Why some children carry malaria without getting sick
Innate Immune Mechanisms Governing Subclinical Malaria in Children
This work looks at how the immune systems of school-age children (about 8–15) in sub-Saharan Africa keep Plasmodium falciparum infections from causing fever or other symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167553 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect blood samples from school-age children in malaria-endemic communities to compare those who have visible parasites but no symptoms with children who develop fever. They will perform blood smears and parasite counts, measure inflammatory and anti-inflammatory proteins such as TNF, IL-10, and IL-1RA, and analyze immune cell types. Laboratory studies will examine epigenetic marks on innate immune cells (like monocytes) to see how inflammatory pathways are dialed up or down. The team aims to map the immune balance that allows persistent, symptom-free parasitemia and how that contributes to ongoing transmission.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are school-age children (roughly 8–15 years old) living in moderate-to-high Plasmodium falciparum transmission areas of sub-Saharan Africa who have parasitemia but no fever.
Not a fit: Children with active febrile (symptomatic) malaria, adults, people outside the target geographic area, or infections with different malaria species may not directly benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify children who silently carry and spread malaria and point to new ways to reduce transmission or prevent symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has linked cytokine balance to malaria tolerance, but applying epigenetic analysis of innate immune cells to subclinical malaria is a newer approach with limited prior clinical translation.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kazura, James Walter — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Kazura, James Walter
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.