To establish erythrocyte infection in humans, P. vivax is highly dependent on the interaction of the parasite Duffy binding protein (region II, PvDBPII) and its cognate receptor in the surface of reticulocytes, Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) (recently renamed Atypical chemokine Receptor 1)6–8. The gene discussed is ACKR1; the disease is infection.