Elevated Plasmodium falciparum sexual conversion in HbAC and HbAS red blood cells in naturally infected malaria patients
Yasmina Drissi-El Boukili, Vera Kühne, Hamtandi Magloire Natama, Pieter Moris, Elisabet Tintó-Font, Antonia Windkouni Bere, Odin Goovaerts, Pieter Guetens, Ana Moreno-Murillo, Yarno Valgaerts, Tiampan Edwig Traoré, Delwendé Florence Ouédraogo, Halidou Tinto, Ann Van de Velde, Alfred Cortés, , Anna Rosanas‐Urgell
This study shows that HbAS and HbAC red blood cells increase Plasmodium falciparum sexual conversion rates compared to HbAA, suggesting a host genetic factor affecting malaria transmission.
PLoS Pathogens · Sep 29, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology