Further studies are needed to understand the role of the hepcidin-ferroportin axis in susceptibility to NTS in human subjects, how hepcidin and iron disturbances might mediate susceptibility to bacteremia due to NTS or other organisms, and how P. falciparum, iron deficiency or other etiologies of severe anemia influence this relationship. The gene discussed is SLC40A1; the disease is anemia (phenotype).