We, therefore, evaluated IgM and IgG anti-dsDNA antibody titers and assessed C1q levels in women with varying risk for SLE based on genetic risk and malaria exposure: African-American SLE patients (SLE); healthy Caucasian women (CHC); healthy African-American women (AAHC); unaffected sisters of SLE patients (SIS); and women from Mali with a history of malaria infection (MAL). The gene discussed is CD40LG; the disease is malaria.