Home Helminths (including anthelmintic resistance) [Host-pathogen interactions] Host-parasite interactions
Helminths (including anthelmintic resistance) roadmap:
Vaccines

Roadmap for nematode vaccine development

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Host-pathogen interactions

Host-parasite interactions

Research Question

How the host and parasite interact, allowing or inhibiting parasite establishment, feeding and reproduction

Research Gaps and Challenges

  • Establishment of the neuroendocrine mechanisms of parasite-induced in-appetance.

Solution Routes

  • Establish which parasite genes are being expressed at different stages of the life-cycle and their role in parasite feeding, establishment and reproduction.
  • Establish the degree of genetic variation in parasite populations and the impact of these variations on the host-parasite interaction and implications for vaccination.

Dependencies

  • Good quality accessible annotated parasite genome sequences.
  • Model systems for each species and relevant co-infections.
  • Reagents to dissect the immune responses (+/- protection)

State Of the Art

  • Ostertagia/Teladorsagia/Trichuris influence protein digestion and utilisation.
  • Adequate knowledge of many systems for single species infections, paucity of studies/data on co-infections (helminths + other pathogens)