To B or not to B
Immunity by helminthes
B cells and the Th2-type immune response to helminths.
The group of Professor Nicola Harris (Laboratory of Intestinal Immunology) in collaboration with William Gause, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ recently published a review examining the role of B cells during immune response against helminth parasites. Chronic infection with helminth parasites has a significant impact on global health; more than 2 billion people worldwide are infected, and these parasites can cause high morbidity including malnourishment and anemia. B cells have roles as diverse as antigen presentation, immune regulation and antibody production during helminth infection. They are increasingly recognized as an important component of the protective Th2-type immune response, and B cell activation might be a target for effective vaccine development.
Trends Immunol. 2011 Feb;32(2):80-8.
Source Image: http://www.tcd.ie/IMM/img/Schistosoma_mansoni2.jpg