The Journal of Immunology has published a new special collection, “Immunoparasitology: Parasites as Drivers of Immune Discovery,” guest edited by Dr. Tajie H. Harris. The collection highlights the interplay of host immunity and microbes during parasitic infection and provides insights into the immunological mechanisms at the cellular level.
Dr. Harris is an associate professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the Director of the Center of Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG). We spoke with her about the new collection and the importance of immunoparisitology.
What brought you into the field of immunoparisitology?
Harris: As a graduate student, I was excited to learn about how the immune response detects pathogens. I considered working with several bacterial pathogens but settled on studying Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, the causative agent of African trypanosomiasis which is more commonly known as African sleeping sickness. My PhD thesis focused on how the innate immune system detects trypanosomes. As a postdoc, I wanted to continue studying immunology and felt that understanding the immune response in the context of infection was the most exciting to me.
In your editorial, you mention that “understanding immune responses to parasites…deepens our fundamental grasp of immunology.” What should all immunologists know about immunoparisitology to better understand the broader field?
Harris: In the simplest sense, immunoparasitology is the study of the immune response to parasites. Parasitic pathogens are quite diverse and elicit equally diverse immune responses.
One thing that all parasitic pathogens have in common is that they are eukaryotic, like us. Other pathogens have obvious differences that our immune system picks up on through pattern recognition receptors. Eukaryotic cells are more likely to fly under the radar, yet our immune system generates protective immune responses to most parasites. Parasites are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, which makes the study of the immune response to these pathogens important.
Beyond this, studying the immune response to parasitic pathogens has helped unlock key features of immunity. We often learn the most about the immune system by observing how it responds to an infectious challenge. Studying parasites has deepened our understanding of Th1/Th2 responses, innate lymphocyte biology, mucosal immunology, neuroimmunology, and much, much more.
Do you have a “favorite” parasite?
Harris: I have spent the last 18 years studying Toxoplasma gondii. I have so much love and appreciation for T. gondii—mostly because of the beautiful immune reactions that it causes in the brain. T. gondii is an excellent organism to help us understand neuroimmunology. But I still have a fondness for trypanosomes. They are much more evasive and dangerous.
What excites you about the future of immunoparisitology?
Harris: I am so very excited to continue to watch how the immunoparasitology field will continue to inform “hot topics” in immunology research. For example, the involvement of the nervous system in immune reactions is a very exciting area of research and it’s clear that parasites are activating or blocking this key component of immunity. Just as we discover a “new” mechanism of immunity, we find that parasites have already found a way to exploit these pathways for their own persistence or spread.
Why should researchers consider The JI when deciding to submit their immunoparisitology research?
Harris: The Journal of Immunology has consistently published solid research studies and is well-respected in the field. We have a lot of choices of where to submit our work. Publishing with a non-profit society journal has many benefits, including supporting a society with the mission to serve and support immunologists.
