title: Suppression of inflammation by helminths: a role for the gut microbiota?
abstract: Multiple recent investigations have highlighted the promise of helminth-based therapies for the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the intestinal tract of humans, including inflammatory bowel disease and coeliac disease. However, the mechanisms by which helminths regulate immune responses, leading to the amelioration of symptoms of chronic inflammation are unknown. Given the pivotal roles of the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of these disorders, it has been hypothesized that helminth-induced modifications of the gut commensal flora may be responsible for the therapeutic properties of gastrointestinal parasites. In this article, we review recent progress in the elucidation of host-parasite-microbiota interactions in both animal models of chronic inflammation and humans, and provide a working hypothesis of the role of the gut microbiota in helminth-induced suppression of inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Smithfield 4878, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giacomin
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane 4007, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Croese
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Institute, University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Woolloongabba, Australia.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Smithfield 4878, Australia.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK cc779@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantacessi
mesh_terms: D000723:Ancylostomatoidea / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000276:immunology*; D006376:Helminths / Q000276:immunology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007249:Inflammation / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014258:Trichuris / Q000276:immunology
keywords: helminth-induced suppression of inflammation; hookworms; host–parasite interactions; microbial richness; microbiota; whipworms