Online Biomedical Resources for Malaria-Related Red Cell Disorders

Warnings about the expected increase of the global public health burden of malaria-related red cell disorders are accruing. Past and present epidemiological data are necessary to track spatial and temporal changes in the frequencies of these genetic disorders. A number of open access biomedical databases including data on malaria-related red cell disorders have been launched over the last two decades. Here, we review the content of these databases, most of which focus on genetic diversity, and we describe a new epidemiological resource developed by the Malaria Atlas Project. To tackle upcoming public health challenges, the integration of epidemiological and genetic data is important. As many countries are considering implementing national screening programs, strategies to make such data more accessible are also needed. This paper reviews the content of open access biomedical databases including data on malaria-related red cell disorders launched over the last two decades, most of which focus on genetic diversity, and describes a new epidemiological resource developed by the Malaria Atlas Project. This resource currently includes data on hemoglobin S, hemoglobin C, the Duffy blood group, and G6PD deficiency and paves the way to similar work on the thalassemias. © 2013 WILEY PERIODICALS, INC