Helminths and our immune system: friend or foe?
Helminths are able to modulate and suppress the hosts' immune response in order to promote their own survival. This ability to alter immune responses could be of potential detriment to the host if it interferes with the development of protective immune responses against other infections. However, helminth infections have also been suggested to be beneficial in the control of excessive inflammatory reactions. In this review I will highlight some of the data suggesting both positive and negative effects of helminth infections in humans and in experimental models.
Helmby
Helena
H
Immunology Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT London, United Kingdom. helena.helmby@lshtm.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000276:immunology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000469:parasitology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D014611:Vaccination