Parasitic infections remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the world today. Often endemic in developing countries many parasitic diseases are neglected in terms of research funding and much remains to be understood about parasites and the interactions they have with the immune system. This book examines current knowledge about immune responses to parasitic infections affecting humans, including interactions that occur during co-infections, and how immune responses may be manipulated to develop therapeutic interventions against parasitic infection. For easy reference, the most commonly studied parasites are examined in individual chapters written by investigators at the forefront of their field. An overview of the immune system, as well as introductions to protozoan and helminth parasites, is included to guide background reading. A historical perspective of the field of immunoparasitology acknowledges the contributions of investigators who have been instrumental in developing this field of research.

Parasites cause many important diseases in humans and domestic animals, malaria being an example. Parasites have evolved to exploit hosts' bodies whereas hosts have evolved immune systems to control infections. Host-parasite interactions therefore provide fascinating examples of evolutionary 'arms-races' in which the immune system plays a key role. Modern research in immunoparasitology is directed towards understanding and exploiting the capacity to develop effective anti-parasite immunity. By concentrating on selected infections where research has made significant progress, Immunity to Parasites provides a clear account of how host immune responses operate and how parasites can evade immunity. The experimental basis of this research is emphasised throughout. This completely updated second edition includes an expanded section on anti-parasite vaccines. The text is aimed at undergraduates and postgraduates with interests in either parasitology or immunology and provides introductory sections on these topics to lead the reader into the later chapters.

This book provides an interesting and up-to-date overview of Parasite Immunology in terms of a survival battle between hosts and parasites, describing firstly how parasites interact with different B cell compartments and trigger a vigorous antibody response. An Interesting chapter deals with new insights into immune diagnosis in Trypanosoma cruzi infection, while another chapter on malaria vaccines critically reviews their development since the beginning, examining the basis for failures or successes encountered in clinical trials. Chapters on immunological aspects of amoebiasis, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis and leishmaniasis in humans are written by top researchers in the world working in this field. This book should prove to be of interest to researchers and students wishing to familiarize themselves with the latest developments in this field. Therefore, this book is considered essential for all researchers involved in Infectious Diseases, Parasitology, Microbiology, Immunology, and Vaccine design and discovery.

Publisher Description

The book focuses on various aspects and properties of innate immunity, whose deep understanding is integral for safeguarding the human race from further loss of resources and economies due to innate immune response-mediated diseases. Throughout this book, we examine the individual mechanisms by which the innate immune response acts to protect the host from pathogenic infectious agents and other non-communicable diseases. Written by experts in the field, the volume discusses the significance of macrophages in infectious disease, tumor metabolism, and muscular disorders. Chapters cover such topics as the fate of differentiated macrophages and the molecular pathways that are important for the pathologic role of macrophages.