Thalassemia and the Protection Against Malaria
Faculty Mentor
Judd Case
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
5-8-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
5-8-2024 10:45 AM
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
Thalassemia is a common hemoglobinopathy and observed in parts of the world where malaria is present. Thalassemia is another hemoglobin genetic mutational disease, that can affect either the beta chain or alpha chain of a hemoglobin molecule which causes either alpha thalassemia or beta thalassemia. Thalassemia results in abnormally shaped red blood cells such as target cells, ovalocytes, microcytes, and various others. The shape and the smaller size of these abnormal red blood cells inhibit malaria from being able to bind to them and causing infection. Thalassemia has many other associated problems such as anemia, liver disease, and premature death. We aimed to assess which condition of thalassemia provides the most protection against malaria and has the least associated risks. We found there are many different forms of thalassemia. Some severe forms of thalassemia, such as hemoglobin bart’s hydrops fetalis, can result in stillbirths while other less severe forms can have a normal life expectancy. Both alpha and beta thalassemia can reduce the severity of malaria. Alpha thalassemia was shown to protect against more severe malaria. Although beta thalassemia did protect against malaria, once combined with sickle cell disease the protective properties were cancelled out.
Recommended Citation
Brandt, Jodi, "Thalassemia and the Protection Against Malaria" (2024). 2024 Symposium. 11.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2024/ps_2024/p1_2024/11
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Thalassemia and the Protection Against Malaria
PUB NCR
Thalassemia is a common hemoglobinopathy and observed in parts of the world where malaria is present. Thalassemia is another hemoglobin genetic mutational disease, that can affect either the beta chain or alpha chain of a hemoglobin molecule which causes either alpha thalassemia or beta thalassemia. Thalassemia results in abnormally shaped red blood cells such as target cells, ovalocytes, microcytes, and various others. The shape and the smaller size of these abnormal red blood cells inhibit malaria from being able to bind to them and causing infection. Thalassemia has many other associated problems such as anemia, liver disease, and premature death. We aimed to assess which condition of thalassemia provides the most protection against malaria and has the least associated risks. We found there are many different forms of thalassemia. Some severe forms of thalassemia, such as hemoglobin bart’s hydrops fetalis, can result in stillbirths while other less severe forms can have a normal life expectancy. Both alpha and beta thalassemia can reduce the severity of malaria. Alpha thalassemia was shown to protect against more severe malaria. Although beta thalassemia did protect against malaria, once combined with sickle cell disease the protective properties were cancelled out.
