Mutation in human gene helps prevent malaria fatalities (4/25/2008)

Not everyone who is bitten by a malaria-infected mosquito develops life threatening health problems, says new research by scientists at the University of Toronto.

Malarial infection causes an estimated 500 million clinical cases worldwide annually with symptoms ranging from headache, high fevers and nausea to more than 1 million deaths.

"Malaria has had a major effect on the evolution of our species. Mutations occurring in our genome that have helped us survive malaria have been selected for over tens of thousands of years of co-existing with this parasite. Understanding how these mutations make us more resistant to malaria can help us design innovative new strategies to prevent or treat severe malaria in places such as sub-Saharan Africa," said researcher Kevin Kain, a professor in the Department of Medicine at U of T and one of the lead researchers on the project. "Our research shows that people who have an enzyme deficiency or those who carry the gene trait for this deficiency may be protected from severe and fatal malaria."

The team headed by Kain, which also included researchers from McGill University, found that a deficiency in an enzyme called pyruvate kinase, which is required for energy production in the body, provides protection against malaria infection.

The findings could lead to the design of new novel therapies to treat and prevent severe and fatal malaria through enhancing the body's protective pathways instead of inundating the body with drugs.

The study findings were published in the April 24th issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research team grant in malaria.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by the University of Toronto

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