Seeking the ghost of worms past.
The mechanisms of protective immunity to parasite infections in humans are still elusive. Here, Woolhouse and Hagan discuss new evidence suggesting that the extremely slow development of acquired immunity to human schistosomes may depend on exposure to antigens from these worms after they die.
Woolhouse
M E
ME
Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG mark.woolhouse@ed.ac.uk.
Hagan
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007378:Interleukins