MicroRNAs have emerged as key regulators of immune responses. They influence immune cells' function and probably the outcome of several infections. Currently, it is largely unknown if helminth parasites and their antigens modify host microRNAs expression. The aim of this study was to explore if excreted/secreted antigens of Taenia crassiceps regulate LPS-induced miRNAs expression in human dendr...

Recent studies have identified several previously unrecognized functions of basophils in multiple models of Th2 cytokine-dependent immunity and inflammation. In addition to their established role as effector cells in inflamed tissues, findings now indicate that basophils express MHC class II and co-stimulatory molecules, can migrate into draining lymph nodes, present antigen to naive CD4 + T ce...

Approximately one-third of the world's population suffers from chronic helminth infections with no effective vaccines currently available. Antibodies and alternatively activated macrophages (AAM) form crucial components of protective immunity against challenge infections with intestinal helminths. However, the mechanisms by which antibodies target these large multi-cellular parasites remain obs...

Biological samples were collected from dogs in resource-limited communities in the North-West and Gauteng Provinces of South Africa to assess the prevalence of helminth parasitism. These samples included adhesive tape peri-anal skin swabs and fresh faecal samples for helminth examination, and thick and thin blood films (smears) and whole-blood samples in anticoagulant for examination of filaria...

A total of 360 randomly selected specimens of Clarias gariepinus (Clariidae) recovered from Lekki Lagoon were examined for intestinal helminth parasites. Parasite prevalence and worm burden were low; 17 (4.72%) of the specimens examined were infected with gastrointestinal helminths. The helminth worms recovered include, three cestodes Polyonchobothrium clarias, Stocksia pujehuni and Wenyonia ac...

The survival of helminths in the host over long periods of time is the result of a process of adaptation or dynamic co-evolution between the host and the parasite. However, infection with helminth parasites causes damage to the host tissues producing the release of danger signals that induce the recruitment of various cells, including innate immune cells such as macrophages (Mo), dendritic cell...

Based on published records and new data accumulated by the authors, we generated a list of the helminth parasites of marine mammals from off the coast of Argentina. We found 49 reports of helminths parasitizing cetaceans and pinnipeds from Argentina from 1952 to 2015. The list includes 54 taxa of helminths (8 acanthocephalans, 24 nematodes, 11 cestodes and 11 trematodes) associated with 18 spec...

Adults of Physalaemus cuvieri were collected and necropsied between November 2009 and January 2010. This was carried out in order to report and compare the helminth fauna associated with two populations of this anuran species from the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest under different conditions of habitat integrity. The hosts from the disturbed area were parasitized with five helminth taxa: Cosmoc...

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the most common and serious chronic inflammatory condition of the gut. Among the distinct T helper (Th) cell subsets, a Th1 type response is associated predominantly with Crohn's disease (CD) while helminth infections generate a strong Th2 type response. IBD is most prevalent in developed countries but rare in countries where infections with helminths are com...