Joint selection for two malaria resistance mutations in a south-west Colombian population.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the individual and joint selection actions of these two genes in an Afro-descendant Colombian population. A total of 819 individuals were analysed using stratified random sampling. PCR-RFLP and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium deviation analysis (H-W eq.), linkage disequilibrium (LD), D'IS2 and D'ST2 indexes, neutrality tests, correlations and fitness were performed using Arlequin 3.5.2.2 and R 3.4.1 software. In general, the population showed neutrality and H-W eq. for the HbS gene but not for the Duffy gene (FYA/FYB, FYA/FYBES and FYB/FYBES genotypes were responsible for this deviation). LD between the HbS locus and the promoter region of the Duffy gene, a value D'IS2 = 0.001 and D'ST2 = 0.020 was found, an increase in fitness of the AS*FYBES/FYBES genotype combination (marked in adolescents and adults), and a strong correlation between these genotypes (Rho = 90%, p = .001) were found, evidencing a possible joint selection action for these two alleles. This work presents evidence of the action of natural selection, both individually and jointly, on malaria resistance genes, HbS and Duffy, in the Buenaventura population. PMID: 31927074 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: research