Red blood cell membrane protein polymorphisms related to risk of malaria infection in the population living in malaria-endemic areas of Thailand: An analytic cross-sectional study.

Malaria parasites proliferate within red blood cells (RBCs), making host genetic polymorphisms related to RBC proteins a significant factor in the natural selection process for malaria infection. The present study aimed to examine the prevalence of RBC polymorphisms associated with malaria infection among populations living in two malaria-endemic regions: the Thai-Myanmar and Thai-Malaysian borders. DNA samples were analysed for RBC genetic diversity, including MN antigen, MNS blood group subtype Miltenberger (Mia), Duffy antigen (including the Duffy gene promoter), and complement receptor-1 (CR-1) polymorphisms at position 981 using PCR-based techniques. The polymorphisms were categorised based on malaria infection status and further analysed to assess their association with malaria risk. A total of 616 blood samples were included in the analysis, comprising 270 samples from individuals infected with malaria and 346 samples from non-infected participants. Notable genotypes observed in malaria-infected and non-infected samples included the MM antigen (61.1 % vs. 46.5 %) and NN antigen (22.2 % vs. 11.1 %) [OR; 3.7 (2.0-6.7), p < 0.0001], as well as the FYA/FYA or FYA/FYB genotypes with the wild-type Duffy blood group promoter (76.1 % vs. 46.9 %) [OR; 4.7 (3.0-7.3), p < 0.0001]. Geographic analysis revealed distinct genetic distributions in each study area. These genetic polymorphisms suggest that the majority of the population in these regions is at increased risk of malaria infection. Understanding the genetic diversity of RBC membrane polymorphisms provides valuable insights for future epidemiological studies and the development of targeted malaria control strategies.