Helminth coinfection and COVID-19: an alternate hypothesis

Journal Contribution ResearchOnline@JCU
Hays, Russell;Pierce, Doris;Giacomin, Paul;Loukas, Alex;Bourke, Peter;McDermott, Robyn
Paul GiacominAlex LoukasRobyn McDermott
Abstract

[Extract] In their recently published commentary, Bradbury and colleagues [1] drew attention to the possible negative interactions between helminth infection and COVID-19 severity in helminth-endemic regions. Helminth infections are known to be powerful modulators of the human immune response, and numerous studies now highlight the effects this may have on human infectious, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. We believe, however, that any interaction between pre-existing helminth infection and the subsequent severity of COVID-19 need not necessarily be a negative one, and theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that helminths may indeed have a mitigating effect.

Journal

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases

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Volume

14

ISBN/ISSN

1935-2735

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Issue

8

Pages Count

3

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Publisher

Public Library of Science

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EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1371/journal.pntd.0008628