About this Research Topic
Helminth infections represent a major public health burden, affecting approximately one quarter of the world’s population, especially those living in impoverished countries. Children are the most vulnerable population and helminth infection is a major cause of growth failure and impaired cognitive development. Regular deworming and improving sanitation are key for controlling helminth infection burden, yet this is not easily achieved in resource-poor settings. Therefore, we need to improve our knowledge on how simple interventions can boost the immune defense against helminths.
Upon infection, helminths migrate through host tissues, blood, and lymphatics causing damage and resulting in the activation of innate and adaptive immune responses that are required for helminth expulsion and tissue repair. While diet is a modifiable factor that is known to play a key role in immune function, how nutritional intervention and nutrition status influences immunity to helminths requires further study in order to provide alternative efficient approaches for decreasing the burden of helminth infection.
Abundant research exists on the importance of the diet for the control of non-communicable disease such as allergy or obesity. However, its influence on the prevention of infectious disease, and in particular helminth infections, is still unclear. This Research Topic aims to fill this knowledge gap and increase our understanding of the role of nutrition in promoting anti-helminth immunity. Immunity against helminths typically involves type 2 immune responses and diet may affect these responses either directly or through the promotion of specific microbiota, affecting type 2 immunity. There is a paucity of studies which have dissected the relationship between nutrition, helminths, and immunity. Addressing these gaps may generate knowledge which will help the development of cost- effective helminth prevention strategies.
This collection will gather Original Research (fundamental or clinical research), Review/Mini-Review, Perspective or Opinion articles exploring the relationship between dietary factors, host immune system and helminths infections.
We welcome submissions investigating the impact of diet and nutrition on immunity to helminths including, but not limited to, the following areas:
- Dietary interventions
- The interaction between diet, microbiota, host immune system and helminth immunity
- The role of malnutrition
- The role of infant diet, including breastfeeding
Upon infection, helminths migrate through host tissues, blood, and lymphatics causing damage and resulting in the activation of innate and adaptive immune responses that are required for helminth expulsion and tissue repair. While diet is a modifiable factor that is known to play a key role in immune function, how nutritional intervention and nutrition status influences immunity to helminths requires further study in order to provide alternative efficient approaches for decreasing the burden of helminth infection.
Abundant research exists on the importance of the diet for the control of non-communicable disease such as allergy or obesity. However, its influence on the prevention of infectious disease, and in particular helminth infections, is still unclear. This Research Topic aims to fill this knowledge gap and increase our understanding of the role of nutrition in promoting anti-helminth immunity. Immunity against helminths typically involves type 2 immune responses and diet may affect these responses either directly or through the promotion of specific microbiota, affecting type 2 immunity. There is a paucity of studies which have dissected the relationship between nutrition, helminths, and immunity. Addressing these gaps may generate knowledge which will help the development of cost- effective helminth prevention strategies.
This collection will gather Original Research (fundamental or clinical research), Review/Mini-Review, Perspective or Opinion articles exploring the relationship between dietary factors, host immune system and helminths infections.
We welcome submissions investigating the impact of diet and nutrition on immunity to helminths including, but not limited to, the following areas:
- Dietary interventions
- The interaction between diet, microbiota, host immune system and helminth immunity
- The role of malnutrition
- The role of infant diet, including breastfeeding
Keywords: Diet, immune system, parasite, helminth, microbiota
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
