Out of the upregulated pir genes in the cerebral malaria group, members of vir subfamily E (n = 8 genes) and the pvpir subfamily H (n = 6 genes) are expressed in a higher proportion compared to the hepatic dysfunction group, where members of vir subfamily E (n = 9) and C (n = 6) are expressed in a major proportion. Here, PIR is linked to cerebral malaria.