Abstract
Trichuris spp. (whipworms) are intestinal nematode parasites which cause chronic infections associated with significant morbidities. Trichuris muris in a mouse is the most well studied of the whipworms and research on this species has been approached from a number of different disciplines. Research on T. muris in a laboratory mouse has provided vital insights into the host–parasite interaction through analyses of the immune responses to infection, identifying factors underpinning host susceptibility and resistance. Laboratory studies have also informed strategies for disease control through anthelmintics and vaccine research. On the contrary, research on naturally occurring infections with Trichuris spp. allows the analysis of the host–parasite co-evolutionary relationships and parasite genetic diversity. Furthermore, ecological studies utilizing Trichuris have aided our knowledge of the intricate relationships amongst parasite, host and environment. More recently, studies in wild and semi-wild settings have combined the strengths of the model organism of the house mouse with the complexities of context-dependent physiological responses to infection. This review celebrates the extraordinarily broad range of beneficiaries of whipworm research, from immunologists and parasitologists, through epidemiologists, ecologists and evolutionary biologists to the veterinary and medical communities.
Highlights
Trichuris spp. nematodes are intestinal parasites within the family Trichuridae
Focusing on important discoveries made using the laboratory mouse model we extend these to include insights from studies working with whipworm in wild mammalian hosts
This in itself is complicated by redundancies within the immune system as it is increasingly recognized that the relevance of a particular cell type in infection outcome is largely dependent upon the context
Summary
Trichuris spp. nematodes are intestinal parasites within the family Trichuridae. There are over 80 known species, infecting a broad range of mammals including wildlife, livestock and humans, causing chronic infections and associated morbidity. A deeper understanding of the key drivers of the protective Th2 response is vital in informing the development of potential therapeutics for the parasite This in itself is complicated by redundancies within the immune system as it is increasingly recognized that the relevance of a particular cell type in infection outcome is largely dependent upon the context. The levels of T. trichiura-specific IgE increase as worm burdens decrease with age (Faulkner et al, 2002) Such serological data are substantiated by analyses looking at the balance of CD4+ T helper cell cytokine responses in the context of soil-transmitted helminths in general (Turner et al, 2003; de Ruiter et al, 2020) which place the Th2 immune response as central in the control of infection. These eggs embryonate in the soil, depending on environmental conditions in roughly 2–4 weeks
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