Genetics of host response to malaria

A comprehension of the genetics of host resistance to malaria is essential to understanding the complex host/parasite interaction. Current research is directed towards the genetic dissection of both the murine and human host responses to the disease. Significant progress has been made towards the ma pping of novel murine resistance loci. In addition, the role of the major h istocompatibility complex in the host response has been examined in both an imal models and human populations. Several large segregation analyses, asso ciation studies and, more recently, linkage analyses have been conducted in different African populations to examine the role of host genetics in both mild and severe malaria. The results of these studies have been collated w ithin this review. The cloning of genes involved in malarial resistance wil l lead not only to a greater understanding of this complex disease but, pot entially, to the development of effective medical intervention. (C) 1999 Au stralian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.