DOCSLIB.ORG

The Human–Hookworm Assemblage: Contingency and the Practice of Helminthic Therapy

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Human–Hookworm Assemblage: Contingency and the Practice of Helminthic Therapy University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Geography Geography 2014 THE HUMAN–HOOKWORM ASSEMBLAGE: CONTINGENCY AND THE PRACTICE OF HELMINTHIC THERAPY Sophia Anne Strosberg University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Strosberg, Sophia Anne, "THE HUMAN–HOOKWORM ASSEMBLAGE: CONTINGENCY AND THE PRACTICE OF HELMINTHIC THERAPY" (2014). Theses and Dissertations--Geography. 21. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/geography_etds/21 This Master's Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Geography at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Geography by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Sophia Anne Strosberg, Student Dr. J. Anthony Stallins, Major Professor Dr. Patricia Ehrkamp, Director of Graduate Studies THE HUMAN–HOOKWORM ASSEMBLAGE: CONTINGENCY AND THE PRACTICE OF HELMINTHIC THERAPY _________________________________ THESIS _________________________________ A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Sophia Anne Strosberg Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. J. Anthony Stallins Lexington, Kentucky 2014 Copyright © Sophia Strosberg 2014 0 ABSTRACT THE HUMAN–HOOKWORM ASSEMBLAGE: CONTINGENCY AND THE PRACTICE OF HELMINTHIC THERAPY Through a qualitative analysis of the use of intestinal parasites for treating immune system disorders, this research illustrates how contingency emerges in the context of the human relationship to hookworms. The affect of the human– nonhuman relationship is an important part of understanding the direction of evolutionary medicine today, and has implications for the politics of biological health innovations. The shift from the bad parasite to a parasite that at least sometimes heals, discursively and materially, has opened new spaces for patients to change the way they relate to medical knowledge, medical professionals, and pharmaceutical companies. Hookworms are banned by the FDA, which sets the scene for lively, but sometimes rebellious, hybridity between host and parasite. Underground and do-it-yourself hookworm therapy cultures have sprung up in around the site of the gut. I argue that not only is material hookworm affect as important as human discourses in negotiating the rapidly advancing field of biome reconstruction, but it also plays a role in how that biome reconstruction takes place, conventionally or otherwise. KEYWORDS: assemblage, contingency, health geography, helminthic therapy, microbiome Sophia Anne Strosberg 8 May 2014 THE HUMAN–HOOKWORM ASSEMBLAGE: CONTINGENCY AND THE PRACTICE OF HELMINTHIC THERAPY By Sophia Strosberg Dr. J. Anthony Stallins Director of Thesis Dr. Patricia Ehrkamp Director of Graduate Studies 8 May 2014 Date 0 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thank you first to Tony Stallins, not just for his support in the thesis process and for reading all those half-finished drafts, but for always being ready to experiment and generate new ideas together. I couldn’t have done it without Tad Mutersbaugh and Anna Secor, my committee members, as well as the other professors who read through my work, listened to my ideas, encouraged me, and kept me on my toes. Thanks to Dr. Shannon for his humor, technical knowledge, and everything else. Thanks to Lori Tyndall and the other university staff. Also, thanks to the Mezzanine crew for keeping all of us fed, even on the hectic days. Anyone who has been to grad school in social science knows that you can’t do it without fellow students. There are simply too many people to list them here individually, but three groups should get special acknowledgement: my grad student cohort, my officemates, and the wonderful people at Ham Palace. Thanks to all of those who willingly (and unwillingly) hashed through topics lofty and otherwise, even—or perhaps, especially—when we disagreed. Leif Johnson, B Miller, Carrie Ann Welsh, Stefanie Wolf, the Oakland warehouse, the Brooklyn warehouse—the people I’ve lived with will know the enormous role they have played in my getting to and through this work. My family has been wonderful: Jeff Strosberg, for helping me put things in perspective; Marilyn Strosberg, for always lending an ear; Jack Moss, for sharing your passion for care; Benjamin, for philosophizing with me; and Vivian, my amazing sister, confidant, and friend. Thanks in particular to Lillian Moss, my mother, with whom I know I can always have long and honest conversations about materiality, affect, liveliness, possibility, and medicine. She gave me the drive to question and the tools with which to do so. Thanks to all of my patient interviewees, who took the time to chat with me, sometimes for more than an hour, about their personal experiences with helminths and disease. Their insights will always be invaluable, and should never be overlooked. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments……………………………………………….......………………….ii List of Figures……………………...……………………………………….…………...vi Notes on Terminology………………………………………………………………...vii Chapter One: Introduction ………………..…………………...……………..………..1 Chapter Two: Background………………..…………………………………………….4 Autoimmune disease on the rise…………..…………………………………..4 Evolutionary medicine…………….……………………………………………4 Helminthic therapy………………………………..…………………………...10 Crohn’s disease and hookworm.………………..…………………………11 Parasite pirates…………………………………………………………………13 Chapter Three: Theory and Methods……………..………………………………… 15 Theory Assemblage………….………………………………………………………….15 Affect…………………………………………………………………………….16 Materiality………………………………………………………………………17 Research questions.………………….……………………..…………………..20 Question One: How do humans learn to be affected by hookworms?.………………………………………………..…………………..21 Question Two: Which aspects of hookworm therapy aid incorporation into institutional medicine, and which hinder incorporation?…….......…..23 Methods Epistemology……………………………………………………..…………….25 Online Ethnographies………………………………………...………………. 27 Interviews with helminthic therapy patients.……………………………… 27 Interviews with both informal and institutional medical researchers, providers, and journalists ………………………………..…….29 Data collection and analysis…………………………………………………..31 iv Rigor and reliability.……………………….………………………………….31 Chapter Four: How Humans Learn to Be Affected by Hookworms………..……34 0. The phase between the hookworms: separation………………….…………34 1. Turning toward the helminth………………………………………………….37 2. Overcoming the “yuck” factor……………………………………...………….41 3. Acquiring helminths, facing the law……………………………………..……45 4. Contact, mutual conditioning, and the production of difference……..……49 5. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….52 Chapter Five: How Hookworms Become a Part of Institutional Medical Practice—Or Evade It………………………….………………………………………54 Hookworm Aids Incorporation………………………………………………….54 Hookworm bodies subsumed……………….……………………………….54 Hybrid experiments……………………………………...…………………….56 Hookworm Discourages Incorporation………………………………………….62 Chapter Six: Discussion……………………………….……………………………….67 Appendix…………………………………………………………….………………….74 References…………...………………...……….……………………………………….75 Vita…………………………………………………………………...………………….86 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1, Some of the many news headlines about biome restoration with parasites*……….……………………………….…5 Figure 2, A sampling of the known immunomodulatory effects of helminths…...7 Figure 3, Inverse relationship between autoimmune disease and helminths……..………………………….….…………9 Figure 4, Inverse relationship between infectious diseases and immune disorders……..………………………….….……………...9 Figure 5, The aesthetic charisma of the hookworm………….………..………………………….….………………………22 Figure 6, List of all patient interviewees*…………..……………….……………….28 Figure 7, Greg shows me his hookworm rash*……………………….………………..………………………….….…..…….45 Figure 8, Screenshot from Crohnology.com……….….…………….………………61 *created by author vi NOTES ON TERMINOLOGY
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Helminth Therapy for Autism Under Gut-Brain Axis- Hypothesis T ⁎ Celia Arroyo-López
    Medical Hypotheses 125 (2019) 110–118 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Medical Hypotheses journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/mehy Helminth therapy for autism under gut-brain axis- hypothesis T ⁎ Celia Arroyo-López Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine; Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine and Shriners Hospitals for Children of Northern California, United States ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disease included within Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD) spectrum. ASD has Autism been linked to a series of genes that play a role in immune response function and patients with autism, com- ASD monly suffer from immune-related comorbidities. Despite the complex pathophysiology of autism, Gut-brain axis Helminths is gaining strength in the understanding of several neurological disorders. In addition, recent publications have Trichuris suis shown the correlation between immune dysfunctions, gut microbiota and brain with the behavioral alterations Gut-brain axis and comorbid symptoms found in autism. Gut-brain axis acts as the “second brain”, in a communication network Microbiome Treatment established between neural, endocrine and the immunological systems. On the other hand, Hygiene Hypothesis Immunomodulation suggests that the increase in the incidence of autoimmune diseases in the modern world can be attributed to the decrease of exposure to infectious agents, as parasitic nematodes. Helminths induce modulatory and protective effects against several inflammatory disorders, maintaining gastrointestinal homeostasis and modulating brain functions. Helminthic therapy has been previously performed in diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and food allergies. Considering gut-brain axis, Hygiene Hypothesis, and the modulatory effects of helminths I hypothesized that a treatment with Trichuris suis soluble products represents a feasible holistic treatment for autism, and the key for the development of novel treatments.
    [Show full text]
  • An Update on the Use of Helminths to Treat Crohn's and Other
    Parasitol Res (2009) 104:217–221 DOI 10.1007/s00436-008-1297-5 REVIEW An update on the use of helminths to treat Crohn’s and other autoimmunune diseases Aditya Reddy & Bernard Fried Received: 17 August 2008 /Accepted: 20 November 2008 /Published online: 3 December 2008 # Springer-Verlag 2008 Abstract This review updates our previous one (Reddy immune status of acutely and chronically helminth-infected and Fried, Parasitol Research 100: 921–927, 2007)on humans. Although two species of hookworms, Ancylostoma Crohn’s disease and helminths. The review considers the duodenale and N. americanus, commonly infect humans most recent literature on Trichuris suis therapy and Crohn’s through contact with contaminated soil (Hotez et al. 2004), and the significant literature on the use of Necator we have not seen papers on therapeutic interventions with americanus larvae to treat Crohn’s and other autoimmune A. duodenale. Therapy with N. americanus larvae is easier disorders. The pros and cons of helminth therapy as related to use by physicians than the Trichuris suis ova (TSO) to autoimmune disorders are discussed in the review. We also treatment because of the fewer number of treatments and discuss the relationship of the bacterium Campylobacter more long lasting effects of the hookworm treatments. jejuni and T. suis in Crohn’s disease. The significant Though we will continue to use the term TSO in our literature on helminths other than N. americanus and T. review, the term should really be TSE, because the suis as related to autoimmune diseases is also reviewed. treatment is with Trichuris eggs not ova.
    [Show full text]
  • Helminth Therapy Or Elimination: Epidemiological, Immunological, and Clinical Considerations
    Review Helminth therapy or elimination: epidemiological, immunological, and clinical considerations Linda J Wammes, Harriet Mpairwe, Alison M Elliott, Maria Yazdanbakhsh Lancet Infect Dis 2014; Deworming is rightly advocated to prevent helminth-induced morbidity. Nevertheless, in affl uent countries, the 14: 1150–62 deliberate infection of patients with worms is being explored as a possible treatment for infl ammatory diseases. Several Published Online clinical trials are currently registered, for example, to assess the safety or effi cacy of Trichuris suis ova in allergies, June 27, 2014 infl ammatory bowel diseases, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and autism, and the Necator americanus http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S1473-3099(14)70771-6 larvae for allergic rhinitis, asthma, coeliac disease, and multiple sclerosis. Studies in animals provide strong evidence Department of Parasitology, that helminths can not only downregulate parasite-specifi c immune responses, but also modulate autoimmune and Leiden University Medical allergic infl ammatory responses and improve metabolic homoeostasis. This fi nding suggests that deworming could Center, Leiden, Netherlands lead to the emergence of infl ammatory and metabolic conditions in countries that are not prepared for these new (L J Wammes MD, epidemics. Further studies in endemic countries are needed to assess this risk and to enhance understanding of how Prof M Yazdanbakhsh PhD); MRC/Uganda Virus Research helminths modulate infl ammatory and metabolic pathways. Studies are similarly needed in non-endemic countries to Institute, Uganda Research move helminth-related interventions that show promise in animals, and in phase 1 and 2 studies in human beings, into Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda the therapeutic development pipeline.
    [Show full text]
  • A Critical View of Helminthic Therapy: Is It a Viable Form of Treatment for Immune Disorders Under the Category of Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
    Portland State University PDXScholar University Honors Theses University Honors College Winter 2017 A Critical View of Helminthic Therapy: Is It a Viable Form of Treatment for Immune Disorders Under the Category of Inflammatory Bowel Disease? Alyssa Murphy Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/honorstheses Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Murphy, Alyssa, "A Critical View of Helminthic Therapy: Is It a Viable Form of Treatment for Immune Disorders Under the Category of Inflammatory Bowel Disease?" (2017). University Honors Theses. Paper 356. https://doi.org/10.15760/honors.349 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in University Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Alyssa Murphy Honors Thesis Winter 2017 A Critical View of Helminthic Therapy: Is it a viable form of treatment for immune disorders under the category of inflammatory bowel disease? Abstract In the developed world, Crohn’s disease and colitis affects the lives of many individuals. Recently, a new form of treatment for these autoimmune diseases has gained recognition. This treatment uses helminths (Trichuris trichiura and Trichuris suis) as an immunomodulant to a ​ ​ ​ ​ human immune system. Various studies (Summers et. al., 2004; Dige et. al., 2016; Lopes et. al., ​ ​ ​ ​ 2016) have shown the safety and viability of this form of treatment, but many believe this area of research leaves much to be desired. Through this paper, the topic of helminthic therapy and its viability as a form of treatment for autoimmune diseases under the category of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) will be discussed.
    [Show full text]
  • Helminthic Therapy: Improving Mucosal Barrier Function
    TREPAR-1107; No. of Pages 8 Review Helminthic therapy: improving mucosal barrier function 1 2 3 Martin J. Wolff , Mara J. Broadhurst and P’ng Loke 1 Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10010, USA 2 Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA 3 Division of Medical Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, NY 10010, USA The epidemiology of autoimmune diseases and hel- increased goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus production, minth infections led to suggestions that helminths could and increased turnover of intestinal epithelial cells [3]. We improve inflammatory conditions, which was then test- propose that these alterations to mucosal barrier function ed using animal models. This has translated to clinical in the gut play a protective role against pathology associ- investigations aimed at the safe and controlled reintro- ated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) (especially duction of helminthic exposure to patients suffering ulcerative colitis, UC) and may potentially be as mecha- from autoimmune diseases (so-called ‘helminthic thera- nistically important as immune regulation in modulating py’) in an effort to mitigate the inflammatory response. the inflammatory response. In this review, we summarize the results of recent clinical trials of helminthic therapy, with particular attention to Clinical trials with Trichuris suis ova mechanisms of action. Whereas previous reviews have Therapeutic infection with the pig whipworm Trichuris emphasized immune regulatory mechanisms activated suis was first investigated in 2003 in an exploratory open- by helminths, we propose that enhancement of mucosal label study of seven patients with IBD [4].
    [Show full text]
  • Mucosal and Systemic Immune Modulation by Trichuris Trichiura in a Self‐Infected Individual
    Received Date : 16-Mar-2016 Revised Date : 03-Oct-2016 Accepted Date : 07-Oct-2016 Article type : Original Paper Mucosal and systemic immune modulation by Trichuris trichiura in a self-infected individual Anders Dige1, Tue Kruse Rasmussen2,3, Peter Nejsum4, Rikke Hagemann-Madsen5, Andrew R.Williams4, Jørgen Agnholt1, Jens F Dahlerup1, Christian L Hvas1 1Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark 2Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark Article 3Department of Rheumatology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark 4Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark 5Section for Pathology, Lillebaelt Hospital, 7100 Vejle, Denmark Running title Immune modulation from Trichuris trichiura Keywords Trichiura, trichiuris, helminths, immunology Corresponding author Anders Dige, MD PhD Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology Aarhus University Hospital This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not Accepted been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1111/pim.12394 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Noerrebrogade 44 DK-8000 Aarhus C Denmark E-mail: [email protected] (AD) Disclosures None Abstract Helminthic therapy of immune-mediated diseases has gained attention in recent years, but we know little of how helminths modulate human immunity. In this study, we investigated how self-infection Article with Trichuris (T.) trichiura in an adult man without intestinal disease affected mucosal and systemic immunity. Colonic mucosal biopsies were obtained at baseline, during T.
    [Show full text]
  • Helminth-Related Tuftsin-Phosphorylcholine Compound and Its Interplay with Autoimmune Diseases Miri Blank Phd1 and Yehuda Shoenfeld MD FRCP Masacr1,2
    INNOVATIONS IN ISRAEL ,0$-ǯ92/21ǯ0$5&+2019 Helminth-Related Tuftsin-Phosphorylcholine Compound and its Interplay with Autoimmune Diseases Miri Blank PhD1 and Yehuda Shoenfeld MD FRCP MasACR1,2 1Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 2Mosaic of Autoimmunity, St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation and Th17 and modified Th2) [5]. Long-lived parasites such ABSTRACT: The hygiene theory represents one of the environmental as helminthes have the ability to immunomodulate the host facets that modulate the risk for developing autoimmune immune network. Therefore, treatment with helminthes or diseases. There is a reverse correlation between the presence their ova ameliorate murine experimental models and patients of helminthes and flares of autoimmune diseases, which with autoimmune diseases. The aim of the helminth is to explains the rise in incidence of certain autoimmune diseases survive inside the host environment by protecting itself from in developed countries. The protective properties of certain eradication by the host immune system [4-6]. This review will helminthes are attributed to their secretory compounds which immunomodulate the host immune network in order to shed light on helminth secretory immunomodulatory small survive. Thus, the helminthes use an array of mechanisms. One molecules, focusing on tuftsin-phosphorylcholine (TPC). of the major mechanisms enabling manipulation of the host– helminth interaction is by targeting the pattern recognition HELMINTH TREATMENT IN PATIENTS AND MURINE receptors (PRRs)-dependent and -independent mechanisms, EXPERIMENTAL MODEL which include toll-like receptors, C-type lectin receptors, and Diving deep into the parasite world, Cox [7] revealed an inter- the inflammasome.
    [Show full text]
  • Helminthic Therapy Success Stories.Pgs
    For the Facebook Helminthic Therapy Support Group, the Yahoo Helminthic Therapy Forum and the Helminthic Therapy Wiki Helminthic Therapy Success Stories and failures Contents Introduction Abbreviations Index Reports A family success Further information Copyright Disclaimer Document history Introduction This document contains 500 anecdotal reports of both success and failure with helminthic therapy using mainly the human hookworm, Necator americanus, but also the human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura, the ova of the pig whipworm, Trichuris suis and the cysticercoids of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta. Most of these reports have been collected from social media, in particular from the Facebook Helminthic Therapy Support Group, where membership is required in order to read the original posts, and the Yahoo Helminthic Therapy Forum, where posts can be read by non-members. A few reports were received via private correspondence. Although not approved for use by doctors anywhere in the world, this therapy has been used by pioneering individuals for more than a decade to treat a wide range of autoimmune, inflammatory and allergic conditions. Although self-treatment with helminths cannot be recommended by medical professionals due to a lack of blinded, placebo controlled trials, neither should it be discouraged since the available evidence suggests that it is beneficial in most cases when practiced by knowledgeable individuals. (Parker and Morey, 2015) There are already an estimated 7,000 users enjoying the benefits of this natural treatment. What was a costly and sometimes risky venture into the unknown, undertaken by only a few 10 years ago, is rapidly becoming a readily available and well-established resource currently used by thousands of individuals.
    [Show full text]
  • Socio-Medical Studies of Individuals Self-Treating with Helminths Suggest That Most Clinical Trials Assessing Helminth Therapy May Be Designed to Fail
    Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 14 December 2020 doi:10.20944/preprints202012.0340.v1 Socio-medical studies of individuals self-treating with helminths suggest that most clinical trials assessing helminth therapy may be designed to fail Aarushi Venkatakrishnan 1, Joshua T. Sarafian 1, Kateřina Jirků-Pomajbíková 2,3,, William Parker 1 1Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA 2Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic 3Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic Correspondence: William Parker, Ph.D. Department of Surgery Duke University Medical Center, Box 2605 Phone 919-681-3886 E-mail: [email protected] Abstract The virtually complete loss of intestinal worms, known as helminths, from Western society has resulted in elimination of a range of helminth-induced morbidities. Unfortunately, that loss has also led to inflammation-associated deficiencies in immune function, ultimately contributing to widespread pandemics of allergies, autoimmunity, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Several socio-medical studies have examined the effects of intentional reworming, or self-treatment with helminths, on a variety of inflammation-related disorders. In this study, the latest results from ongoing socio-medical studies are described. The results point toward two important factors that appear to be overlooked in some if not most clinical trials. Specifically, (a) the method of preparation of the helminth can have a profound effect on its therapeutic efficacy, and (b) variation between individuals in the effective therapeutic dosage apparently covers a 10-fold range, regardless of the helminth used.
    [Show full text]
  • Schistosoma Mansoni Antigens Alter the Cytokine Response in Vitro During Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
    856 Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 106(7): 856-863, November 2011 Schistosoma mansoni antigens alter the cytokine response in vitro during cutaneous leishmaniasis Aline Michelle Barbosa Bafica1/+, Luciana Santos Cardoso1,2, Sérgio Costa Oliveira3, Alex Loukas4, Giuseppe Tittoni Varela1, Ricardo Riccio Oliveira1, Olívia Bacellar1,5, Edgar Marcelino Carvalho1,5,6, Maria Ilma Araújo1,5,6 1Serviço de Imunologia, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua João das Botas s/n, 40110-160 Salvador, BA, Brasil 2Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil 3Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil 4Center for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK 5Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais 6Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brasil Schistosoma mansoni infection or associated products are able to down-modulate the type 1 CD4+ T cell inflam- matory response characteristic of autoimmune diseases. In this study, we evaluated how S. mansoni antigens altered the immune response that was induced by the soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) from cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients. Cytokines were measured from the supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures stimulated with SLA. This was performed using the sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique in the presence or absence of S. mansoni recombinant antigens Sm29, SmTSP-2 and PIII. The addition of S. mansoni antigens to the cultures resulted in the reduction of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels in 37-50% of patients. Although to a lesser extent, the antigens were also able to decrease the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).
    [Show full text]
  • Worms As Treatment for Allergies
    Carsten Flohr © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 Industrialised countries • 20% asthma • 20% eczema • 30% allergic rhinitis © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 Developing countries • less allergy • rural-urban gradient • big cities similar prevalence levels to industrialised countries © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 Risk factor analysis • “western lifestyle” • search for individual risk factors continues © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 A letter in The Lancet in 1976 • ...I infected myself with 250 hookworm larvae of Nigerian origin to examine the haematological responses to the parasite.... • ...The most pertinent finding in the context of the discussion on IgE, parasites and allergy was that during the summer of 1975 and 1976 I remained completely free from all symptoms of hayfever. JA Turton © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 HELMINTHS Hookworm Ascaris lumbricoides Schistosomiasis Trichuris trichiura © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 Poor hygiene – main cause of helminth infection © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 Helminth infections •Host invasive (not Trichuris) •Often asymptomatic •Long-lasting Immuno-modulation Hookworm/Ascaris lifecycle Schistosomiasis © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 A matter of balance ? Helminths Allergies © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 A matter of balance ? Allergies Helminths © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 Menu Observational evidence • Allergic sensitisation (atopy) • Clinical allergy Mechanisms Intervention studies © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 © ISAAC Steering Committee 2011 © ISAAC
    [Show full text]
  • Parasites and the Hygiene Hypothesis
    Parasites and the hygiene hypothesis Author: Dr. Kristen Kerksiek November 10, 2008 In the 20th century, quality of life in developed countries was dramatically improved by reducing bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, the result of combined efforts of improved sanitation, hygiene, vaccines and antimicrobials. However, the last 50 years have seen startling increases in the frequen- cies of allergy and other atopies. At the same time, the frequency of autoimmune diseases seems to be on the rise. Is there a connection? Does modern and seemingly healthy living in itself represent a public – and, of course, for many individuals a very personal – health problem? Wash hands! But not too often? Naturally a great deal has changed. Automobiles have made us more mobile (and yet more sedentary), and fast food has changed the way we eat, contributing to a huge increase in obesity. New materials have made life easier but may expose us to poten- tially poisonous chemicals: flame retardants, dioxins, pesticides - environmental toxins that some scientists believe can wreak havoc with our immune systems. Another theory is that our increas- ing attention to – and sometimes obsession with – cleanliness has backfired, robbing our immune system of the practice to function properly. Practice makes perfect or The devil finds work for idle hands In 1989, David Strachan published the observation that first-born children and those born into small families are more likely to be affected by hay fever (BMJ 299: 1259–1260). He suggested that the exposure of young children to infectious agents – those, for example, brought into the home by older children – can help to prevent allergic rhinitis.
    [Show full text]