The Sickle Cell-Malaria Connection and the Promise of CRISPR Technology

Abstract

Malaria is transmitted primarily by female Anopheles mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium falciparum and is a significant public health challenge in regions like Africa, South America, and Asia. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), on the other hand, is a genetic disorder causing abnormal hemoglobin production (HbS) which poses severe health risks, especially in Malaria-endemic regions. This manuscript explores the relationship between Malaria and SCD, specifically the protective advantage that Sickle Cell Trait (SCT) can produce from having one copy of the HbS allele. Despite the many commonalities between Malaria and SCD, such as overlapping symptoms, the treatment for each differs significantly. Therefore, accurate diagnoses must be made before continuing with treatment. Current SCD treatments focus on symptom management and complication prevention, while Malaria treatments usually involve antimalarial medications. Recent innovations suggest a cure for SCD and Malaria, which is possible by changing an individual's SCD status to SCT to remedy the negative complications of SCD while maintaining the protective benefit against Malaria. The innovation being considered is the integration of gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR, in conjunction with bone marrow transplants (BMTs). The potential of these therapies, the ongoing research to ensure their safety, and the challenges of making these treatments accessible in low-resource settings are of the utmost importance.