title: Harnessing the helminth secretome for therapeutic immunomodulators.
abstract: Helminths are the largest and most complex pathogens to invade and live within the human body. Since they are not able to outpace the immune system by rapid antigen variation or faster cell division or retreat into protective niches not accessible to immune effector mechanisms, their long-term survival depends on influencing and regulating the immune responses away from the mode of action most damaging to them. Immunologists have focused on the excretory and secretory products that are released by the helminths, since they can change the host environment by modulating the immune system. Here we give a brief overview of the helminth-associated immune response and the currently available helminth secretome data. We introduce some major secretome-derived immunomodulatory molecules and describe their potential mode of action. Finally, the applicability of helminth-derived therapeutic proteins in the treatment of allergic and autoimmune inflammatory disease is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9989-7764
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ditgen
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Emmanuela M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Anandarajah
authors.affiliation: Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, 1374 Prof. Lineu Prestes Avenue, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kamila A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Meissner
authors.affiliation: Bernhard-Nocht-Institute, Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 74, 20259 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brattig
authors.affiliation: Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, 1374 Prof. Lineu Prestes Avenue, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5987-1749
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wrenger
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liebau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006376:Helminths / Q000276:immunology*; D007109:Immunity; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010271:Parasites / Q000378:metabolism; D040901:Proteomics
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; D007155:Immunologic Factors