Blood types and Malaria

Blood Type O Most Protected From Malaria, Blood Type A The Worst

Scientists have therefore been keen to learn more about how this species of parasite makes the infected red blood cells so sticky. It has long been known that people with blood type O are protected against severe malaria, while those with other types, such as A, often fall into a coma and die.

The Chinese study has not yet been peer-reviewed.

COVID-19 and Blood Types: Higher Risk for Blood Type A, Lower Risk for Blood Type O

Findings regarding malaria and blood type O have been confirmed again and again:

Group O was associated with a 66% reduction in the odds of developing severe malaria compared with the non-O blood groups

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2077280/

Studies of the interaction between Plasmodium vivax and the Duffy antigen provide the clearest example of the potential for basic research on blood groups and malaria to be translated into a vaccine that could have a major impact on global health. Progress is also being made in understanding the effects of other blood group antigens on malaria. After years of controversy, the effect of ABO blood groups on falciparum malaria has been clarified, with the non-O blood groups emerging as significant risk factors for life-threatening malaria…

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2878475/

Plasmodium is a genus of unicellular eukaryotes that are obligate parasites of vertebrates and insects. The life cycles of Plasmodium species involve development in a blood-feeding insect host which then injects parasites into a vertebrate host during a blood meal.