The strongest against malaria

1996/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

Photo children live in Vanuatu. Over the past two or three years a group of researchers from the University of Oxford have worked with them concerned about malaria cases in these countries. The most surprising result of the research is: Vanuatu children do not die from malaria, although the most lethal form of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite attacks them again and again.

This curious behavior is because in childhood these children live in the form of malaria P. vivax, which provides immunity to the disease.

Oxford researchers unveiled this surprising case of Vanuatu at the international congress held at the end of September in the city of Glasgow. According to them, while among children up to two years of age, cases of malaria infected by P. vivax predominate, between 2 and 5 P. falciparum is more effective and, finally, among those over five years, malaria is scarce. The researchers conclude that the interaction of both forms leads to the development of immunity systems.