HLA class II factors associated with Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface antigen allele families

In Plasmodium falciparum malaria, certain human leukocyte antigens (HLA) an d the parasite's merozoite surface antigens 1 and 2 (MSA-1, MSA-2) have bee n shown to influence the course of the infection. This report is on associa tions of distinct HLA factors with the occurrence of particular MSA familie s in a group of patients with either severe or mild P. falciparam malaria i n Gabon. Different distributions of HLA-DPB1 alleles were found in the 2 gr oups. DR*04 alleles were observed more frequently among patients with sever e malaria. Several alleles of different loci were associated with distinct- MSA allele families. In addition, carriers of the amino acid methionine at position 1:1 of the DPA1 allele were more often infected by MSA-1 KI parasi tes and less frequently by MSA-1 RO33 parasites. Furthermore, associations of HLA factors with polyclonal infections were found.