Malaria Epidemics and the Sickle-Cell Gene Dynamics

Abstract

A mathematical model incorporating both malaria epidemics and human population genetics of the sickle-cell gene is studied. The dynamics of the model can be separated into two time-scales with a faster time-scale for the epidemics and a slower time-scale for the change in gene frequencies. A complete analysis of the dynamics on the slow manifold is conducted, which provides insights into how malaria epidemics may have an impact on the maintenance of the sickle-cell gene in a population where malaria is prevalent.