Innate, adaptive and regulatory responses in schistosomiasis: relationship to allergy.

Helminth infections have profound effects on the immune system. Here, recent insights in the molecular interactions between schistosomes and the host are described with respect to adaptive but also with respect to innate immune responses. Furthermore, the different mechanisms of immune hyporesponsiveness are depicted with emphasis on regulatory T cells. Finally, the relationship between downregulatory responses and allergy is discussed.