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Exploiting Old Pathogens to Create New Therapeutics

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Nicola Harris, Tiffany Babette Angélique Bouchery
2016

Abstract

Intestinal worms are well known for their potent immuno-modulatory capacity. In a recent study, Navarro et al. (2016) identify a secreted hookworm protein that can suppress allergic responses in both mice and humans. This represents an exciting strategy for treating chronic inflammatory disorders such as allergy.

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https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/3ec08e87-0711-4cdd-8d96-8ecb65fa9c6e

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Related publications (8)

Related concepts (13)

Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, are various conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include hay fever, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, and anaphylaxis. Symptoms may include red eyes, an itchy rash, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, shortness of breath, or swelling. Note that food intolerances and food poisoning are separate conditions. Common allergens include pollen and certain foods.

Immunoglobulin E

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a type of antibody (or immunoglobulin (Ig) "isotype") that has been found only in mammals. IgE is synthesised by plasma cells. Monomers of IgE consist of two heavy chains (ε chain) and two light chains, with the ε chain containing four Ig-like constant domains (Cε1–Cε4). IgE is thought to be an important part of the immune response against infection by certain parasitic worms, including Schistosoma mansoni, Trichinella spiralis, and Fasciola hepatica.

Parasitic worms, also known as helminths, are large macroparasites; adults can generally be seen with the naked eye. Many are intestinal worms that are soil-transmitted and infect the gastrointestinal tract. Other parasitic worms such as schistosomes reside in blood vessels. Some parasitic worms, including leeches and monogeneans, are ectoparasites - thus, they are not classified as helminths, which are endoparasites. Parasitic worms live in and feed in living hosts.

Immune serum-activated human macrophages coordinate with eosinophils to immobilize Ascaris suum larvae

Nicola Harris, Beatrice Volpe, Julia Esser-von Bieren, Tiffany Babette Angélique Bouchery, Kathleen Shah

Helminth infection represents a major health problem causing approximately 5 million disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Concerns that repeated anti-helminthic treatment may lead to drug resistance render it important that vaccines are developed but ...

WILEY2020

Infection with a small intestinal helminth, Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri, consistently alters microbial communities throughout the murine small and large intestine

Nicola Harris, Benjamin John Marsland, Mario Michael Zaiss, Alexis Rapin, Luc Xavier Marie Lebon, Audrey Geneviève Chuat

Increasing evidence suggests that intestinal helminth infection can alter intestinal microbial communities with important impacts on the mammalian host. However, all of the studies to date utilize different techniques to study the microbiome and access dif ...

2020

Intestinal helminths modulate the gut microbiome

Intestinal parasitic worms (commonly named intestinal helminths) affect close to one quarter of the world population and cause major losses for the livestock industry. These parasites establish chronic infections by modulation the immunity of their host. T ...

EPFL2018