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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Trends Parasitol. 2015 Nov 21;32(1):5–7. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.11.006

Figure 1. Polymorphisms in Human Glycophorin Receptors and Blood Groups Involved in Protection Against Severe Malaria.

Figure 1

(A) A purple merozoite is shown invading a red erythrocyte, with Plasmodium falciparum invasion ligands (EBA-175, EBL-1 and EBA-140), their receptors (GYPA, GYPB and GYPC) and the different blood group types they are responsible for (MN, Ss and Ge). Polymorphisms in the human glycophorin genes reduce the parasite’s invasion capacity, resulting in protection against malaria. (B) GYPA, GYPC and the A antigen contribute to the P. falciparum rosetting phenotype that is exacerbated in blood group A patients by GYPA binding to parasite encoded RIFINs. This suggests that the O blood group may be under selection pressure in humans in malaria-endemic areas as a means to avoid severe disease. The data concerning the role of blood group B remains conflicting and is represented with a question mark.