Abstract
[Extract] In their recently published commentary, Bradbury and colleagues [1] drew attention to the possible negative interactions between helminth infection and COVID-19 severity in helminth-endemic regions. Helminth infections are known to be powerful modulators of the human immune response, and numerous studies now highlight the effects this may have on human infectious, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. We believe, however, that any interaction between pre-existing helminth infection and the subsequent severity of COVID-19 need not necessarily be a negative one, and theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that helminths may indeed have a mitigating effect.
Highlights
In their recently published commentary, Bradbury and colleagues [1] drew attention to the possible negative interactions between helminth infection and COVID-19 severity in helminth-endemic regions
[2] These conditions are associated with the second week “cytokine storm” phenomenon [3] that often results in the need for ventilatory support and increased mortality, including in younger patients. These metabolic diseases are characterised by an inflammatory milieu, with increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, many of which are implicated in the severe form of COVID-19
[9] The increased levels of IL-4 and IL-10 found in some studies [10] need not represent a virus induced pathological response but could instead reflect the normal regulatory and tissue-repair response to inflammation
Summary
In their recently published commentary, Bradbury and colleagues [1] drew attention to the possible negative interactions between helminth infection and COVID-19 severity in helminth-endemic regions. Helminth infections are known to be powerful modulators of the human immune response, and numerous studies highlight the effects this may have on human infectious, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases.
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