title: Cohabitation in the Intestine: Interactions among Helminth Parasites, Bacterial Microbiota, and Host Immunity.
abstract: Both intestinal helminth parasites and certain bacterial microbiota species have been credited with strong immunomodulatory effects. Recent studies reported that the presence of helminth infection alters the composition of the bacterial intestinal microbiota and, conversely, that the presence and composition of the bacterial microbiota affect helminth colonization and persistence within mammalian hosts. This article reviews recent findings on these reciprocal relationships, in both human populations and mouse models, at the level of potential mechanistic pathways and the implications these bear for immunomodulatory effects on allergic and autoimmune disorders. Understanding the multidirectional complex interactions among intestinal microbes, helminth parasites, and the host immune system allows for a more holistic approach when using probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, antibiotics, and anthelmintics, as well as when designing treatments for autoimmune and allergic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada;
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada; and.
authors.forename: B Brett
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Finlay
authors.affiliation: Centre for Immunity, Infection, and Evolution, Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom rick.maizels@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rick M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Maizels
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D064307:Microbiota; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D051193:Toll-Like Receptors