The immune response to parasitic helminths: insights from murine models

Helminth parasites are a large group of multicellular organisms that affect vast numbers of humans and are a major cause of disease. Several relevant experimental murine models, representing the spectrum of human diseases, have been helpful in analyzing and characterizing the host immune response to the different helminths. Although this response is largely defined by type-2 immunity, recent observations have identified important differences regarding the development and function of T helper and other effector cells that can mediate immunopathology and protection in response to infection with these important pathogens.