Conference Agenda

Helminth infections, whether experimental or naturally acquired, are increasingly recognised as potent modulators of human immunity, with protective effects across a range of inflammatory diseases. Much of this activity is driven by excretory/secretory proteins (ESPs), complex mixtures of bioactive molecules that act at the host–parasite interface to reshape immune responses and suppress inflammation. Despite this, the therapeutic use of live helminths remains limited due to safety concerns, complex life cycles, and variable host responses. Consequently, focus has shifted toward isolating individual ESPs as more tractable, drug-like candidates. To address this, we generated a recombinant library spanning the secretomes of both larval and adult stages of the human hookworm Necator americanus. This enabled systematic screening across in vitro and in vivo assays to identify proteins with immunoregulatory activity. To date, two distinct protease inhibitors have emerged, each displaying pronounced anti-inflammatory effects. Their independent identification via separate screening strategies underscores the library's versatility as a discovery platform. Their protease inhibitory activity has been confirmed in vitro, consistent with established roles for helminth-derived inhibitors in modulating host inflammatory pathways. Work is now focused on defining their mechanisms of action in vivo and assessing their potential as pre-clinical therapeutic candidates.