title: Helminth therapy for organic diseases?
abstract: Autoimmune and chronic inflammatory organic diseases represent a "postindustrial revolution epidemics," and their frequency has increased dramatically in the last century. Today, it is assumed that the increase in hygiene standards reduced the interactions with helminth parasites that coevolved with the immune system and are crucial for its proper functioning. Several helminths have been proposed and tested in the search of the ideal therapeutic. In this review, the authors summarize the translational and clinical studies and review the caveats and possible solutions for the optimization of helminth therapies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: gerhard.rogler@usz.ch.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rogler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D061147:Therapy with Helminths; D014258:Trichuris