title: Immunology of Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis (AE and CE).
abstract: Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are severe chronic helminthic diseases caused by the cystic growth or the intrahepatic tumour-like growth of the metacestode of Echinococcus granulosus or Echinococcus multilocularis, respectively. Both parasites have evolved sophisticated strategies to escape host immune responses, mainly by manipulating and directing this immune response towards anergy and/or tolerance. Recent research studies have revealed a number of respective immunoregulatory mechanisms related to macrophages and dendritic cell as well as T cell activities (regulatory T cells, Tregs). A better understanding of this complex parasite-host relationship, and the elucidation of specific crucial events that lead to disease, represents targets towards the development of novel treatment strategies and options.
authors.affiliation: University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gottstein
authors.affiliation: University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soboslay
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortona
authors.affiliation: University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siracusano
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Centre, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.
authors.forename: D Α
authors.initials: DΑ
authors.lastname: Vuitton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000276:immunology*; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D048210:Echinococcus multilocularis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans
keywords: Alveolar echinococcosis; Cystic echinococcosis; Dendritic cells; Fibrinogen-like protein 2; Macrophages; Regulatory T cells; TGF-β; Vaccination