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- Title
Human Schistosome Infection and Allergic Sensitisation.
- Authors
Rujeni, Nadine; Taylor, David W.; Mutapi, Francisca
- Abstract
Several field studies have reported an inverse relationship between the prevalence of helminth infections and that of allergic sensitisation/atopy. Recent studies show that immune responses induced by helminth parasites are, to an extent, comparable to allergic sensitisation. However, helminth products induce regulatory responses capable of inhibiting not only antiparasite immune responses, but also allergic sensitisation. The relative effects of this immunomodulation on the development of protective schistosome-specific responses in humans has yet to be demonstrated at population level, and the clinical significance of immunomodulation of allergic disease is still controversial. Nonetheless, similarities in immune responses against helminths and allergens pose interesting mechanistic and evolutionary questions. This paper examines the epidemiology, biology and immunology of allergic sensitisation/atopy, and schistosome infection in human populations.
- Subjects
SCHISTOSOMA; ALLERGIES; DISEASE prevalence; HELMINTHIASIS; IMMUNOREGULATION; EPIDEMIOLOGY; ATOPY; ALLERGENS
- Publication
Journal of Parasitology Research, 2012, p1
- ISSN
2090-0023
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1155/2012/154743