Host immune response and protective immune response during Filarial infections

Filarial nematodes can cause debilitating diseases such as onchocerciasis, caused by Onchocerca volvulus, and lymphatic filariasis, caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori, that can lead to blindness or severe dermatitis (onchocerciasis) or lymphedema in the extremities and hydrocele in the male scrotum (lymphatic filariasis). However, the majority of patients infected with filariae causing onchocerciasis or lymphatic filariasis do not develop any or only mild symptoms. Furthermore, filariae such as Mansonella perstans and Loa loa are in general associated with asymptomatic infections. To achieve this, filariae modulate the immune system of their host, which allows their long-term survival within the host.

Within this collection, we focus on the host immune response during filarial infection as well as immune responses that mediate protection. We welcome the submission of Original research articles from both human studies and experimental animal models. With this Research Topic, we aim at providing insights about the filariae-induced host immune responses and the identification of protective immune responses that may help to decipher mechanisms leading to filarial pathology or new treatment options.