Parasitic worms affect virus coinfection: a mechanistic overview. Issue 5 (May 2023) - Petrellis, Georgios
Highlights: A significant geographic overlap exists between prevalent helminth infections and important viral infections in humans. While viruses induce a protective type 1 immune response driven by interferon-γ and cytotoxic CD8 + T cells, helminths drive type 2 immunity and regulatory responses that could interfere with the efficacy of antiviral responses. Studies using mouse models of helminth–virus coinfections have revealed important immune mechanisms induced by helminths, which are either responsible for the exacerbation of viral disease or contribute to ameliorate the control of viral infection and pathology. There is an urgent need to forge our understanding of the impact of helminth infections on viruses and resolve epidemiological situations where helminths represent a risk factor, and also identify helminth-derived immunoregulatory products that would prevent viral disease. Abstract: Helminths are parasitic worms that coevolve with their host, usually resulting in long-term persistence through modulating host immunity. The multifarious mechanisms altering the immune system induced by helminths have significant implications on the control of coinfecting pathogens such as viruses. Here, we explore the recent literature to highlight the main immune alterations and mechanisms that affect the control of viral coinfection. Insights from these mechanisms are valuable in the understanding of clinical observations in helminth-prevalent areas and in the design of new therapeutic and vaccination strategies to control viral diseases.