Genetics of human susceptibility to infection and hepatic disease caused by schistosomes

Immunology of Parasitic Helminth Infections

“…This type of study has indicated that antiparasite IgE levels closely correlate with resistance (32,46,93), and segregation analysis of Brazilian pedigrees provides evidence for the effects of a major gene on the ability of individuals to resist infection (1,28). Data from a genome-wide scan of individuals from informative families revealed linkage to a region on chromosome 5q31-q33 that contains several Th2 response genes, reinforcing considerably the view that Th2-mediated effector mechanisms play a pivotal role in resistance to schistosome infection (78).…”

Investigating the underlying mechanism of resistance to Ascaris infection

“…Furthermore, difficulties exist in determining the complex immunoepidemiological patterns or importance of host genetics in disease development under field conditions, due to the M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 4 multiplicity of environmental factors which must be considered [2,3]. Model organisms facilitate a greater degree of control over the different parameters under study, since the ecological parameters that impact helminth infection can be controlled or eliminated [4].…”