The WHO targets in the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development goals for the elimination of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) since they are on the rise and account for more than 1 million new infections every day. More than 40% of the global burden of STIs can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, a region that is simultaneously challenged by high rates of helminth infections, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Helminthic infections modulate the host’s immunity to allow their own survival. This involves the induction of type 2 and regulatory immune responses which have systemic effects on unrelated diseases like bacterial and viral co-infections, such as HIV and HPV even though the parasites are neither localized within the female reproductive tract (FRT) or migrate through it.
The goal pursued in the present research topic is to determine the impact of infections with different helminth species on the FRT and their potential influence on the control of subsequent STIs. These insights can be gained during human studies and also during the performance of experimental animal infection models. Epidemiological (prevalence of STIs, mapping of co-infections, preventive health care aspects like vaccination, mass drug administration programs in affected areas), sociodemographic and immunological data should be integrated. The latter should focus on systemic changes and include the cellular key players and their used signaling pathways during the different infections.
We welcome the submissions of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Brief Research Report, and Case Report articles.
Keywords:
Female reproductive tract, sexually transmitted diseases, helminth infection
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.
The WHO targets in the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development goals for the elimination of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) since they are on the rise and account for more than 1 million new infections every day. More than 40% of the global burden of STIs can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, a region that is simultaneously challenged by high rates of helminth infections, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Helminthic infections modulate the host’s immunity to allow their own survival. This involves the induction of type 2 and regulatory immune responses which have systemic effects on unrelated diseases like bacterial and viral co-infections, such as HIV and HPV even though the parasites are neither localized within the female reproductive tract (FRT) or migrate through it.
The goal pursued in the present research topic is to determine the impact of infections with different helminth species on the FRT and their potential influence on the control of subsequent STIs. These insights can be gained during human studies and also during the performance of experimental animal infection models. Epidemiological (prevalence of STIs, mapping of co-infections, preventive health care aspects like vaccination, mass drug administration programs in affected areas), sociodemographic and immunological data should be integrated. The latter should focus on systemic changes and include the cellular key players and their used signaling pathways during the different infections.
We welcome the submissions of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Brief Research Report, and Case Report articles.
Keywords:
Female reproductive tract, sexually transmitted diseases, helminth infection
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.