Exploiting Old Pathogens to Create New Therapeutics

Cell Host Microbe. 2016 Dec 14;20(6):705-707. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.11.007.

Abstract

Intestinal worms are well known for their potent immuno-modulatory capacity. In a recent study, Navarro et al. (2016) identify a secreted hookworm protein that can suppress allergic responses in both mice and humans. This represents an exciting strategy for treating chronic inflammatory disorders such as allergy.

Keywords: allergy; asthma; dendritic cells; helminth; immunomodulation; protein therapeutics; regulatory T cells.

MeSH terms

  • Ancylostomatoidea / immunology*
  • Ancylostomatoidea / pathogenicity
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD
  • Asthma / therapy
  • Autoimmunity / immunology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Helminthiasis / immunology
  • Hookworm Infections / immunology*
  • Hookworm Infections / parasitology
  • Hookworm Infections / therapy*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / immunology
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Hypersensitivity / therapy*
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunomodulation / immunology
  • Integrin alpha Chains
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / immunology
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Mice
  • Proteins / immunology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Integrin alpha Chains
  • Proteins
  • alpha E integrins

Supplementary concepts

  • Intestinal helminthiasis