Novel genetic polymorphisms associated with severe malaria and under selective pressure in North-eastern Tanzania.

Significant selection pressure has been exerted on the genomes of human populations exposed to Plasmodium falciparum infection, resulting in the acquisition of mechanisms of resistance against severe malarial disease. Many host genetic factors, including sickle cell trait, have been associated with reduced risk of developing severe malaria, but do not account for all of the observed phenotypic variation. Identification of novel inherited risk factors relies upon high-resolution genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We present findings of a GWAS of severe malaria performed in a Tanzanian population (n = 914, 15.2 million SNPs). Beyond the expected association with the sickle cell HbS variant, we identify protective associations within two interleukin receptors (IL-23R and IL-12RBR2) and the kelch-like protein KLHL3 (all P0.3). Our approach demonstrates the potential of a joint genotyping-sequencing strategy to identify as-yet unknown susceptibility loci in an African population with well-characterised malaria phenotypes. The regions encompassing these loci are potential targets for the design of much needed interventions for preventing or treating malarial disease

Boise State Students Encounter Writing: Using Google Maps to Digitally (Re)Present Discourse Communities in English 101

Students in the Fall 2012 English 101.017 class collaborated on a digital group project that (re)presents their research on discourse communities. Working independently or within small groups, we produced various digital texts that provide an overview of our personal discourse communities and linked them to a Google Map, “Boise State Students Encounter Writing.” There are a variety of different mediums including blogs, slideshows, and claymation videos, all of which are placed marked at the place in Boise that best represents their discourse community. For example, if someone was in a cross fit club, they would likely mark their project at the recreation center. Google Maps facilitated this project well because you could see how our small class of 22 students connects to the world outside of the University. Our presentation will display our class Google Map on the computer projector, and it will encourage the spectators and visitors to engage and interact with our digital platform. With the current academic movements and changes in digital humanities, we worked to digitally compose texts using online resources like SlideRocket, Tumblr, and even Google Maps itself. These different research methods and platforms used, helped the first-year writers exit their comfort zone of writing a five paragraph essay and find an innovative way for their peers and readers of their project to be able to connect to their discourse community

Study participants.

<p>Study participants.</p

Region plots for most significant SNP associations.

<p>Green regions highlight genes of interest, as indicated by sub-plot headers. The red line indicates genome-wide significance at 1_x10^-6, whilst the blue line indicates genome-wide suggestive significant at 1_x10^-4.</p

Genome-wide association and selection plots.

<p>a) Case-Control SNP Associations. Red line indicates genome-wide significance at 1_x10^-6, blue line indicates genome-wide suggestive significant at 1_x10^-4; b) Combined population iHS selection. Red lines indicate significance for absolute iHS scores of 4 or greater; c) Case-Control XP-EHH selection. Red lines indicate significance for absolute XP-EHH scores of 4 or greater.</p

More significant SNP associations per locus (P<1x10-6).

<p>More significant SNP associations per locus (P<1x10-6).</p