Influence of polymorphisms in the TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR6, and TLR9 genes in pregnant women with malaria in the Brazilian Amazon

• Grant number: 25/28550-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2026
• End date: April 30, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Cláudio Romero Farias Marinho
• Grantee: Lucas Palheta Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Malaria during pregnancy is very important from an epidemiological perspective, as both the mother and fetus are at risk for the disease. Physiological and immunological changes can compromise maternal- fetal exchanges, leading to placental dysfunction and complications such as anaemia, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, and premature birth. Polymorphisms in genes encoding Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been associated with different outcomes in gestational malaria, influencing susceptibility to infection and immune response. However, these effects vary according to the population and epidemiological context and are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between polymorphisms in the TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR6, and TLR9 genes and immunological, parasitological, and clinical aspects in pregnant women with malaria in the Brazilian Amazon. The project proposes to understand the mechanisms of the innate immune response in pregnant women with malaria, a particularly vulnerable group that also acts as a reservoir for infection. The identification of polymorphisms in TLR genes and their functional implications may contribute to more effective diagnostic and treatment approaches in endemic areas. (AU)