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Complex genetic control of susceptibility to malaria in mice

Genes & Immunity volume 3, pages 177–186 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Malaria is a major infectious disease worldwide, with over 1 million deaths in African children every year. The molecular pathways of pathogenesis of the Plasmodium parasite and the host mechanisms of defense against this infection remain poorly understood. Epidemiological studies, together with linkage analyses in endemic areas have clearly pointed at a genetic component of innate susceptibility and severity of disease. In humans, this genetic trait is complex, and has been studied in a mouse experimental model over the past few years. Inbred strains of mice show different degrees of susceptibility to infection with Plasmodium chabaudi, and the genetic component of these inter-strain differences has been studied in standard informative backcross and F2 populations, as well as in recombinant inbred strains and more recently, in recombinant congenic strains. These studies have shown that genetic susceptibility to malaria is also complex in mice, and have led to the mapping of major susceptibility Char (Chabaudi resistance) loci, located on chromosomes 9 (Char1), 8 (Char2), 17 (Char3) and 3 (Char4).

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Author notes

  1. M M Stevenson and P Gros: PG and MMS are grateful to the Burroughs Welcome Funds and to the Canadian Genetic Disease Network (research grant to PG) for their generous support.

  2. P Gros: PG is an International Research Scholar of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and a Distinguished Scientist of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

  3. A Fortin: AF is supported by the Elizabeth Steffen Memorial Award from McGill University.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    A Fortin & P Gros

  2. Center for the Study of Host Resistance, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    M M Stevenson & P Gros

  3. McGill Cancer Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    P Gros

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  1. A Fortin
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  2. M M Stevenson
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  3. P Gros
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Correspondence to P Gros.

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Fortin, A., Stevenson, M. & Gros, P. Complex genetic control of susceptibility to malaria in mice. Genes Immun 3, 177–186 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gene.6363841

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