Discussion
malaria, infection, malarial infection
MALARIA, DISEASE, INFECTION, ADHESION, PATHOLOGY
Primary analysis of these targeted genetic polymorphisms highlights a shortlist of genes that are potentially associated with malaria and have biological plausibility in pathology of the disease. Of these, the only gene identified in both maternal and child analyses was The identification of various interleukin (Noteworthy amongst these genes is Intermediary immunomodulators, such as TLRs, including TLR4, bridge signalling between Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) and intercellular adaptors such as MyD88 and TIR domain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF), which then have a plethora of intercellular effects, including cytokine signalling [ICAM-1 is a cell-surface receptor utilized by Interestingly, the In these analyses, each polymorphism was analyzed using an additive model; a co-dominant model was also generated, but data not reported here. It is biologically plausible that, like many protective polymorphisms, the heterozygous genotypes have attained a skewed Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in the population, and confer a phenotypic advantage against infection, which amounts to a small effect size [Additionally, it is worth mentioning is that examination of the Taken in context, these findings complement the body of knowledge regarding malarial infection and host defence, while providing further information on candidate genes for future research. The list of genes analysed in this study (and previously published, related studies), is not fully comprehensive, as it includes genes involved in the innate immune system and does not include niche genes such as those coding for sporozoite adhesion proteins, specific natural killer cell receptors, or expression of variable components of the adaptive immunity. However, a global interpretation of host risk genes here portrays a succinct and plausible narrative in that variations in major defence and signalling pathways involved in malarial infection are statistically associated as risk factors for clinical malaria outcomes and can, therefore, be targeted in future research for developing treatments and vaccines against malaria.