Research and Reports in Tropical Medicine (Nov 2020)
Current Understanding of Immunity Against Schistosomiasis: Impact on Vaccine and Drug Development
Abstract
Adebayo J Molehin1,2 1Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; 2Center for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USACorrespondence: Adebayo J MolehinDepartment of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine,Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USATel +1 (806) 743 2639Email [email protected]: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease inflicting significant morbidity in humans worldwide. The disease is caused by infections with a parasitic trematode belonging to the genus Schistosoma. Over 250 million people are currently infected globally, with an estimated disability-adjusted life-years of 1.9 million attributed to the disease. Current understanding, based on several immunological studies using experimental and human models of schistosomiasis, reveals that complex immune mechanisms play off each other in the acquisition of immune resistance to infection/reinfection. Nevertheless, the precise characteristics of these responses, the specific antigens against which they are elicited, and how these responses are intricately regulated are still being investigated. What is apparent is that immunity to schistosome infections develops slowly and over a prolonged period of time, augmented by the death of adult worms occurring naturally or by praziquantel therapy. In this review, aspects of immunity to schistosomiasis, host–parasite interactions and their impact on schistosomiasis vaccine development are discussed.Keywords: schistosomiasis, immunity, schistosomiasis vaccine development, resistance to reinfection
