Dissecting the Immunological Interplay between Poverty Related Diseases and Helminth Infections: An African-European Research Initiative

IDEA project will focus its efforts on four primary objectives:
a) the worm-induced modulation of the functional and molecular profile of HIV-, TB- and malaria-specific immune responses;
b) the impact by worm co-infections on measures of disease activity of poverty related diseases (PRDs);
c) the immunologic markers of worm-, HIV-, TB- and malaria-specific immune responses associated with better control of pathogen replication and disease; and
d) the modulation by worm co-infections of vaccine-induced immune responses.

To achieve these objectives, IDEA project has developed a global and innovative strategy which includes:
a) the alliance between African and European leading scientists in the field of worms, HIV, TB and malaria;
b) the multidisciplinary expertise involving immunologists, parasitologists, epidemiologists, clinicians, and experts in vaccines;
c) cutting edge immunology and the most innovative technologies to profile immune response;
d) the access to large cohort studies bringing a number of centers working on worms and PRDs in Africa together; and
e) the access to experimental HIV, TB and malaria vaccine candidates under clinical development in Africa.