Human Leukocyte Antigens and Natural Selection by Malaria

The extraordinary polymorphism of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) poses a question as to how this remarkable diversity arose and is maintained. The explanation that infectious pathogens are largely responsible is theoretically attractive but clear and consistent associations between HLA alleles and m...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological sciences 1994-11, Vol.346 (1317), p.379-385
Main Authors: Adrian V. S. Hill, Simon N. R. Yates, Catherine E. M. Allsopp, Gupta, Sunetra, Gilbert, Sarah C., Lalvani, Ajit, Aidoo, Michael, Davenport, Miles, Plebanski, Magdalena
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Antigens
Biological Evolution
Epitopes
HLA antigens
HLA Antigens - genetics
HLA Antigens - immunology
Host-Parasite Interactions
Humans
Infections
Leukocytes - immunology
Malaria
Malaria - genetics
Malaria - immunology
Molecules
Parasites
Pathogens
Polymorphism, Genetic
Selection, Genetic
T lymphocytes
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The extraordinary polymorphism of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) poses a question as to how this remarkable diversity arose and is maintained. The explanation that infectious pathogens are largely responsible is theoretically attractive but clear and consistent associations between HLA alleles and major infectious diseases have rarely been identified. Large case-control studies of HLA types in African children with severe malaria indicate that HLA associations with this parasitic infection do exist and it is becoming possible to investigate the underlying mechanisms by identification of peptide epitopes in parasite antigens. Such analysis reveals how the magnitude and detectability of HLA associations may be influenced by numerous genetic and environmental factors. These complex interactions will give rise to variation over time and space in the selective pressures exerted by infectious diseases and this fluctuation may, in itself, contribute to the maintenance of HLA polymorphism.
ISSN:0962-8436
1471-2970
DOI:10.1098/rstb.1994.0155