UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Helminths, multicellular parasites, comprise a major class of human pathogens and cause a large amount of pathogenicity. They have the potential to survive within their hosts for long time periods through suppression of the host's immune system. Helminth’s cuticle possesses a variety of complex glycol conjugates that cross-react with both the innate and adaptive immune system in definitive and intermediate hosts. Mostly antigenic glycans, polyfucose, tyvelose, terminal GalNAc, phosphorylcholine, methyl groups, and sugars are expressed by different stages of parasitic helminths. These glycans share structural features with those in their intermediate and vertebrate hosts, including Le^X, LDNF, LDN, and Tn antigens, by the process of molecular mimicry, alternatively known as “glycan gimmickry”, either derived from the pathogen or acquired from the host to hide from recognition by the host immune system. This is the active strategy of helminth parasites to use their glycans to target glycan-binding proteins (C-type lectins, galectins) within the host to promote their survival. These molecules represent a major untapped reservoir of immunomodulatory compounds, which have the ability to treat autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, and antigenic glycans, which could be exploited as vaccines and diagnostics. This review will be based on different sets of interactions between helminth glycans and the host immune system, and some advanced therapeutics with vaccine development.