Malaria infection associated with cancer risk in children

New data published in the discovery of the role of Plasmodium Falciparum (malaria) in the development of Burkitt (BL) lymphoma, the most common cancer in children in equatorial Africa and New Guinea. BL has been associated with the malaria P. Falciparum since 1958, but the basic mechanism of how it led to cancer remained a mystery.

“”, Shared Dr. Rosemary Rochford, an outstanding professor of immunology and microbiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, who conducted the study.

BL is cancer that affects B cells, important immune cells that produce antibodies. While BL is a rare cancer around the world, its spread is ten times higher in areas with the consistent presence of P. Falciparum’s malaria. Five different species of Plasmodium can cause malaria in humans, but only P. Falciparum is associated with BL.

In the study, it showed a significant increased expression of the enzyme called AID (Citidin Deaminase induced by activation) in cells B during P. Falciparum malaria in children. According to scientists, this indicated the direct role of P. Falciparum’s malaria in BL due to the role of help in the development of BL.

A characteristic feature of BL is the gene translocation called Myc, a Genetic mutation where the bottom tears one chromosome and attacked to the other. Enzymatic assistance is necessary for MyC translocation, which is why its presence in patients with malaria indicates the role of P. Falciparum malaria in BL.

In this study, blood was assessed from children with uncomplicated malaria in terms of the level of help and compared with children without malaria. Uncomplicated malaria occurs when the patient’s symptoms are non -specific, including fever, chills, sweating, headache, nausea and/or vomiting, without signs of severe organs. Help was significantly increased in cells B of children with uncomplicated malaria and proved to be fully functional. The functionality of excess help also confirms the role of P. Falciparum in causing BL.

Dr. Rochford hopes “”.

Dr. Rochford and her team continue this work, assessing the other effects of P. Falciparum on immune functions in children and how it creates an acceptable environment for cancer.