Year: 2026 | Month: June | Volume: 13 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 248-254
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260625
Current Advances in Helminth Biology: Bridging Fundamental Discoveries and Practical Applications in Disease Mitigation
Monika Borade1, Tanaji Jadhav2
1Maulana Azad College of Arts, Science, and Commerce College, Chhatarapati Sambhajinagar 431001, (M.S.), India
2Shivaji Arts, Commerce and Science College, Kannad, Dist. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar 431103, (M.S.), India
Corresponding Author: Monika Borade, Tanaji Jadhav
ABSTRACT
Helminth cestosome infections are linked to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which affect over a billion people worldwide and continue to present public health challenges. Although mass chemotherapy has reduced morbidity, the rise of anthelmintic resistance threatens future progress, and effective vaccines are not available, nor are there methods for screening ova (eggs) to detect drug-resistant nematodes. This review, therefore, provides a continuum from basic scientific findings to practical disease-control applications. At the same time, the host-parasite interface and immune system modulation are crucial areas of study. Helminths are skilled at evading the immune system by releasing a complex array of products that inhibit or alter host responses. The structural biology of these Excretory/Secretory (ES) products and their role in parasite function serve two primary purposes: as candidates for new diagnostic tests to identify low-level infections that current methods might miss, and as potential vaccine antigens capable of eliciting protective immunity. This review highlights recent advances in developing next-generation interventions. We examine the current state of drug pipelines, focusing on compounds targeting nematode-specific molecular pathways and new repurposing opportunities. Additionally, we evaluate progress in PoC diagnostics for surveillance and elimination efforts, emphasizing strategies that utilize circulating parasite DNA/RNA. Lastly, we examine how ecological and spatial modeling, based on fundamental biology including transmission dynamics and larval survival—can help optimize Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for sustainable disease elimination. Overall, the review emphasizes that continued progress against helminthiases depends on actively translating basic research from parasite genomics and immunology to host-parasite signaling into durable, scalable tools for drug discovery, effective surveillance, and ultimately, long-lasting disease control.
Keywords: Helminth Parasites; Basic Biology (or Helminthology); Applied Therapeutics; Omics Technologies (or Genomics); Disease Mitigation (or Drug Resistance)
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