Advances in Host-Helminth Interactions

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitic Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 975

Special Issue Editors

Jiangsu Key Lab of Modern Pathogen Biology, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
Interests: pathogenesis of helminth; schistosomiasis; maternal immune activation caused by pathogens; parasites-derived molecules; hepatic disease
Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
Interests: host-parasite interaction; the pathogenesis underlying biliary diseases.

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Guest Editor
QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane 4006, Australia
Interests: parasite developmental biology; parasite vaccine development; parasite omics; novel serological and molecular diagnostics for parasitic diseases; liver fibrosis caused by parasitic worms; translational research of helminth

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Parasitic helminths are among the most pervasive pathogens of the animal kingdom. To complete their life cycle, these worms migrate through host tissues, causing significant damage in their wake. As a result, infection can lead to malnutrition, anemia, multi-organ damage, and increased susceptibility to co-infection. Therefore, studies of the effects of parasites from the perspective of host–helminth interactions can deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of parasitic diseases. Meanwhile, epidemiological studies have been conducted which support the concept that helminth infections, which are characterized by the induction of strong type-2 responses or regulatory T cells, correlate with a decreased prevalence of intestinal inflammatory diseases, obesity, allergic diseases, cancer, etc. Although several helminth-derived vaccine adjuvants have been undergoing clinical trials, the identification of other new molecules, including proteins, miRNAs, lipids, glycans, as well as extracellular vesicles (EVs), derived/released from various helminths is critical for treating the various diseases from the host-pathogen interaction perspective. A better understanding of these questions is important not only from a theoretical point of view but also because of their therapeutic implications.

In this Special Issue of Pathogens, we will provide an updated representation of the current prevention, diagnosis, and pathogenesis of helminth infection. In addition, we offer further insight into future directions and emerging trends in translational science based on pathogen-derived molecules relevant to the topic.

With these aims, we invite researchers to submit high-quality works for consideration. Original research articles, narrative reviews of particular interest and case reports will be considered.

“Advances in Host-Helminth Interactions” will give specialists and scientists involved in parasitology the opportunity to share their experiences or point of view on several critical issues, with the primary objective of improving global knowledge.

Dr. Zhipeng Xu
Dr. Chao Yan
Dr. Pengfei Cai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • helminths
  • host-pathogen interaction
  • parasite
  • immune reaction
  • pathogenesis

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

15 pages, 313 KiB  
Review
Progress on the Regulation of the Host Immune Response by Parasite-Derived Exosomes
by Xinyue Zhang, Chuanxin Yu and Lijun Song
Pathogens 2024, 13(8), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13080623 - 26 Jul 2024
Viewed by 436
Abstract
Exosomes are membrane-bound structures released by cells into the external environment that carry a significant amount of important cargo, such as proteins, DNA, RNA, and lipids. They play a crucial role in intercellular communication. Parasites have complex life cycles and can release exosomes [...] Read more.
Exosomes are membrane-bound structures released by cells into the external environment that carry a significant amount of important cargo, such as proteins, DNA, RNA, and lipids. They play a crucial role in intercellular communication. Parasites have complex life cycles and can release exosomes at different stages. Exosomes released by parasitic pathogens or infected cells contain parasitic nucleic acids, antigenic molecules, virulence factors, drug-resistant proteins, proteases, lipids, etc. These components can regulate host gene expression across species or modulate signaling pathways, thereby dampening or activating host immune responses, causing pathological damage, and participating in disease progression. This review focuses on the means by which parasitic exosomes modulate host immune responses, elaborates on the pathogenic mechanisms of parasites, clarifies the interactions between parasites and hosts, and provides a theoretical basis and research directions for the prevention and treatment of parasitic diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Host-Helminth Interactions)
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