Identification of Schistosoma mansoni adult male worm excretome-secretome and production of recombinant proteins with immunomodulatory potential

Abstract

Over two billion people worldwide are infected with helminth parasites. Helminths strongly modulate the host’s immune response in order to establish a balanced parasite- host dynamic. This helminth-derived immunomodulatory response does not only favour the parasite and host survival but also interferes with non related diseases that may occur to the host during the infection (I). Molecules released by the worm into the host’s blood circulation are the mostly likely to interact with immune cells therefoby mediating the immunomodulatory response. The aim of my Ph.D. is to identify and characterise immunomodulatory helminth-derived proteins.