Of the 6 distinct tri-peptide motifs observed in K1, four (SGT, SGP, SAQ and SGA, coded as 1–4) were previously reported, while two rare motifs namely STQ (conversion of GCT to ACT codon resulting in A to T substitution) and SAR (conversion of CAA to CGA codon resulting in Q to R substitution) were derived from SAQ to detected in two mild malaria patients having multiclonal infections. Here, KRT1 is linked to malaria.