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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
12:40
Cultivation of Heligmosomoides Polygyrus: An Immunomodulatory Nematode Parasite and its Secreted Products
Published on: April 6, 2015
[Allergic diseases and parasitosis]
Fadile Yildiz Zeyrek1, C Dost Zeyrek
1Ege Universitesi Tip Fakültesi Parazitoloji Anabilim Dali, Bornova, Izmir. fadilezeyrek@hotmail.com
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi
|November 25, 2006
Summary
Geohelminth infections may protect against allergies by suppressing immune responses. This suggests new asthma treatments could involve helminth-inspired therapies to modulate inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
- Parasitology
Context:
- Atopic diseases like asthma have increased in Western countries.
- Epidemiological studies reveal an inverse relationship between geohelminth infection and allergy.
- Geohelminths modulate host immune responses, potentially protecting against allergies.
Purpose:
- To explore the protective mechanisms of geohelminth infections against atopic diseases.
- To investigate how helminths suppress immune responses and prime regulatory T cells.
- To assess the potential of helminth-derived strategies for treating asthma.
Summary:
- Geohelminth parasites modulate allergic inflammation through immune suppression.
- Helminths induce regulatory T cells, which dampen host immune responses.
- This immune modulation by helminths may explain their protective effect against allergies.
- New asthma treatments are being explored, including live hookworm infections.
Impact:
- Understanding helminth-induced immune modulation can lead to novel anti-allergy therapies.
- Mimicking helminthic effects could offer new treatment avenues for asthma and other atopic diseases.
- This research bridges parasitology and immunology for therapeutic innovation.
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