The association of the glycophorin C exon 3 deletion with ovalocytosis and malaria susceptibility in the Wosera, Papua New Guinea

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Abstract
Erythrocyte polymorphisms, including ovalocytosis, have been associated with protection against malaria. This study in the Wosera, a malaria holoendemic region of Papua New Guinea, examined the genetic basis of ovalocytosis and its influence on susceptibility to malaria infection. Whereas previous studies showed significant associations between Southeast Asian ovalocytosis (caused by a 27– base pair deletion in the anion exchanger 1 protein gene) and protection from cerebral malaria, this mutation was observed in only 1 of 1019 individuals in the Wosera. Polymerase chain reaction strategies were developed to genotype individuals for the glycophorin C exon 3 deletion associated with Melanesian Gerbich negativity (GPCΔex3). This polymorphism was commonly observed in the study population (GPCΔex3 frequency = 0.465, n = 742). Although GPCΔex3 was significantly associated with increased ovalocytosis, it was not associated with differences in either Plasmodium falciparumor P vivax infection measured over the 7-month study period. Future case-control studies will determine if GPCΔex3 reduces susceptibility to malaria morbidity.