title: The evasion of the immune response and immunological unresponsiveness: parasitic helminth infections.
abstract: A selective review is given of the mechanisms associated with the evasion of the immune response by parasitic helminths and immunological unresponsiveness as it applies to helminth infections. Immunosuppression caused by parasites leading to reduced responsiveness of lymphocytes to mitogens is discussed, and mechanisms that inhibit effector mechanisms at the parasite surface and polyclonal activation of lymphocyte populations are dealt with. Physiological immunosuppression associated with parturition and lactation and the immunological unresponsiveness of young ruminants are dealt with in detail.
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, U.K.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Soulsby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology; D012418:Ruminants / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology