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Perera DJ, Koger-Pease C, Paulini K, Daoudi M, Ndao M. Beyond schistosomiasis: unraveling co-infections and altered immunity. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0009823. [PMID: 38319102 PMCID: PMC10938899 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00098-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the helminth Schistosoma spp. and has the second highest global impact of all parasites. Schistosoma are transmitted through contact with contaminated fresh water predominantly in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Due to the widespread prevalence of Schistosoma, co-infection with other infectious agents is common but often poorly described. Herein, we review recent literature describing the impact of Schistosoma co-infection between species and Schistosoma co-infection with blood-borne protozoa, soil-transmitted helminths, various intestinal protozoa, Mycobacterium, Salmonella, various urinary tract infection-causing agents, and viral pathogens. In each case, disease severity and, of particular interest, the immune landscape, are altered as a consequence of co-infection. Understanding the impact of schistosomiasis co-infections will be important when considering treatment strategies and vaccine development moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilhan J. Perera
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Cal Koger-Pease
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Kayla Paulini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mohamed Daoudi
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Momar Ndao
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
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Sumboh JG, Agyenkwa-Mawuli K, Schwinger E, Donkor IO, Akorli JEB, Dwomoh D, Ashong Y, Osabutey D, Ababio FO, Koram KA, Humphries D, Cappello M, Kwofie SK, Wilson MD. Investigating Environmental Determinants of Soil-Transmitted Helminths Transmission using GPS Tracking and Metagenomics Technologies. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.07.17.23292808. [PMID: 37503260 PMCID: PMC10371187 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.17.23292808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Background The Global Health community aims to eliminate soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections by 2030. Current preventive methods such as Mass Drug Administration, WASH practices, and health education needs to be complimented to halt transmission. We tracked the movement of hookworm-infected and non-infected persons and investigated soil factors in the places they frequented within an endemic community to further understand the role of human movement and sources of infections. Methods 59 positive and negative participants wore GPS tracking devices for 10 consecutive days and their movement data captured in real time. The data was overlaid on the community map to determine where each group differentially spent most of their time. Soil samples were collected from these identified sites and other communal places. Physical and chemical properties were determined for each sample using standard methods and helminth eggs cultured into larvae using the Baermann technique. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine associations between larvae counts and soil factors. Helminth species were identified with metagenomic sequencing and their distributions mapped to sampling sites in the community. Results The study found that there was no significant difference in the average larvae counts in soil between sites assessed by infected and non-infected participants (P=0.59). However, soil factors, such as pH, carbon and sandy-loamy texture were associated with high larvae counts (P<0.001) while nitrogen and clay content were associated with low counts(P<0.001). The dominant helminth species identified were Panagrolaimus superbus (an anhydrobiotic helminth), Parastrongyloides trichosuri (a parasite of small mammals), Trichuris trichuria (whipworm), and Ancylostoma caninum (dog hookworm). Notably, no Necator americanus was identified in any soil sample. Conclusion This study provides important insights into the association between soil factors and soil-transmitted helminths. These findings contribute to our understanding of STH epidemiology and support evidence-based decision-making for elimination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Gabriel Sumboh
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwasi Agyenkwa-Mawuli
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Eyram Schwinger
- Department of Mathematics, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Irene Owusu Donkor
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Jewelna E. B. Akorli
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Duah Dwomoh
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Yvonne Ashong
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Dickson Osabutey
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Felix Owusu Ababio
- Soil Research Institute, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Ansah Koram
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Debbie Humphries
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, United States of America
| | - Michael Cappello
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, United States of America
| | - Samuel K. Kwofie
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Michael D. Wilson
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
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Pushpamithran G, Skoglund C, Olsson F, Méndez-Aranda M, Schön T, Segelmark M, Stendahl O, Gilman RH, Blomgran R. No impact of helminth coinfection in patients with smear positive tuberculosis on immunoglobulin levels using a novel method measuring Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antibodies. ALLERGY, ASTHMA, AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 19:55. [PMID: 37386541 DOI: 10.1186/s13223-023-00808-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Helminth/tuberculosis (TB)-coinfection can reduce cell-mediated immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and increase disease severity, although the effects are highly helminth species dependent. Mtb have long been ranked as the number one single infectious agent claiming the most lives. The only licensed vaccine for TB (BCG) offers highly variable protection against TB, and almost no protection against transmission of Mtb. In recent few years the identification of naturally occurring antibodies in humans that are protective during Mtb infection has reignited the interest in adaptive humoral immunity against TB and its possible implementation in novel TB vaccine design. The effects of helminth/TB coinfection on the humoral response against Mtb during active pulmonary TB are however still unclear, and specifically the effect by globally prevalent helminth species such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Ancylostoma duodenale, Trichuris trichiura. Plasma samples from smear positive TB patients were used to measure both total and Mtb-specific antibody responses in a Peruvian endemic setting where these helminths are dominating. Mtb-specific antibodies were detected by a novel approach coating ELISA-plates with a Mtb cell-membrane fraction (CDC1551) that contains a broad range of Mtb surface proteins. Compared to controls without helminths or TB, helminth/TB coinfected patients had high levels of Mtb-specific IgG (including an IgG1 and IgG2 subclass response) and IgM, which were similarly increased in TB patients without helminth infection. These data, indicate that helminth/TB coinfected have a sustained humoral response against Mtb at the level of active TB only. More studies on the species-specific impact of helminths on the adaptive humoral response against Mtb using a larger sample size, and in relation to TB disease severity, are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giggil Pushpamithran
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University Campus US, Building 420 Floor 12, 581 85, Linköping, SE, Sweden
| | - Camilla Skoglund
- Division of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Fanny Olsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University Campus US, Building 420 Floor 12, 581 85, Linköping, SE, Sweden
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, LID, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Melissa Méndez-Aranda
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University Campus US, Building 420 Floor 12, 581 85, Linköping, SE, Sweden
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, LID, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Thomas Schön
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University Campus US, Building 420 Floor 12, 581 85, Linköping, SE, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, County of Östergötland and Kalmar, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mårten Segelmark
- Division of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University and Department of Nephrology, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Olle Stendahl
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University Campus US, Building 420 Floor 12, 581 85, Linköping, SE, Sweden
| | - Robert H Gilman
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, LID, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Mayland, USA
| | - Robert Blomgran
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University Campus US, Building 420 Floor 12, 581 85, Linköping, SE, Sweden.
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Baya B, Kone B, Somboro A, Kodio O, Somboro AM, Diarra B, Traore FG, Kone D, Traore MA, Kone M, Togo AG, Sarro YS, Maiga A, Maiga M, Toloba Y, Diallo S, Murphy RL, Doumbia S. Prevalence and Clinical Relevance of Schistosoma mansoni Co-Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A Systematic Literature Review. OPEN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 13:97-111. [PMID: 36910425 PMCID: PMC9997105 DOI: 10.4236/ojepi.2023.131008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Tuberculosis disease stands for the second leading cause of death worldwide after COVID-19, most active tuberculosis cases result from the reactivation of latent TB infection through impairment of immune response. Several factors are known to sustain that process. Schistosoma mansoni, a parasite of the helminth genus that possesses switching power from an immune profile type Th1 to Th2 that favors reactivation of latent TB bacteria. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of the co-infection between the two endemic infections. Systematic literature was contacted at the University Clinical Research Center at the University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technologies of Bamako in Mali. Original articles were included, and full texts were reviewed to assess the prevalence and better understand the immunological changes that occur during the co-infection. In total, 3530 original articles were retrieved through database search, 53 were included in the qualitative analysis, and data from 10 were included in the meta-analysis. Prevalence of the co-infection ranged from 4% to 34% in the literature. Most of the articles reported that immunity against infection with helminth parasite and more specifically Schistosoma mansoni infection enhances latent TB reactivation through Th1/Th2. In sum, the impact of Schistosoma mansoni co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is under-investigated. Understanding the role of this endemic tropical parasite as a contributing factor to TB epidemiology and burden could help integrate its elimination as one of the strategies to achieve the END-TB objectives by the year 2035.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bocar Baya
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali.,Service of Pneumopthisiology of the University Teaching Hospital of Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Bourahima Kone
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Amadou Somboro
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Ousmane Kodio
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Anou Moise Somboro
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Bassirou Diarra
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Fah Gaoussou Traore
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Drissa Kone
- Clinical Laboratory of the University Teaching Hospital of Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Mama Adama Traore
- Clinical Laboratory of the University Teaching Hospital of Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Mahamadou Kone
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Antieme Georges Togo
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Yeya Sadio Sarro
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Almoustapha Maiga
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Mamoudou Maiga
- Clinical Laboratory of the University Teaching Hospital of Point G, Bamako, Mali.,Havey Institute for Global Health (Havey IGH), Northwestern University (NU), Chicago, USA
| | - Yacouba Toloba
- Service of Pneumopthisiology of the University Teaching Hospital of Point G, Bamako, Mali
| | - Souleymane Diallo
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Robert L Murphy
- Havey Institute for Global Health (Havey IGH), Northwestern University (NU), Chicago, USA
| | - Seydou Doumbia
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC) of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
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Kiflie A, Bewket G, Tajebe F, Abate E, Schӧn T, Blomgran R. Helminth species-specific effects on IFN-γ producing T cells during active and latent tuberculosis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011094. [PMID: 36662839 PMCID: PMC9891516 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is a key cytokine inducing protective immune responses during tuberculosis (TB) infection. Helminth-induced immune responses may affect IFN-γ production by T cells, although its connection with disease severity and immune recovery during treatment is unexplored. We investigated the species-specific effect of helminths on the IFN-γ production by T cells in relation to disease severity during active and latent TB infection (LTBI). METHODS In this study, 69 active pulmonary TB patients (PTB), 28 with LTBI and 66 healthy controls were included. Active TB was diagnosed using GenXpert MTB/RIF while QuantiFERON test (QFT) was used for the screening of healthy community controls (CCs) and for the diagnosis of LTBI. Helminth infection was identified by routine diagnosis whereas clinical disease severity was evaluated by the TB score. Intracellular IFN-γ production of T cells in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was analyzed by flow cytometry using TB antigens (PPD), the polyclonal T cell activator staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), or medium as unstimulated control. RESULTS Helminth infected CCs and LTBI subjects showed a significant reduction of IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells by PPD-stimulation compared to non-helminth infected control groups. The significant reduction in the frequency of IFN-γ+ T cells in both latent and active PTB patients following SEB stimulation was mostly attributed to Schistosoma mansoni infection, whereas Ascaris lumbricoides, Schistosoma mansoni, and hookworm infection contributed equally in CCs. Following anti-helminthic and anti-TB treatment for 2 months, the frequency of IFN-γ+ CD4 T cells in helminth coinfected PTB was restored to levels of helminth negative PTB before treatment. Helminth coinfected PTB patients with an intermediate and severe clinical course had reduced capacity for production of IFN-γ+ T cells compared to the corresponding non-helminth infected PTB. CONCLUSION We found a reduction in IFN-γ producing T cells by helminth coinfection which was restored following anti-helminthic treatment. This reduction was helminth species-dependent in an exploratory sub-analysis and correlated to increased disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amare Kiflie
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Gezahegn Bewket
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Fitsumbrhan Tajebe
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Ebba Abate
- The Ohio State, Global One Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Thomas Schӧn
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linkӧping University, Linkӧping, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kalmar County Hospital, Linkӧping University, Linkӧping, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, County of Östergötland, Linkӧping University Hospital, Linkӧping University, Linkӧping, Sweden
| | - Robert Blomgran
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linkӧping University, Linkӧping, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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Helminth species dependent effects on Th1 and Th17 cytokines in active tuberculosis patients and healthy community controls. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010721. [PMID: 35976976 PMCID: PMC9423606 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite that the impact of different helminth species is not well explored, the current dogma states that helminths affect the Th1/Th2 balance which in turn affects the risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation and severity of disease. We investigated the influence of helminth species on cytokine profiles including IL-17A in TB patients and healthy community controls (CCs). In total, 104 newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients and 70 HIV negative and QuantiFERON negative CCs in Gondar, Ethiopia were included following helminth screening by stool microscopy. Plasma samples and ex vivo stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with purified protein derivative (PPD) and Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) was used to determine cytokine profiles by cytometric bead array. In CCs, Ascaris lumbricoides or Schistosoma mansoni infections were associated with an impaired Th1-type response (IFN-gamma, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) in PBMCs mainly with SEB stimulations, whereas in TB patients only hookworm infection showed a similar pattern. Among CCs, the IL-17A response in PBMCs stimulated with SEB was higher only for S. mansoni, whereas in TB patients, the elevated systemic IL-17A plasma level was significantly suppressed in hookworm infected TB patients compared to patients without helminth coinfection. Following treatment of TB and helminth infection there was a general decrease in ex vivio IL-10 and TNF-alpha production in unstimulated, PPD or SEB stimulated PBMCs that was the most pronounced and significant in TB patients infected with S. mansoni, whereas the follow-up levels of IFN-gamma and IL-17A was significantly increased only in TB patients without helminth coinfection from PBMCs stimulated mainly with SEB. In summary, in addition to confirming helminth specific effects on the Th1/Th2 response before and after TB treatment, our novel finding is that IL-17A was impaired in helminth infected TB patients especially for hookworm, indicating a helminth species-specific immunoregulatory effect on IL-17A which needs to be further investigated.
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Akelew Y, Andualem H, Ebrahim E, Atnaf A, Hailemichael W. Immunomodulation of COVID‐19 severity by helminth co‐infection: Implications for COVID‐19 vaccine efficacy. Immun Inflamm Dis 2022; 10:e573. [PMID: 34861106 PMCID: PMC8926508 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), an emerging virus in late 2019 causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), has caused a catastrophic effect, resulting in an unprecedented global crisis. The immunopathology of COVID‐19 appears to be clearly associated with a dysregulated immune response leading to organ failure and death. Similarly, over two billion people worldwide are infected with helminth, with those living in low‐middle‐income countries disproportionately affected. Helminth infections have been shown to possess immunomodulatory effects in several conditions. Helminth co‐infection in COVID‐19 patients is one of the potential reasons for global attention to answer why COVID‐19 severity is still lower in helminth endemic countries. Recent studies have shown that helminth endemic countries showed fewer cases and deaths so far and helminth co‐infection might reduce the severity of COVID‐19. Moreover, lessons from other diseases with helminth co‐infection have been shown to substantially reduce vaccine efficacy that could also be implicated for COVID‐19. This immunomodulatory effect of helminth has intended and unintended consequences, both advantageous and disadvantageous which could decrease the severity of COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 vaccine efficacy respectively. Herewith, we discuss the overview of COVID‐19 immune response, immunomodulatory effects of helminth co‐infections in COVID‐19, lessons from other diseases, and perspectives on the efficacy of COVID‐19 vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibeltal Akelew
- Immunology and Molecular Biology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences Debre Markos University Debre Markos Ethiopia
| | - Henok Andualem
- Immunology and Molecular Biology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences Debre Tabor University Debre Tabor Ethiopia
| | - Endris Ebrahim
- Immunology and Molecular Biology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences Wollo University Dessie Ethiopia
| | - Aytenew Atnaf
- Hematology and Immunohematology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences Debre Markos University Debre Markos Ethiopia
| | - Wasihun Hailemichael
- Immunology and Molecular Biology, Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences Debre Tabor University Debre Tabor Ethiopia
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