Glycophorins, Blood Groups, and Protection from Severe Malaria.

In Malaŵi, Malungo alibe odi is a saying that translates as: 'Malaria does not ask permission before coming in'. The recent finding of a new severe malaria resistance locus next to a cluster of glycophorin genes involved in Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte invasion seems to suggest otherwise: that evolutionary pressure is enabling erythrocytes to lock the door to keep malaria out.