Helminthic parasites

Maizels, R.M., Bundy, D.P., Selkirk, M.E., Smith, D.F. and Anderson, R.M. (1993) Immunological modulation and evasion by helminth parasites in human populations. Nature 365, 797-805. 

Halton, D.W., Shaw, C., Maule, A.G. and Smart, D. (1994) Regulatory peptides in helminth parasites. Advances in Parasitology 34, 164-227. 

Smith, W. D. (1999). Prospects for vaccines of helminth parasites of grazing ruminants . International Journal of Parasitology, 29, 17-24. 

Delcroix, M., Sajid, M., Caffrey, C.R., Lim, K.-C., Dvorak, J., Hsieh, I., Bahgat, M., Dissous, C., and McKerrow, J.H. (2006) A multienzyme network functions in intestinal protein digestion by a platy-helminth parasite./. Biol. Chem. 281, 39316-39329. 

T-Cell Regulation in Helminth Parasite Infections Implications for Inflammatory Diseases... 

Infections with helminth parasites remain extraordinarily prevalent in many developing countries, with >25% of the human population currently infected. Helminth diseases are also... 

Maizels RM, Holland M, Falcone FH, Zang XX, Yazdanbakhsh M Vaccination against helminth parasites the ultimate challenge for immunologists Immunol Rev 1999 171 125-148. 

Maizels RM, Balic A, Gomez-Escobar N, Nair M, Taylor M, Allen JE Helminth parasites masters of regulation. Immunol Rev 2004 201 89-116. 

Maizels RM, Yazdanbakhsh M Regulation of the immune response by helminth parasites cellular and molecular mechanisms. Nat Rev Immunol 2003 3 733-743. 

Pearce EJ, Kane C, Sun J, J JT, McKee AS, Cervi L Th2 response polarization during infection with the helminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Immunol Rev 2004 201 117-126. 

A variety of structurally diverse compounds is used to eradicate or at least reduce the numbers of helminthic parasites in the intestinal tract or tissues of the body. The search for antihelminthics has been somewhat less systematic than for other microbial pathogens. Most of these agents were discovered by traditional screening programs their mechanisms of action at a molecular level are frequently unknown. 

Parker, C.A., Chubb, J.C., Ball, M.A. and Roberts, G.N. (2003) Evolution of complex life cycles in helminth parasites. Nature 425, 480-484. 

Even a cursory review of the pertinent literature leaves the reader in little doubt that cestodes can subvert host immune responses by mechanisms that vary from membrane fluidity (i.e. membrane turnover) (Taylor et al., 1997) to active immunomodulation thatfavours development of immunosuppressive/immunoregula-tory cells (Dai and Gottstein, 1999) and/or an immune-suppressed environment. In this respect the cestode is no different than other helminth parasites. However, the data are fragmented, often quite vague and confused by the specificity of the host-parasite interaction. Therefore we have opted to provide the reader with tabulated data on some of the main findings illustrating cestode manipulation of their... 

Rodriguez-Sosa, M., Satoskar, A.R., David, J.R. and Terrazas, L.l. (2003a) Altered T helper responses in CD40 and interleukin-12 deficient mice reveal a critical role forThl responses in eliminating the helminth parasite Taenia crassiceps. International Journal for Parasitology 33, 703-71 1. 

Bentley, G., Gutsmann, V., Pasi, J. and Agnew, A. (2002) Characterisation of a schistosome anti-coagulant protein, SAP. Molecular and Cellular Biology of Helminth Parasites Conference, September 2002, Hydra, Greece. 

That the tissue phase of H. nana is highly immunogenic is witnessed by the fact that even a single oncosphere invading a villus can elicit complete protection (353). Moreover, this protection can develop within a few days. It must be stressed, however, that - as with most helminth parasites - the immune responses may vary substantially in different strains of the same host, a factor not always appreciated in these experiments. Immune responses known to be influenced by host genotype are listed in Table 11.3. 

Buteau, G. H., Jr, Simmons, J. E. Fairbaim, D. (1969). Lipid metabolism in helminth parasites. IX. Fatty acid composition of shark tapeworms and of their hosts. Experimental Parasitology, 26 209-13. 

Jacobsen, N. S. Fairbairn, D. (1967). Lipid metabolism in helminth parasites. III. Biosynthesis and interconversion of fatty acids by Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda). Journal of Parasitology, 53 355-61. 

Maclnnis, A. J. (ed.) (1987). Molecular paradigms for eradicating helminthic parasites. UCLA Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology, new series, vol. 60. Alan R. Liss, Inc. New York. 

Lipid composition of the helminth parasite Taenia crassiceps. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 69B 553-7. 

Pappas, P. W. Read, C. P. (1975). Membrane transport in helminth parasites a review. Experimental Parasitology, 37 469-530. 

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