The human whipworm, a type of helminth that infects the large intestine and ranges from 30 to 50 mm long. (credit: Delorieux for Johann Gottfried Bremser)
One day, curing complex intestinal diseases could be as simple as opening a can of worms.
Researchers have long had hints that parasites called helminths, or intestinal worms, may in some cases help ward off inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease—intestinal inflammation that leads to cramps, severe diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss. However, the worms’ disease-fighting skills had previously wiggled through scientists’ grasp.
Now, in a study published Thursday in Science, researchers report that the gut-dwelling worms help avert IBD by bolstering good bacteria in the gut and chucking out inflammation-sparking germs. For mice genetically engineered to have Crohn’s disease, gulping down worm eggs significantly reduced inflammation and signs of disease.
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