Flatworms considered as a future source for asthma treatments

• Researchers have used Schistosoma mansoni, flatworms responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths in developing countries, to develop resistance to life-threatening allergic conditions.
• Many scientists believe there is a link between the disappearance of parasitic worms from modern, developed societies and dramatic increases in common allergies to foods such as peanuts and to dust mites, insect stings and cats in those countries.
• Britain has one of the highest rates of asthma in Europe, with 5.2 million people receiving treatment.
• Dr Padraic Fallon, a biochemist, will present research today at the British Association for the Advancement of Science festival in Dublin showing that parasitic worms could be used to develop treatments for a range of conditions.
• Dr Fallon, of the department of biochemistry at Trinity College in Dublin, said: "The reasons for the dramatic recent increase in allergic diseases are complex.
• "We believe a major factor is the reduction in parasitic worms and bacterial and viral infections in modern, 'clean' societies.
• At least 200,000 people in developing countries die each year through urinary system or liver damage, bladder tumours and bowel cancer caused by the condition.
• Previous research carried out in Gabon showed that children infected with parasites were less likely to suffer allergic reactions to house dust mites than those free of infection.
• Dr Fallon and colleagues used transgenic mice engineered to have a high susceptibility to asthma and anaphylaxis - severe allergic reactions such as those caused by insect stings, certain drugs, and foods such as peanuts or shellfish.
• Those given the parasites had substantially less pulmonary inflammation, and did not suffer the breathing difficulties of those without the flatworms.
• One suggested mechanism is that parasites can stimulate production of chemicals in the body of the host that can trigger anti-inflammatory processes.