I'm wondering why are carriers for sickle cell anemia resistant to malaria?

Sickle and malaria: Patients with sickle cell disease are protected against severe and complicated malaria infection- by 2 mechanism: -1. Cells infected with malaria parasites had accelerated sickling compared with non-infected cells- and as the result the cell would be destroyed/ promoting removal of infected cells from the circulation `2.Impaired parasite growth due to reduce o2 content in sickle cell.

Extremely complex...: This is a fascinating molecular mechanistic story, but too complex for this forum. Suffice it to say that the presence of the sickle beta chain creates an inhospitable environment for the organisms that cause malaria, plasmodium falciparum and vivax. This advantage must be balanced with the disadvantage of too much hgbs. Historically, survival to reproductive age was rare, but trait is tolerated.

Malaria/sickle cell: In a person who has sickle-cell trait, the red blood cells are destroyed prematurely before the Plamodium can reproduce. According to one study “Sickle cell trait provides 60% protection against overall mortality. Most of this protection occurs between 2-16 months of life, before the onset of clinical immunity in areas with intense transmission of malaria.”

Hgb S inhibits: Parasite growth in two ways. Increased sickling causes more rapid removal of infested red blood cells (suicide effect) and low oxygen in Hgb S RBC actually kills parasite. Thanks for trusting HealthTap!