Five genes linked to risk of severe malaria
CD40LG
CD40LG is a gene on the X chromosome that has previously been associated with severe malaria. Homozygotes for the derived allele of rs3092945 had a decreased risk of severe malaria (OR=0.85; P=1.1×10−6) when the researchers analyzed data from the study sites together.
However, the results differed when they analyzed sites individually. For instance, homozygotes had a reduced risk of severe malaria in The Gambia (OR=0.54; P=2.3×10−22) and an increased risk in Kenya (OR=1.42; P=7.8×10−6).
These findings suggest the role of common human genetic disorders in severe malaria is more complex than we thought, Dr Dunstan said. But the results should enable a better understanding of the mechanisms and processes at work during progression to severe disease. 
