Abstract
Helminth parasites are among the most potent modulators of mammalian immune responses. Their ability to suppress specific immune responses characteristically results in chronic long-lasting infections and reflects their long co-evolutionary history with their hosts. Indeed, studies in mouse models have shown that infection with live parasites or exposure to defined worm components can downregulate pathogenic proinflammatory or allergic responses. In this issue of Molecular Therapy, Whelan et al.1 describe the modification of a probiotic bacterium to express cystatin (AvCys), a potent immunomodulator from the filarial nematode Acanthocheilonema viteae, which, when administered to piglets, suppressed the pathology associated with post-weaning gut inflammation. The authors suggest that the modified probiotic may provide a potential therapy for the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in humans.
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