Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have detailed how monocyte cells in Fulani children display lower levels of inflammation during malaria infection than in Mossi children, according to the university’s February 2025 report. This reduced inflammatory response helps prevent severe disease progression while their B cells show increased activity to produce more effective antibodies against the falciparum parasite. The analysis drawn from single-cell transcriptomics on samples from 126 children in Burkina Faso points to both genetic predispositions and dietary influences from a livestock-based diet as contributing factors. The two-year fieldwork compared the nomadic Fulani herders with their Mossi counterparts to isolate these ethnicity-linked differences.
The NYU Abu Dhabi study found that these inter-ethnic variations in immune function could support development of therapies that target specific cellular behaviors observed in the less susceptible group. Fulani children have long shown lower malaria incidence in regional observations, which the research links in part to their traditional diet rich in milk and animal products alongside genetic elements. Such results stress the value of expanding genomic databases to include more African populations that have been underrepresented in international studies despite the disease concentration on the continent.
World Health Organization data from its World Malaria Report 2025 places the global total at an estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths in 2024, with the African region accounting for 94 percent of cases and 95 percent of deaths. The burden continues to fall heavily on young children, making the cellular insights particularly relevant for future control measures in endemic areas. The NYU Abu Dhabi report builds on earlier indications of ethnic differences by delivering the first detailed single-cell resolution of immune activity in these two groups.
In the published findings NYU Abu Dhabi researchers stated, “Our research—built on two years of intensive fieldwork studying Fulani and Mossi children—highlights the power of leveraging genetic and lifestyle diversity in Africa to uncover novel biological insights, underscoring the importance of empowering underserved populations in genomic studies.” The paper appeared in the American Journal of Human Genetics following collaboration with partners in Burkina Faso who facilitated sample collection and local context. This partnership helped ensure the data reflected real-world conditions across the two communities.
Undergraduate students Jakub Jurkovic, Bana Alamad and Odmaa Bayaraa from NYU Abu Dhabi served as co-authors on the project alongside researcher Shahin. Their roles encompassed aspects of data processing and interpretation of the transcriptomic results that distinguished the immune profiles. The effort reflects ongoing academic work in the UAE to address persistent global health issues through advanced analytical methods.
The NYU Abu Dhabi assessment indicated that focusing on initial immune activation and antibody mechanisms may support new approaches to prevention that emulate the protective traits identified in the Fulani participants. The study deliberately avoids treating African groups as uniform by zeroing in on precise pathways shaped by both heredity and environment. Additional research could apply similar frameworks to further populations and settings to enhance overall malaria mitigation efforts.
