The model intestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus
​H. polygyrus is a parasitic helminth which occurs naturally in the gastrointestinal tract of mice. Despite the efforts of the immune response to eject them, they manage to survive due to their sophisticated methods of immune modulation. Here in the McSorley lab, we focus on the ways H. polygyrus achieves this, identifying factors which modulate the host immune response and characterising their molecular mechanisms of action.
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I’m interested in how worms interact with the immune system – how they affect host immune responses, and how the immune system responds to them. I’m especially interested in IL-33, a cytokine so fascinating that the parasite seems to put a lot of effort into modulating it. Ultimately, I want to use this knowledge to develop new treatments for allergic diseases such as asthma, and also how to better combat parasitic worm infections.
— Henry McSorley
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Watch the following video to learn more about H. polygyrus, how it affect the Interleukin-33 (IL-33) pathway, and how this impacts the development of type 2 immune responses. Type 2 immunity is critical in the response to parasitic worm infections, as well as in allergies and asthma.