14 DAY TRIAL // Although it sounds scary, a species of worms could become the wonder cure for the inflammatory conditions, such as lung diseases and psoriasis.
According to Trinity College researchers, the proteins produced by the Schistosoma mansoni eggs have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and they could be successfully used to treat several types of inflammations.
The blood-dwelling worm Schistosoma mansoni takes advantage of the host's immune system in two ways. It subverts specific inflammatory cells to help move its eggs from the intestinal vasculature to the feces, where they can be shed. It also suppresses the immune response in order to establish chronic infections, in part as shown here by keeping other inflammatory cells away from the eggs.
"This study is particularly exciting as it harnesses how the worm modifies immunity in our bodies to stimulate protection from undesirable inflammation", Dr Padraic Fallon told BBC.
Schistosome mansoni infects annually 250 million persons in tropical countries, and if left untreated it causes death. For this reason, the researchers are trying now to exploit the worm's abilities in order to develop efficient anti-inflammatory drugs.
"Our strategy is to develop new drugs for human diseases by exploiting mechanisms and molecules that worms have developed over millions of years of co-evolution with man", the researchers said.
Photo credit: Stephen J. Davies, Assistant Professor, Davies Laboratory