Worm-Induced IL-4 Prevents NK T Cells from Clearing Bacterial Infections

What is it about?

There has been a long-standing but ill-defined association between infection with parasitic Schistosoma haematobium worms and increased susceptibility to bacterial urinary tract infections (UTI). This paper demonstrates that S. haematobium-induced IL-4 abrogates the activation of natural killer T cells that would otherwise effectively clear bacterial UTI.

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Why is it important?

This paper is important because it is the first to show that Schistosoma haematobium infection really does increase susceptibility to bacterial urinary tract infection. Moreover, this co-infection is thought to potentially increase risk of bladder cancer, and likely worsens the urinary symptoms of S. haematobium infection, including hematuria (bloody urine) and pelvic pain.