Reproducing Protection of Sickle Cells Against Malaria

Marek Cyrklaff of the University of Heidelberg in Germany seeks to test whether the protection against malaria seen in individuals with sickle cell anemia is caused by increased hemoglobin oxidation in sickle cells, and whether this can be transferred to healthy human blood cells to produce the same effect. Screening of the anti- malarial compounds in the Malaria Box for oxidative activity will determine if they could be used for malaria protection.