Consortial Project 1
Consortial Project 1 investigated human genetic factors involved in resistance to severe malaria in order to better understand why, in regions where people are repeatedly exposed to malaria parasites, some people die from the infection while others survive.
Objectives & Coordination
Investigating the genetic determinants of resistance to malaria
A person’s risk of developing severe malaria is influenced by many different genetic and environmental factors, but we know relatively little about their precise nature and how they interact.
This project's primary objective was to better understand the human genetic factors involved in resistance to severe malaria. This information could provide vital clues about molecular mechanisms of protective immunity and host-parasite interactions, as well as accelerate the development of an effective vaccine.
There are many aspects to our work:
- Leading research into the ethical issues inherit in these studies, for example informed consent, and data-sharing in low- and middle-income countries
- Working with our partner studies to support the necessary clinical research infrastructure to gather standardised samples from many thousands of individuals in several malaria-endemic countries in Africa
- Generating a large and unique data resource for case-control and family-based studies of genetic resistance and susceptibility to severe malaria
- Developing methods to overcome the unique challenges confronting multi-centre genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in Africa, for example higher levels of genetic diversity, ethnic diversity, and population structure in Africa than on other continents
- Supporting capacity building for genetic and genomic research amongst scientists in malaria-endemic countries.
This project began shortly after MalariaGEN was formed in 2005, and has greatly influenced our approach to collaborative science.
Sampling locations
Across the different partner studies, samples were collected from 11,890 children and adults with severe P. falciparum malaria and 17,441 healthy controls matched with the cases by ethnic group, providing a unique resource for case-control and family-based studies.
- Burkina Faso (BF)
- Cameroon (CM)
- Ghana (GH)
- Kenya (KE)
- Malawi (MW)
- Mali (ML)
- Nigeria (NG)
- Papua New Guinea (PG)
- Tanzania (TZ)
- The Gambia (GM)
- Vietnam (VN)
Partner studies
We worked with investigators who pursued independent partner studies in a number of malaria-endemic countries.
Data
The MalariaGEN human consortial projects have produced substantial data resources and collectively agreed to a managed access mechanism for releasing Human GWAS data sets.
For information on how to apply for access, see Human GWAS data.
Current
Host-parasite interactions: P. falciparum genome sequencing and genotypes from severe malaria cases
Host-parasite interaction using over 4,000 DNA samples from children confirmed to have severe malaria in the period 1995-2009 to test for association between human and P.falciparum genetic variants.
Genome-wide study of resistance to severe malaria in eleven populations (version 2)
Genome-wide genotype data for 10,792 severe malaria- affected individuals and 10,063 controls from eleven worldwide populations; and direct typing of selected genetic variants in 15,865 severe malaria-affected individuals and 19,845 controls from the same populations.
Gambia, Ghana, and Malawi Trios
EGA Study IDs: EGAS00000000087 (Gambia); EGAS00000000088 (Ghana)
Three populations: Gambia (658 trios; 1,984 individuals); Ghana (608 trios; 1,824 individuals); Malawi (122 trios; 366 individuals)
Method: Illumina 650Y array
Archive
Genome-wide study of resistance to severe malaria in eleven populations (version 1)
EGA Study ID: EGAS00001001311
Three populations: Gambia (2,786 controls; 2,807 cases; 1 parents); Kenya (1,708 controls; 1,944 cases; 180 parents; 33 other); Malawi (1,498 controls; 1,590 cases)
Imputation-based meta-analysis of severe malaria
EGA Study ID: EGAS00001000807
Three populations: Gambia (1,533 controls; 1,247 cases); Kenya (1,544 controls; 1,711 cases); Malawi (2,239 controls; 1,451 cases)
Gambia Case-Control Study
EGA Study ID: EGAS00000000026
EGA Data Set IDs: EGAD00000000017 (1,496 controls); EGAD00000000018 (1,059 cases)
Method: Affymetrix 500K array
People
See a full list of those involved with the foundation of the MalariaGEN Consortium.
Dr Alphaxard Manjurano
Dr Anita Ghansah
Dr Anthony Enimil
MalariaGEN Affiliations
Projects
Partner studies
Dr Carolyne Ndila
Prof Chris Drakeley
Projects
Partner studies
Prof David Conway
Projects
Partner studies
- 1006 Genome-wide analysis of genetic variation in The Gambia
- 1026 Effects of transmission intensity on population structure and signatures of selection in Guinea
- 1083 Alternative molecular mechanisms for erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum in Ghana
- 1134 Population genetics of Plasmodium falciparum in West Africa
- 1135 Parasite adaption in Senegal at molecular, functional and population level
- 1147 Population genetics of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Mauritania
- 1183 Alternative mechanisms for erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum
- Human genetic determinants of severe malaria in The Gambia

Prof David Modiano
Dr Edith Bougouma
Prof Eleanor Riley
Prof Eric Akum Achidi
Dr Giorgio Sirugo
Hugh Reyburn
Prof Ivo Mueller
Projects
Partner studies
- 1021 Building a national repository of malaria isolates in Papua New Guinea
- 1050 Developing the Plasmodium vivax Genome Variation project with partners in Papua New Guinea
- 1062 Understanding malaria parasite populations and outbreaks in Papua New Guinea
- Human genetic determinants of severe malaria in Papua New Guinea
Dr Kalifa Abubakr Bojang
Prof Kevin Marsh
Prof Kwadwo Koram
Dr Laurens Manning
MalariaGEN Affiliations
Projects
Partner studies
Dr Lucas Amenga-Etego
MalariaGEN Affiliations
Projects
- Consortial Project 1
- Consortial Project 3
- Genomic Surveillance Hubs in West Africa (NIHR Global Health Research Group)
- P. falciparum Community Project
- Pan-African Malaria Genetic Epidemiology Network (PAMGEN)
- Pf3k
Partner studies
- 1017 Population genetics of natural populations in Northern Ghana
- 1094 Population genetics of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Northern Ghana
- 1151 Testing the effectiveness of selective whole genome amplification on samples collected in Northern Ghana
- 1168 Genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum in the Kassena-Nankana Districts, Ghana
- 1183 Alternative mechanisms for erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium falciparum
- 1268 Pan-African Malaria Genetic Epidemiology Network (PAMGEN) Plasmodium falciparum samples
- 1294 Investigation of Host and Parasite Genetic Factors Mediating asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections
- Human genetic determinants of severe malaria in the Kassena-Nankana District of Northern Ghana

Prof Mahamadou Thera

Prof Malcolm Molyneux
Prof Michael Wilson
Dr Muminatou Jallow
MalariaGEN Affiliations
Projects
Partner studies

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Quyen
MalariaGEN Affiliations
Projects
Partner studies

Dr Norbert Peshu
Prof Ogobara Doumbo
Dr Olukemi Amodu
Ousmane Boubacar Toure
Assoc Prof Pascal Michon
Dr Sarah Dunstan
Dr Sodiomon Bienvenu Sirima
Prof Stephen Allen
Prof Terrie Taylor

Dr Tobias Apinjoh
MalariaGEN Affiliations
Projects
- Consortial Project 1
- Consortial Project 3
- P. falciparum Community Project
- Pan-African Malaria Genetic Epidemiology Network (PAMGEN)
Partner studies
- 1093 Population genetics of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in South-Western Cameroon
- 1165 Prevalence of gene polymorphisms in symptomatic and asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infected individuals from the Southwest region of Cameroon
- 1268 Pan-African Malaria Genetic Epidemiology Network (PAMGEN) Plasmodium falciparum samples
- Human genetic determinants of severe malaria in three regions of Cameroon
Prof Tom Williams
Prof Tran Tinh Hien
Projects
- Consortial Project 1
- Consortial Project 3
- GenRe-Mekong
- P. falciparum Community Project
- P. vivax Genome Variation
Partner studies
- 1008 Containment of artemisinin tolerant malaria parasites in Southeast Asia (ARCE)
- 1020 Measuring in vitro drug sensitivity in Vietnam
- 1049 Developing the Plasmodium vivax Genome Variation project with partners in Vietnam
- 1157 P. vivax SNP barcode for mapping parasite transmission and spread within and across borders: a vivaxGEN initiative
- 1181 Monitoring the susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to antimalarial drugs in malaria endemic areas in southern Vietnam
- Human genetic determinants of severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Vietnam
Prof Tsiri Agbenyega
Projects
Partner studies
