Vaccines against helminth parasites

Helminths are parasitic worms that can infect humans and animals, causing a wide range of diseases. Vaccines against helminth parasites are an area of active research and development, with the goal of providing a safe and effective means of preventing these infections.

Developing vaccines against helminths is more challenging compared to bacterial and viral infections, as vaccines for the latter, typically stimulate the immune system to produce neutralizing antibodies against the pathogen, preventing infections. Helminths have complex life cycles, are maintained in diverse human and animal reservoirs, and evade host immunity by manipulation or suppression; meaning more facets of the immune system may be necessary for protection. Despite the urgent need for helminth vaccines, none have been granted regulatory approval thus far.

This Research Topic aims to collect research articles on current developments in vaccines against helminths, such as hookworms, roundworms, flukes, and filarial worms. Some of the approaches being explored include using recombinant proteins, live attenuated and viral-vectored vaccines, along with mRNA technology. These articles may also deliver insight to host immune responses which may be necessary for parasite elimination.

This Research Topic will accept articles on topics including, but not limited to:

 New vaccine developments

 New Mechanisms of vaccine testing and model organisms

 Novel sources of immunologically altering substances

 Immunity and immune evasion regarding vaccine sensitivity

Keywords: vaccines, helminths, parasites, immunology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.