Helminth therapy studies in murine models
This page is still under construction. Please see Helminthic therapy research.
Also see Helminthic therapy clinical trials.
Murine studies by disease[edit | edit source]
Allergy and asthma[edit | edit source]
- 2025 Aug 12 Anisakis simplex excretion/secretion antigens abolish the anaphylactic response in allergic mice -- Full text
- 2022 Oct Suppression of airway allergic eosinophilia by Hp-TGM, a helminth mimic of TGF-β -- Full text | PDF
- 2020 Sep Preconception helminth infection alters offspring microbiota and immune subsets in a mouse model -- Full text | PDF
- 2020 May 19 The Gastrointestinal Helminth Heligmosomoides bakeri Suppresses Inflammation in a Model of Contact Hypersensitivity -- Full text | PDF
- 2015 Oct 27 The Intestinal Microbiota Contributes to the Ability of Helminths to Modulate Allergic Inflammation -- Full text | PDF
- 2015 Oct 1 Ten Weeks of Infection with a Tissue-Invasive Helminth Protects against Local Immune Complex-Mediated Inflammation, but Not Cutaneous Type I Hypersensitivity, in Previously Sensitized Mice -- Full text | PDF
- 2014 May 1 Chronic helminth infection protects mice from type III hypersensitivity (HYP6P.277)
- 2012 Oct Suppression of type 2 immunity and allergic airway inflammation by secreted products of the helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus -- Full text | PDF
- 1998 Mar 1 A helminth-induced mucosal Th2 response alters nonresponsiveness to oral administration of a soluble antigen
Atherosclerosis[edit | edit source]
- 2022 Oct 20 Inhibition Effects of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and Its Derivatives against Atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- Mice through Anti-Inflammatory Response -- Full text
- 2014 Jan Reprogramming macrophages to an anti-inflammatory phenotype by helminth antigens reduces murine atherosclerosis -- Full text | PDF
- 2002 Nov An anti-atherogenic effect of Schistosoma mansoni infections in mice associated with a parasite-induced lowering of blood total cholesterol (cardiovascular / cholesterol / atherosclerosis)
Bronchiolitis by Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)[edit | edit source]
- 2024 Aug Helminth induced monocytosis conveys protection from respiratory syncytial virus infection in mice -- Full text
- 2017 Oct Enteric helminth-induced type I interferon signaling protects against pulmonary virus infection through interaction with the microbiota -- Full text | PDF
Diabetes type 1[edit | edit source]
- 2025 Apr 3 Administration of Trichinella spiralis Antigens Alleviated Diabetic Nephropathy in Diabetic Mice -- Full text | PDF
- 2024 Apr 5 The helminth-derived peptide, FhHDM-1, reverses the trained phenotype of NOD bone-marrow-derived macrophages and regulates proinflammatory responses -- Full text
- 2020 Aug 16 Axenic Caenorhabditis elegans antigen protects against development of type-1 diabetes in NOD mice -- Full text | PDF
- 2020 Mar 6 Crude Necator americanus worm extract diminishes pancreatic islets destruction in diabetic non-obese mice (NOD) (preprint)
- 2017 Mar Filarial Abundant Larval Transcript Protein ALT-2: An Immunomodulatory Therapeutic Agent for Type 1 Diabetes -- Full text | PDF
- 2017 Nov 8 Taenia crassiceps Antigens Control Experimental Type 1 Diabetes by Inducing Alternatively Activated Macrophages — Full text | PDF
- 2017 Jun Dual genetic absence of STAT6 and IL-10 does not abrogate anti-hyperglycemic effects of Schistosoma mansoni in streptozotocin-treated diabetic mice -- Full text
- 2013 Jun Previous contact with Strongyloides venezuelensis contributed to prevent insulitis in MLD-STZ diabetes -- Full text (includes a PDF download link)
- 2012 May Short-term helminth infection inhibits type 1 diabetes independently of the Th2-type response
- 2011 Nov Anti-FcεR1 antibody injections activate basophils and mast cells and delay Type 1 diabetes onset in NOD mice -- Full text | PDF
- 2010 Jan 4 Taenia crassiceps infection attenuates multiple low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes -- Full text | PDF
- 1999 Apr Infection with Schistosoma mansoni prevents insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in non-obese diabetic mice -- PDF
Diabetes type 2[edit | edit source]
- 2024 Nov 8 Liver Fluke-Derived Molecules Accelerate Skin Repair Processes in a Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus -- Full text | PDF
- 2022 Apr 26 Administration of Hookworm Excretory/Secretory Proteins Improves Glucose Tolerance in a Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes -- Full text | PDF
- 2021 Feb 5 Gastrointestinal Helminth Infection Improves Insulin Sensitivity, Decreases Systemic Inflammation, and Alters the Composition of Gut Microbiota in Distinct Mouse Models of Type 2 Diabetes -- Full text | PDF
- 2020 Dec 17 Impact of hookworms and their secreted proteins on the microbiota and subsequent development of type 2 diabetes in mice -- PDF (thesis)
- 2019 Jun 26 Schistosoma japonicum Soluble Egg Antigen Protects Against Type 2 Diabetes in Lep r db/ db Mice by Enhancing Regulatory T Cells and Th2 Cytokines -- Full text | PDF
- 2011 Apr 8 Eosinophils sustain adipose alternatively activated macrophages associated with glucose homeostasis -- Full text | PDF
Dyslipidemia[edit | edit source]
- 2014 Feb Effect of Schistosoma japonicum infection on serum lipid status in mice (Chinese)
Eczema / Dermatitis[edit | edit source]
- 2020 May 19 The Gastrointestinal Helminth Heligmosomoides bakeri Suppresses Inflammation in a Model of Contact Hypersensitivity -- Full text | PDF
Cancer[edit | edit source]
- 2024 Jan Regulation of HPV infection and cervical cancer development following a helminth infection -- PDF (thesis)
- Together, these findings show that helminth infection can protect against distal viral infection and suppress the growth and cancer cell behaviour of HPV associated cervical cancer
- 2023 Dec 1 Impact of pinworm infection on the development of murine B-cell leukemia/lymphoma in the presence and absence of ETV6::RUNX1 -- Full text | PDF (editorial Worms on stage)
- 2021 Feb 12 Hymenolepis diminuta-based helminth therapy in C3(1)-TAg mice does not alter breast tumor onset or progression -- Full text | PDF.
- No effect of the helminth H. diminuta was observed. (N.B. The same experiment needs to be done with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri.)
- 2020 Oct 22 Gastrointestinal Nematode-Derived Antigens Alter Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration through Regulation of Cell Cycle and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Proteins -- Full text | PDF
- 2020 Sep 22 Intestinal Nematode Infection Affects Metastasis of EL4 Lymphoma Cells -- Full text | PDF.
- 2018 Aug 1 Hookworm exposure decreases human papillomavirus uptake and cervical cancer cell migration through systemic regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker expression -- Full text | PDF
- 2018 Aug Cancer cell behaviour following parasite exposure -- PDF (thesis)
Negative effects of helminths
Crohn's[edit | edit source]
- 2016 Apr 14 Helminth infection promotes colonization resistance via type 2 immunity -- Full text | PDF
Influenza[edit | edit source]
- 2023 May Enteric helminth infection confers protection against lethal respiratory influenza virus infection
Multiple Sclerosis[edit | edit source]
- 2023 Jan 23 Nematode-Induced Growth Factors Related to Angiogenesis in Autoimmune Disease Attenuation -- Full text | PDF
Myocardial infarction[edit | edit source]
- 2025 Jun 5 PD-1-dependent therapeutic effect of Trichinella spiralis cystatin on myocardial infarction in a mice model -- Full text (Study to be done again with therapeutic helminths)
Neuroprotection[edit | edit source]
- 2021 Oct 20 Parasite-Derived Excretory-Secretory Products Alleviate Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Improve Cognitive Impairment Induced by a High-Fat Diet -- Full text | PDF
Obesity[edit | edit source]
- 2025 Jun 12 Intestinal lymphatic vasculature is functionally adapted to different drainage regions and is altered by helminth infection -- Full text | PDF
- Collectively, these observations demonstrate that helminth infections alter the structure of duodenal lacteals and compromise duodenal lymphatic lipid uptake, leading to lipid accumulation in epithelial cells and, under high-fat diet conditions, decreased weight gain.
- 2022 May 2 Helminth infection modulates number and function of adipose tissue Tregs in high fat diet-induced obesity -- Full text | PDF
- 2020 Sep IL-33 is essential to prevent high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice infected with an intestinal helminth -- Full text
- 2020 Jul 3 Helminth-Induced and Th2-Dependent Alterations of the Gut Microbiota Attenuate Obesity Caused by High-Fat Diet -- Full text | PDF
- 2020 May 28 Endocannabinoid Regulation of Helminth Induced Hypophagia -- PDF (capstone project)
- 2019 Apr 8 Suppression of obesity by an intestinal helminth through interactions with intestinal microbiota -- Full text | PDF (Also reported by Press Relase [1])
- 2017 Oct Helminth antigens counteract a rapid high-fat diet-induced decrease in adipose tissue eosinophils -- Full text
- 2016 Feb The helminth T2 RNase ω1 promotes metabolic homeostasis in an IL-33- and group 2 innate lymphoid cell-dependent mechanism -- Full text
- 2014 Jan 23 Role of macrophages in the altered epithelial function during a type 2 immune response induced by enteric nematode infection -- Full text | PDF
- 2013 Jun Parasitic nematode-induced modulation of body weight and associated metabolic dysfunction in mouse models of obesity -- Full text | PDF
- 2011 Apr 8 Eosinophils sustain adipose alternatively activated macrophages associated with glucose homeostasis -- Full text | PDF
Psoriasis[edit | edit source]
- 2023 Aug 12 A target-based discovery from a parasitic helminth as a novel therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases -- Full text
Rheumatoid arthritis[edit | edit source]
- 2017 Jan 13 Inflammatory arthritis and systemic bone loss are attenuated by gastrointestinal helminth parasites
- 2016 Jun 7 Th2 and eosinophil responses suppress inflammatory arthritis -- Full text | PDF (summary here Mice infected with a parasite show reduced symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis -- Bob Yirka, Medical Xpress). (comment Experimental arthritis: Helminth infection ameliorates arthritis (No abstract))
- N. brasiliensis infection suppresses inflammatory arthritis.
- 2008 Jun Protective effect of an extract from Ascaris suum in experimental arthritis models | Full text | PDF
- 1975 Aug The influence of the nematode Syphacia oblevata on adjuvant arthritis in the rat -- Full text | PDF
Salmonella[edit | edit source]
- 2021 Jan 20 Impaired host resistance to Salmonella during helminth co-infection is restored by anthelmintic treatment prior to bacterial challenge -- Full text | PDF
- 2017 Mar 25 Enteric Helminths Promote Salmonella Coinfection by Altering the Intestinal Metabolome -- Full txt | PDF
- 2014 Sep Coinfection with an intestinal helminth impairs host innate immunity against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and exacerbates intestinal inflammation in mice -- Full text | PDF
Sepsis[edit | edit source]
- 2025 Mar 3 Nematode serine protease inhibitor SPI-I8 negatively regulates host NF-κB signalling by hijacking MKRN1-mediated polyubiquitination of RACK1 -- Full text | PDF.
- Treatment with recombinant Nb-SPI-I8 significantly increased the probability of survival of mice from lethal sepsis.
Ulcerative Colitis[edit | edit source]
- 2025 Jul 26 Effects of maternal Echinococcus multilocularis infection on colitis susceptibility and gut microbiota of offspring -- Full text
- 2025 Jun 27 Intact glycoconjugates from Taenia crassiceps excreted/secreted products ameliorate chemically induced colitis by modulating inflammation and strengthening adherens junctions -- Full text
- 2025 Mar 3 Nematode serine protease inhibitor SPI-I8 negatively regulates host NF-κB signalling by hijacking MKRN1-mediated polyubiquitination of RACK1 -- Full text | PDF.
- ... administration of recombinant N. brasiliensis SPI-I8 significantly reduced the impact of colitis on colon length, with no side effects detected.
- 2023 Aug 12 A target-based discovery from a parasitic helminth as a novel therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases -- Full text
- 2023 Jan 23 Nematode-Induced Growth Factors Related to Angiogenesis in Autoimmune Disease Attenuation -- Full text | PDF
- 2021 Nov 10 Oral delivery of a functional algal-expressed TGF-β mimic halts colitis in a murine DSS model -- Full text | PDF
- 2018 Sep The benign helminth Hymenolepis diminuta ameliorates chemically induced colitis in a rat model system (HDC)
- 2018 Young mice expel the tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta and are protected from colitis by triggering a memory response with worm antigen -- Full text | PDF
- 2016 Apr 7 IL-22 Restrains Tapeworm-Mediated Protection against Experimental Colitis via Regulation of IL-25 Expression -- Full text | PDF
- 2013 Oct 22 Colitis promotes adaptation of an intestinal nematode: a Heligmosomoides polygyrus mouse model system -- Full text | PDF
- 2009 Infection with Hymenolepis diminuta is more effective than daily corticosteroids in blocking chemically induced colitis in mice -- Full text | PDF
Others studies[edit | edit source]
- 2023 Jan 25 Species interactions, stability, and resilience of the gut microbiota - Helminth assemblage in horses -- Full text | PDF
- 2022 Jun 13 Maternal gastrointestinal nematode infection enhances spatial memory of uninfected juvenile mouse pups -- Full text | PDF
- 2022 Jun Microbial regulation of intestinal motility provides resistance against helminth infection -- Full text | PDF
Negative effects[edit | edit source]
- 2005 Sep Concurrent infection with an intestinal helminth parasite impairs host resistance to enteric Citrobacter rodentium and enhances Citrobacter-induced colitis in mice -- Full text | PDF
- 2001 Mar Intestinal parasitism terminates self tolerance and enhances neonatal induction of autoimmune disease and memory -- Full text
- 1980 Aug Induction of lymphoma in athymic mice: a model for study of the human disease -- Full text
Therapeutic helminth counterparts for murine models[edit | edit source]
This table shows the therapeutic helminths that correspond with each murine model helminth.
Murine models | Therapeutic helminths |
Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri [2] | Necator Americanus |
Trichuris muris | Trichuris trichiura, Trichuris suis |
Hymenolepis diminuta | Hymenolepis diminuta |
Nippostrongylus brasiliensis have a similar cycle than Necator Americanus. It is a rat helminth, which is also used on mouse models but does not survive. Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri has a shorter cycle that is adapted to mice. Studies with these two model species complement each other.
Methodology[edit | edit source]
- 2025 Apr 6 Cultivation of Heligmosomoides polygyrus: an immunomodulatory nematode parasite and its secreted products -- Full text | PDF
- 2021 Apr 22 Rodent Models for the Study of Soil-Transmitted Helminths: A Proteomics Approach -- Full text | PDF
- 2018 Jan 25 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5785905/ -- Full text -- PDF
- 2012 Nov Immunity to the model intestinal helminth parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus -- Full text | PDF
- Trichuris muris, depending on the infectious dose, can generate either chronic persistent infections, characterized by a Th1 response and the production of the cytokine interferon (IFN)-γ (low dose infection with ∼25 eggs), or acute infections cleared by a strong Th2 response with the production of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-9, and IL-13 in response to high amounts of eggs (∼150 eggs).[3],[4],[5]: