title: To B or not to B: B cells and the Th2-type immune response to helminths.
abstract: Similar T helper (Th)2-type immune responses are generated against different helminth parasites, but the mechanisms that initiate Th2 immunity, and the specific immune components that mediate protection against these parasites, can vary greatly. B cells are increasingly recognized as important during the Th2-type immune response to helminths, and B cell activation might be a target for effective vaccine development. Antibody production is a function of B cells during helminth infection and understanding how polyclonal and antigen-specific antibodies contribute should provide important insights into how protective immunity develops. In addition, B cells might also contribute to the host response against helminths through antibody-independent functions including, antigen presentation, as well as regulatory and effector activity. In this review, we examine the role of B cells during Th2-type immune response to these multicellular parasites.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Vaccine Research Institute and Global Health Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Gause
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D006376:Helminths / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth