Haemoglobin genetic variation can lead to increased parasite transmission to mosquito vector in Malaria

It has been known for some time that genetic variations in haemoglobin protect some people from dying from serve strains of malaria. New research however is showing that this same genetic variation can lead to increase transmission of the pathogen from the human host to mosquito vector. The study examine 3869 that fed on humans of now genotypes had feed on individual with a known haemoglobin genotype. After 7day the mosquitoes where cut open and the scientists examined the number of mosquitoes infected. Infection rates of individuals that feed on haemoglobin with the genetic variation type C or AC or CC. C being the variant where significantly higher than those that feed on normal genetic haemoglobin AA.