Parasitic worms may help scientists develop therapies for inflammatory conditions

A parasitic worm might be the impetus behind a new generation of medicine.

In a recent review in published in Clinical & Translational Immunology, Neima Briggs, MD, Ph.D., instructor of medicine (infectious diseases) at Yale School of Medicine, found that certain types of parasitic worm infections, called helminths, diminish the body's ability to respond appropriately to vaccines, cancer and coinfection.

At the same time, their immunosuppressive capabilities may also help scientists develop more effective therapies targeting inflammatory conditions, including allergies and autoimmune diseases. ...