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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332913
Title: Parasites, nutrition, immune responses, and biology of metabolic tissues

Author
item SHEA-DONOHUE, TEREZ - University Of Maryland
item QIN, BOLIN - In-Ingredientscom
item Smith, Allen

Submitted to: Parasite Immunology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/21/2017
Publication Date: 3/22/2017
Citation: Shea-Donohue, T., Qin, B., Smith, A.D. 2017. Parasites, nutrition, immune responses, and biology of metabolic tissues. Parasite Immunology. 39(5). doi: 10.1111/pim.12422

Interpretive Summary: The effect of nutrition on our immune response and identification of new therapeutic targets are all areas of research in the field of parasitology. This review is focused on how parasitic infections can decrease the risk of developing type 1 diabetes, the role of food nutrients in the immune response to parasitic infections, and the mechanisms that explain the beneficial effects of parasite infections on obesity-induced metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Technical Abstract: Nutritional immunology, immunometabolism, and identification of novel immunotherapeutic targets, are all areas of active investigation in the field of parasitology. This review is focused on the factors contributing to the ability of parasitic helminths to decrease the risk of developing type 1 diabetes, the role of macro- and micro-nutrients in the immune response to parasitic infections, and the mechanisms that underlie the beneficial effects of parasitic helminth infection on obesity-induced metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.