Macrobiome: how helminths shape our immune system

Helminths are ubiquitous parasites which we are all exposed to at some point in our life. Typically infection is asymptomatic, but many millions of people, especially in LMIC, suffer from pathological infections. Diseases of livestock also represent a major economic and animal welfare problem. Pathology from infection depends on the infectious dose and species. 
What is also clear is that helminth infections leave a striking footprint on our immune system. An important feature of this is their ability to regulate the magnitude of host immunity. This has lead to controlled helminth infections and use of helminth products being used to treat diseases such as colitis and allergy, which are to a large extent disease arising from poor host immune control. The immunological footprint left by helminths can also alter our ability to control other infections and respond to vaccination. How long these effects last for and there ramifications for understanding and treating other diseases may in the future provide new ways improve the treatment of a range of infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Speaker

LE STUDIUM RESEARCH FELLOW / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow
Dr William Horsnell

FROM : University of Cape Town - ZA

IN RESIDENCE AT: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires (INEM) / CNRS, University of Orléans - FR