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SUMMARY:Parasite modulation of autoimmune diseases - Dr Paola Zaccone\, De
 partment of Pathology\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20120222T163000Z
DTEND:20120222T173000Z
UID:TALK35709@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Suzy Blows
DESCRIPTION:Although the majority of autoimmune diseases are under complex
  genetic control\, environmental factors such as infections are playing an
  evident role in regulating autoimmunity. Studies in humans and in animal 
 models demonstrated that infectious agents can both initiate/precipitate o
 r prevent autoimmune disease. It has become evident that some infectious a
 gents have evolved strategies to modulate host immune responses to facilit
 ate survival of the pathogen while dampening down host pathology. These st
 rategies often include modulation of cell subsets and cytokine/chemokine s
 ecretion by the host immune system. Parasitic worms like Schistosomes are 
 master regulators of the host immune system\, inducing functional and phen
 otypic changes in immune cells\, generally inducing the expansion of Th2 r
 esponses. In the context of a Th1 or Th17 mediated autoimmune response the
  immunological signature induced by parasitic worms is shown to be useful 
 to prevent of autoimmunity.  The use of autoimmune disease animal models h
 as highlighted  the complex interplay between infectious agents and the ho
 st immune response. In animal models immunization with Schistosoma mansoni
  soluble antigen preparations can prevent experimental autoimmune encephal
 omyelitis (EAE)\, experimental colitis (EC) and protects non-obese diabeti
 c (NOD) mice against the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D). These prepa
 rations generally induce the expansion of alternatively activated macropha
 ges\, tolerogenic DCs\, iNKT cells\, Th2 cells and Treg. Isolation and ide
 ntification of the immunomodulatory molecules contained in such microbial 
 extracts pave the way to the development of novel therapeutic strategies t
 o prevent onset of T1D.
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 1\, Department of Veterinary Medicine
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