ATAD1 and malaria: Therefore, the decrease in RO33 allele with an increase in age could suggest the production of antibodies against RO33-like variants of msp1 antigens, thereby providing protection against clinical malaria in the study area, as this finding was also observed in a study in Papua New Guinea, where antibodies against 3D7-like variants of msp2 conferred protection against clinical malaria [49].