We performed variation screening of the CD36 gene and examined the possible association between CD36 polymorphisms and the severity of malaria in 475 adult Thai patients with P. falciparum malaria.
Freshly obtained ring-stage-infected red blood cells from 10 patients with acute falciparum malaria did not adhere to the principle vascular adherence receptors CD36 or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).
Therefore, the level of expression of CD36 on normal RBCs is sufficient to be important in cell adherence, and may have a biologic role in normal individuals as well as in the pathology of P falciparum malaria.