Project Description      

Infections with parasitic nematodes and ticks induce strong local and systemic T helper type 2 (Th2) responses. Dendritic cells are central for the imprinting of the Th2 response in both infections, but innate Th2-associated cells such as mast cells and eosinophils are involved in instructing and regulating Th2 immune responses to nematodes. The aim of this project is to investigate whether mucosal/dermal mast cells and eosinophils affect the quality and homing capacity of Th cells imprinted by local DC populations in infections with the murine gut nematode Heligmosmoides polygyrus and the European tick Ixodes ricinus. Furthermore, the stability of migration patterns of parasite-specific Th2 cells will be assessed in nematode/tick co-infections.