Effect of parasite infection on allergic disease.

Vertebrates and helminths have co-evolved for 500 million years, developing mutual adaptation mechanisms between parasites and hosts. Today, however, helminth diseases are among the most neglected communicable diseases. Epidemiological evidence shows that exposure to helminth parasites is inversely correlated with allergy incidence, and helminths induce immune hyporeactivity in both the innate and adaptive systems. The mechanisms include parasite-derived regulatory molecules, the study of which opens new avenues for the control of allergic and autoimmune diseases.