Increased sickling of parasitized erythrocytes leading to enhanced clearance by the spleen. Reduced erythrocyte invasion, early phagocytosis, and inhibited parasite growth under low oxygen tension in venous microvessels. Altered PfEMP-1 display and reduced cytoadherence of parasitized erythrocytes Enhancement of innate and acquired immunity
Reduced expression of CR1 reduces P. falciparum resetting and confers protection against severe malaria. Increased microerythrocyte count in homozygotes reduces the amount of hemoglobin lost for any given parasite density, thus protecting against severe anemia