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What will studies of Fulani individuals naturally exposed to malaria teach us about protective immunity to malaria?
Author(s) -
TroyeBlomberg Marita,
Arama Charles,
Quin Jaclyn,
Bujila Ioana,
Östlund Farrants AnnKristin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/sji.12932
Subject(s) - malaria , plasmodium falciparum , plasmodium (life cycle) , immunology , environmental health , disease , severe malaria , biology , medicine , parasite hosting , computer science , pathology , world wide web
Abstract There are an estimated over 200 million yearly cases of malaria worldwide. Despite concerted international effort to combat the disease, it still causes approximately half a million deaths every year, the majority of which are young children with Plasmodium falciparum infection in sub‐Saharan Africa. Successes are largely attributed to malaria prevention strategies, such as insecticide‐treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying, as well as improved access to existing treatments. One important hurdle to new approaches for the treatment and prevention of malaria is our limited understanding of the biology of Plasmodium infection and its complex interaction with the immune system of its human host. Therefore, the elimination of malaria in Africa not only relies on existing tools to reduce malaria burden, but also requires fundamental research to develop innovative approaches. Here, we summarize our discoveries from investigations of ethnic groups of West Africa who have different susceptibility to malaria.