hygiene hypothesis

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Another Article proving Worms are Key

June 15, 2010 in helminth immunology, hygiene hypothesis, studies by I | 1 comment

Here’s a new article from the University of Manchester, finding worms are a key part of a well orchestrated immune system.  Is it just me, or are you getting a little tired of the avalanche of proof while we wait patiently suffering, unable to afford or receive our worms?    We want worms and we want them NOW.

http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/57492/#ixzz0r7JuTFKP

http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=5841

From the articles:

“A new class of organisms may be cutting in on the classic, co-evolutionary, immune system-boosting tango between mammals and the beneficial bacteria that inhabit their guts: parasitic worms.”

Trichuris muris eggs with Escherichia coli
Image courtesy of Kelly Hayes, University of
Manchester

“Importantly, the work also showed that the presence of worms and bacteria altered the immune responses in a way that is likely to protect ourselves, the bacteria and the worms.

Intestinal roundworm parasites are one of the most common types of infection worldwide, although in humans increased hygiene has reduced infection in many countries. High level infections by these parasites can cause disease, but the natural situation is the presence of relatively low levels of infection. The team’s work suggests that in addition to bacterial microflora, the natural state of affairs of our intestines may well be the presence of larger organisms, the parasitic roundworms, and that complex and subtle interactions between these different types of organism have evolved to provide an efficient and beneficial ecosystem for all concerned.

Professor Roberts says: “The host uses its immune system to regulate the damage caused by the bacteria and the worms. If the pathogens are missing, the immune system may not give the right response.”

Professor Grencis adds: “The gut and its inhabitants should be considered a complex ecosystem, not only involving bacteria but also parasites, not just sitting together but interacting.”

To the Medical Community

September 29, 2009 in helminth immunology, helminth therapy, hygiene hypothesis, news, old friends' hypothesis, studies, trials by admin | 5 comments

Article after article extolling the virtues of helminths’ ability to prevent allergies and autoimmune diseases always end in quotes like this:

“The hope is that the work could aid the development of new treatments which work in the same way as gut parasites, by dampening down or rebalancing the immune system so that the body does not respond to allergens and trigger asthma attacks.”

“Here, the view is presented that assessment of the immunophysiological response to helminths could identify that infection with specific parasites would be therapeutically useful (although many helminths could not fulfil this role) and lead to precise knowledge of the immune events following infection, to identify ways to intervene in disease processes (in the absence of infection per se) that can be used to treat, and eventually cure, inflammatory and autoimmune disease.” Read the rest of this entry »

Huge Study Proves Helminths Prevent Allergy to Dust-Mites

September 28, 2009 in hygiene hypothesis, news by admin | No comments

A new article from BBC News about the link beteen (lack of) parasites and allergy to dust mites. This is a very large study;1500+ schoolchildren in Vietnam. They gave 1/2 deworming tablets, and studied them for some period of time. Those without worms had a significantly increased allergy to dust mites. There wasn’t any conslusive relationship with asthma or eczema. (Just give them time…) “The researchers said this strongly suggests that gut worms have the potential to tone down human immune responses.”

Hookworm (A face only a mother could love.)

“Parasitic gut worms, such as hookworm, might aid the development of new treatments for asthma and other allergies, a study in Vietnam suggests.

Infection with hookworm and other parasitic worms is endemic in Vietnam, but rates of asthma and other allergies are low.

British and Vietnamese scientists gave local children treatment to clear their body of worms.

They found this led to an increase in dust mite allergy among the children.”

This news report goes into greater detail:

“Dr Flohr has examined the links between worms and allergic diseases in Vietnamese children and found that those with the highest level of hookworm infestation were the least likely to have an allergic response to house dust mites.

These findings support the hypothesis that gastrointestinal infection with either hookworms or other micro-organisms protects against allergy and add further weight to the so-called ‘hygiene hypothesis’.”

Interesting that the highest level of hookworm infection had the greatest benefit. Clearly, dose matters.

I think I need more worms.

Great RadioLab show on Parasites

September 14, 2009 in hygiene hypothesis, news, old friends' hypothesis by admin | 2 comments

Very entertaining radio show on parasites:

http://blogs.wnyc.org/radiolab/2009/09/07/parasites/

Schistosome_ParasiteAnd no, this isn’t an alien…

First, they start with Carl Zimmer, a parasitologist who talks about amazing interactions between parasites and hosts.  Then they discuss the hookworm eradication project, where it was found that the South was suffering from anemia, not laziness, and outhouses changed the course of history.  Then, an interview with Jasper Lawrence and his forays into Africa and how he started AIT (why do they never talk about how he got Necator Americanus?) And finally, a pice about toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that comes from cat feces that might influence  human behavior.  We are not all that we think we are.  We are being controlled by our bacteria and parasites as we speak.  Mhwah-ha-ha!

Parasites have shaped our Immune System

September 7, 2009 in hygiene hypothesis, studies by admin | No comments

Excellent article on the human immune system, and how a huge population genetics study proves parasites have evolved with us to shape it.  A quote:

“Sironi and Fumagalli’s data suggest that our immune systems have co-evolved with parasitic worms—living alongside helminthes for millions of years has shaped the way our immune systems react to pathogens, through a greater genetic diversity in our immune-related genes. In turn, helminthes have evolved the ability to mitigate the human immune response to their own advantage, as many worms need their human host healthy in order to propagate and survive.

Fumagalli’s research group then analyzed five interleukin genes, which encode for proteins involved in mediating the immune system’s response to disease. These genes have evolved to deal with a variety of different pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and worms.

“These genes are very involved with many autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s and multiple sclerosis,” Cooke says. “And these genes have evolved to deal with a lot of diverse pathogens.  But when you take someone out of the environment where there is that diversity, all those different pathogens, it may result in an imbalance: an overactive response to pathogens and, ultimately, autoimmune disease.”

The work provides evidence that the human immune system likely co-evolved with helminthes.”

The proof is in the (fact that I can now eat) pudding.

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