Question

HbS results in anemia and resistance to malaria, but in people with HbA, the parasite Plasmodium falciparum invades red blood cells and causes malaria. Do some research into the the disorder that is caused by HbC. Discuss whether people with HbC are likely to be anemic and whether they would be resistant to malaria.HbS results in anemia and resistance to malaria, but in people with HbA, the parasite Plasmodium falciparum invades red blood cells and causes malaria. Do some research into the the disorder that is caused by HbC. Discuss whether people with HbC are likely to be anemic and whether they would be resistant to malaria.

Answer 1

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum (a protozoan microscopic parasite) is the most serious and most dangerous form of malaria. This parasite invades the RBC which is the site of hemoglobin molecules and responsible for iron elements). The mutation in the certain amino acid creates sickle shape RBCs and hemoglobin of these RBCs known as HBS through point mutation, and it can also be evident in the case of Hb C. The Hb S is having abnormal sort of hemoglobin that’s why parasite cannot invade and infect further so we can say that they are resistant against the malarial parasite as compared to the person who is having normal hemoglobin, Hb A.

People with Hb C is having different amino acid in the hemoglobin due to point mutation in which K (lysine) is replaced at the place of E (glutamic acid) where as valine (in place of glutamic acid in Hb S) in case of Hb S both changes in the globin protein, so this is a basic difference between these two phenotype. Due to this mutation Hb C will also show significant resistance against Plasmodium falciparum parasite as compared to the Hb A. Conclusively, Hb S and Hb C both exhibits resistance against malarial parasite.

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