Glycophorin A (CD235a) is a sialoglycoprotein shown to reduce RBC aggregation in the circulation.15 Research has also shown that erythrocytes lacking GPA and glycophorin B are not susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) parasite infection, suggesting that GPA may be a receptor for P. falciparum. Here, GYPA is linked to parasitic infectious disease.