Abstract
The Duffy blood group is of major interest in clinical medicine as it plays an important role in Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infection. In the present study, the distribution of Duffy blood group genotypes and allelic frequencies among P. knowlesi infected patients as well as healthy individuals in Peninsular Malaysia were determined. The blood group of 60 healthy blood donors and 51 P. knowlesi malaria patients were genotyped using allele specific polymerase chain reaction (ASP-PCR). The data was analyzed using Fisher's exact test in order to assess the significance of the variables. Our results show a high proportion of the FY*A/FY*A genotype (>85% for both groups) and a high frequency of the FY*A allele (>90% for both groups). The FY*A/FY*A genotype was the most predominant genotype in both infected and healthy blood samples. The genotype frequency did not differ significantly between the donor blood and the malaria patient groups. Also, there was no significant correlation between susceptibility to P. knowlesi infection with any Duffy blood genotype.
Highlights
The Duffy blood group, known as the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC), is a group of polymorphic molecules located on the exterior portion of the red blood cell (RBC) membrane
The Duffy blood group is of particular importance due to the nature of the Duffy antigen being an obligatory receptor for the invasion of the malaria parasite P. vivax and P. knowlesi into erythrocytes [1]
Natural resistance to P.vivax and P.knowlesi malaria infection in humans has largely been attributed to the Duffy blood group especially so in the case of individuals with the Fy(a2 b2) or Duffy silent phenotype
Summary
The Duffy blood group, known as the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC), is a group of polymorphic molecules located on the exterior portion of the red blood cell (RBC) membrane. The Duffy blood group was initially reported by Cutbush in 1950, where he described the reactivity of an antibody found in a multitransfused hemophiliac male patient who possessed an alloantibody against an antigen, denoted as Fya. An allelic form of the antigen, Fyb, was described a year later [8]. The FY locus is located on chromosome 1 and is characterized by three main alleles, FY*A, FY*B, and FY*BES
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
