Exploring the interactions between schistosome eggs and the human host

Infection with Schistosoma flukes causes the disease schistosomiasis, which results in approximately 200,000 deaths per year in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Three schistosome species are mainly responsible for human infection; Schistosoma mansoni, S. japonicum and S. haematobium.

Schistosomiasis progresses through several stages, culminating with the establishment of a chronic infection. This chronic stage of infection is the phase in which the pathology and morbidity most commonly associated with schistosomiasis develops. Host-parasite interactions are important in disease progression and pathology; Schistosoma parasites utilise host-derived signals as developmental cues, and schistosomiasis pathology develops largely as a result of the host response to worm- and egg-derived antigens.