Jul 17, 2020
Researcher P'ng Loke
investigates how our microbiome and immune system interacts with
parasitic worm infections.
He relays key points in his research, including
P'ng Loke is a senior
investigator at the NIH and Chief of the Type 2
Immunity Section of the NIH's Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases.
He explains to listeners that parasitic worms are really good at
manipulating their hosts' immune response, particularly in how they
affect a type of immune cell called the macrophage.
In fact, they are able to remain in hosts for years if not decades
undetected. This has huge potential in multiple therapeutic
avenues, from organ transplants to overactive immune responses such
as inflammatory and other bowel diseases.
Loke explains the beginnings of his studies, including a fascinating case of a man suffering from IBD who infected himself with whipworms on purpose after reading some studies and found his disease went in remission. Loke then describes various reasons for this as well as how our efforts toward modern sanitation may have altered our immune system in some ways.
He explains that parasitic
worms, like helminths, have figured out how to mask themselves from
hosts' immune responses, making them akin to a successful organ
transplant. If scientists can understand how they are manipulating
the immune response to downregulate or suppress its
immunity, they may uncover many therapeutic treatments.
He adds that most scientists think it is a spillover response—and
the ways they affect the type 2 immune cells such as a type of
macrophage cell—can lead to a protective barrier of mucus that
prohibits bowel inflammation and disease in some cases. He explains
this and other theories in more depth, so listen in.
For more, see his lab's
website: niaid.nih.gov/research/png-loke-phd
Available on Apple
Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK