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Global distribution of the sickle cell gene and geographical confirmation of the malaria hypothesis

Author

Listed:
  • Frédéric B. Piel

    (Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Tinbergen Building, University of Oxford)

  • Anand P. Patil

    (Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Tinbergen Building, University of Oxford)

  • Rosalind E. Howes

    (Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Tinbergen Building, University of Oxford)

  • Oscar A. Nyangiri

    (Kenya Medical Research Institute/Wellcome Trust Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, PO Box 230, Kilifi District Hospital)

  • Peter W. Gething

    (Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Tinbergen Building, University of Oxford)

  • Thomas N. Williams

    (Kenya Medical Research Institute/Wellcome Trust Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, PO Box 230, Kilifi District Hospital)

  • David J. Weatherall

    (Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital)

  • Simon I. Hay

    (Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Tinbergen Building, University of Oxford)

Abstract

It has been 100 years since the first report of sickle haemoglobin (HbS). More than 50 years ago, it was suggested that the gene responsible for this disorder could reach high frequencies because of resistance conferred against malaria by the heterozygous carrier state. This traditional example of balancing selection is known as the 'malaria hypothesis'. However, the geographical relationship between the transmission intensity of malaria and associated HbS burden has never been formally investigated on a global scale. Here, we use a comprehensive data assembly of HbS allele frequencies to generate the first evidence-based map of the worldwide distribution of the gene in a Bayesian geostatistical framework. We compare this map with the pre-intervention distribution of malaria endemicity, using a novel geostatistical area-mean comparison. We find geographical support for the malaria hypothesis globally; the relationship is relatively strong in Africa but cannot be resolved in the Americas or in Asia.

Suggested Citation

  • Frédéric B. Piel & Anand P. Patil & Rosalind E. Howes & Oscar A. Nyangiri & Peter W. Gething & Thomas N. Williams & David J. Weatherall & Simon I. Hay, 2010. "Global distribution of the sickle cell gene and geographical confirmation of the malaria hypothesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:1:y:2010:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1104
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1104
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    Cited by:

    1. Öberg, Stefan & Rönnbäck, Klas, 2016. "Mortality among European settlers in pre-colonial West Africa: The “White Man’s Grave” revisited," Göteborg Papers in Economic History 20, University of Gothenburg, Unit for Economic History.
    2. John Soghigian & Charles Sither & Silvia Andrade Justi & Gen Morinaga & Brian K. Cassel & Christopher J. Vitek & Todd Livdahl & Siyang Xia & Andrea Gloria-Soria & Jeffrey R. Powell & Thomas Zavortink , 2023. "Phylogenomics reveals the history of host use in mosquitoes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Kudo, Yuya, 2016. "Malaria infection and fetal growth during the war : evidence from Liberia," IDE Discussion Papers 556, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).

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