Scientists investigating whipworms, parasites that infect one-fifth of the world's population as well as livestock and domestic animals, have discovered a new way that the body effectively eliminates the parasites.
The University of Manchester research, published in the US journal Science, found the reason why some hosts were able to expel the worms naturally without the need for treatment.
"This is a completely new way in which the immune system controls disease and may lead scientists to look at new ideas in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases and even bowel cancer," said Dr Laura Cliffe in the Faculty of Life Sciences, who carried out the research.
"During our investigations we discovered that the immune system does more than what it currently says in the text books it controls other physiological systems.
"The body naturally renews the lining of the gut every few days as cells rise to the surface and are discarded. The whipworm attaches itself to the lining and then must burrow faster than the rate of cell renewal in order to remain in the gut, similar to walking the wrong way down an escalator.
"What we found is that hosts whose bodies generated a good allergic response to the worms were able to increase the rate of cell renewal in the intestine and force the parasites to the surface and out through the normal channels.
Human whipworm (trichuris trichiura) is a 3cm-to-5cm-long nematode or roundworm that gets its name from its whip-like shape. Once inside their host, adult worms produce eggs that are passed in the faeces and mature in the soil.
If the eggs are ingested, they hatch in the large intestine where they can cause trichuriasis, a disease most common in warm, humid climates, including much of the developing world but also s
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Contact: Aeron Haworth
aeron.haworth@manchester.ac.uk
44-161-275-8383
University of Manchester
16-Jun-2005