Work

The forgotten variable in vaccine immunology: helminth infection

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Vaccination is the most effective prophylactic measure against infectious diseases. Vaccine immunogenicity, however, is often reduced in rural and low-income regions where helminth infections are endemic. Helminths exert strong immunomodulatory effects and can alter host immune responses to unrelated antigens, including vaccines. This review summarizes evidence from human and mouse studies assessing how helminth infections and deworming (DW) influence vaccine responses, highlighting limitations, such as reinfection, incomplete DW, and misdiagnosis in clinical settings. Murine models enable mechanistic analyses and challenge infections. These studies revealed long-lasting impaired vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy in previously helminth-infected mice that may not be fully reversed by DW. Finally, controlled human infection models combined with systems approaches are required to improve vaccine regimens in low-income countries.

Source: Trends in Parasitology

DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2026.03.002

Authors: M. Saleh Yunus, Marylyn Martina Addo, Minka Breloer, Wiebke Hartmann

Institutions: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Universität Hamburg

Language: English

Topic: Parasites and Host Interactions

Subfield: Parasitology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $7,030