia. This suggests that those variants alter both the function of heparan sulphate proteoglycans and P. falciparum parasitaemia.