Association of TNF-Alpha, MBL2, NOS2, and G6PD with Malaria Outcomes in People in Southern Ghana
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Date
2022
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Genetics Research
Abstract
Background. One major issue that has set back the gains of the numerous malaria control interventions that national malaria
control programs have implemented is asymptomatic malaria. Certain host genetic factors are known to influence symptomatic
malaria; however, not much is known about how host genetics influences the acquisition of asymptomatic malaria. Methods.
Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood collected from 60 symptomatic and 149 nonfebrile (asymptomatic, N 109, and
uninfected, N 40) volunteers aged between 2 and 69 years from a high (Obom) and a low (Asutsuare) malaria transmission
setting in Southern Ghana. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to determine polymorphisms at the
MBL2 54, TNF-α 308, NOS2 954, and G6PD 202/376 gene loci. Results. Polymorphisms at the MBL2 54 and TNF-α 308 loci were
significantly different amongst the three categories of volunteers in both Asutsuare (p 0.006) and Obom (p 0.05). I
Asutsuare, a low malaria transmission area, the allele G has significantly higher odds (3.15) of supporting asymptomatic malaria as
against symptomatic malaria. )ere were significantly higher odds of TNF-α genotype GA being associated with symptomatic
malaria as against asymptomatic malaria in both sites, Obom (p 0.027) and Asutsuare (p 0.027). )e allele B of the G6PD
gene was more prevalent in symptomatic rather than asymptomatic parasite-infected individuals in both Obom (p 0.001) and
Asutsuare (p 0.003). Conclusion. Individuals in Southern Ghana carrying the TNF-α 308 GA genotype are more likely to exhibit
symptoms of malaria when infected with the malaria parasite as opposed to harboring an asymptomatic infection. Also, the B
allele of the G6PD gene is likely to prevent a P. falciparum-infected person from exhibiting symptoms and thereby promote
asymptomatic parasite carriage.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
malaria, symptomatic malaria, Southern Ghana