title: Molecular mechanisms of hookworm disease: stealth, virulence, and vaccines.
abstract: Hookworms produce a vast repertoire of structurally and functionally diverse molecules that mediate their long-term survival and pathogenesis within a human host. Many of these molecules are secreted by the parasite, after which they interact with critical components of host biology, including processes that are key to host survival. The most important of these interactions is the hookworm's interruption of nutrient acquisition by the host through its ingestion and digestion of host blood. This results in iron deficiency and eventually the microcytic hypochromic anemia or iron deficiency anemia that is the clinical hallmark of hookworm infection. Other molecular mechanisms of hookworm infection cause a systematic suppression of the host immune response to both the parasite and to bystander antigens (eg, vaccines or allergens). This is achieved by a series of molecules that assist the parasite in the stealthy evasion of the host immune response. This review will summarize the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms used by hookworms to survive for extended periods in the human host (up to 7 years or longer) and examine the pivotal contributions of these molecular mechanisms to chronic hookworm parasitism and host clinical outcomes.
authors: Center for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia. mark.pearson@jcu.edu.au
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: Pearson
authors: Leon
authors: L
authors: Tribolet
authors: Cinzia
authors: C
authors: Cantacessi
authors: Maria Victoria
authors: MV
authors: Periago
authors: Maria Adela
authors: MA
authors: Valero
authors: Maria Adela
authors: MA
authors: Valerio
authors: Amar R
authors: AR
authors: Jariwala
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Hotez
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Diemert
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Loukas
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Bethony
mesh_terms: D000723:Ancylostomatoidea / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006725:Hookworm Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D014612:Vaccines