title: Eliminating Schistosomes through Vaccination: What are the Best Immune Weapons?
abstract: The successful development of vaccines depends on the knowledge of the immunological mechanisms associated with the elimination of the pathogen. In the case of schistosomes, its complex life cycle and the mechanisms developed to evade host immune system, turns the development of a vaccine against the disease into a very difficult task. Identifying the immunological effector mechanisms involved in parasite attrition and the major targets for its response is a key step to formulate an effective vaccine. Recent studies have described some promising antigens to compose a subunit vaccine and have pointed to some immune factors that play a role in parasite elimination. Here, we review the immune components and effector mechanisms associated with the protective immunity induced by those vaccine candidates and the lessons we have learned from the studies of the acquired resistance to infection in humans. We will also discuss the immune factors that correlate with protection and therefore could help to evaluate those vaccine formulations in clinical trials.
authors: Laboratório de Esquistossomose do Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Ministério de Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.
authors: Cristina Toscano
authors: CT
authors: Fonseca
authors: Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Ministério de Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.
authors: Sergio Costa
authors: SC
authors: Oliveira
authors: Laboratório de Esquistossomose do Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.
authors: Clarice Carvalho
authors: CC
authors: Alves
keywords: effector mechanisms; immune response; protective immunity; schistosome vaccine; schistosomiasis