Protection from severe malaria explained

ScienceDaily (Nov. 18, 2011) — Why do people with a hereditary mutation of the red blood pigment hemoglobin (as is the case with sickle-cell anemia prevalent in Africa) not contract severe malaria? Scientists in the group headed by Prof. Michael Lanzer of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Heidelberg University Hospital have now solved this mystery.A degradation product of the altered hemoglobin provides protection from severe malaria. Within the red blood cells infected by the malaria parasite,...

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