Mechanisms of the immune response to parasitic infection, or exposure to parasite antigens, and the concomitant modulation and/or prevention of unrelated diseases

Helminth infections modulate the immune response towards exogenous (infectious agents, allergy) and endogenous antigens (autoimmune diseases, tumors). Current investigations show that helminth derived products can function as immunomodulators with possible therapeutic potential and could serve as a tool for defining key molecular events and new therapeutic targets. We have shown that TS components engage antigen presenting cells - APC (dendritic cells - DCs and macrophages) and trigger parasite-specific B and T cell responses (Th2/Th1 and regulatory type). Parasite or its products created an immunological environment unsuitable for the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis – EAE. Still, the identity of parasite components and molecular mechanisms responsible for this observed phenomenon has remained elusive. The scope of this project is to study the parasite and its products from 2 perspectives: 1) the nature of the glycoproteins responsible for DCs activation and the potential of antigen-primed DCs to polarize T cells and to serve as a therapeutic tool; and, 2) the species and distribution of Trichinella in Serbia and the potential for novel approaches to the diagnosis of trichinellosis. Expected results are: a better understanding of molecular events following exposure of APC to parasite antigens, insight into the therapeutic potential of TS-primed DCs, and improvements in programs of parasitic disease surveillance and disease diagnosis.