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Experimental human hookworm infection: a narrative historical review
Paul R Chapman1,2, Paul Giacomin3, Alex Loukas3
1Clinical Tropical Medicine, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Australia.
Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases
|December 9, 2021
Summary
Experimental hookworm infection is safe and valuable for testing therapies and treating diseases. However, challenges remain in larval culture, storage, and accurate infection intensity measurement for research and therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Hookworm infection research has evolved from understanding transmission to evaluating therapeutic interventions.
- Experimental human hookworm infection (EHHI) has been pivotal in elucidating infection natural history and immune responses.
Observation:
- EHHI has been safely conducted in over 500 participants, with no reported deaths and minimal serious adverse events in modern trials.
- Current methods for hookworm larval preparation and storage are outdated, hindering research and development.
- Faecal egg counts and DNA intensity lack precision for use as surrogate markers in EHHI studies.
Findings:
- EHHI is a safe and promising model for evaluating anti-hookworm therapies and investigating therapeutic potential for various diseases.
- Significant advancements are needed in in vitro larval culture, storage techniques, and the development of robust potency assays.
- Development of reliable surrogate markers for intestinal infection intensity is crucial for EHHI's utility in drug/vaccine testing and regulated therapy.
Implications:
- Standardized larval culture and storage methods are essential for reproducible EHHI research.
- Improved surrogate markers will enhance the precision of EHHI as a platform for anti-parasitic drug and vaccine development.
- EHHI holds potential for novel therapeutic applications, necessitating further methodological refinement and validation.
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