How Blood Disorder Blocks Malaria

Scientists believe they have uncovered why people with a gene for a blood disorder are immune to malaria. It is known that people with a single gene for sickle cell anaemia, but not the full-blown condition, are somewhat resistant to the malaria parasite. Some say the distorted red blood cells caused by the gene are broken down quicker than normal by the body so malaria has no home in which to thrive. Now a Wellcome Trust team suggests the immune system also plays a big role.