Helminths stage a powerful infection that allows the parasite to damage host tissue through migration and feeding while simultaneously evading the host immune system. This feat is accomplished in part through the release of a diverse set of molecules that contribute to pathogenicity and immune suppression. Many of these molecules have been characterized in terms of their ability to influence the infectious capabilities of helminths across the tree of life. These include nematodes that infect insects, known as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and plants with applications in agriculture and medicine. In this review we will first discuss the nematode virulence factors, which aid parasite colonization or tissue invasion, and cause many of the negative symptoms associated with infection. These include enzymes involved in detoxification, factors essential for parasite development and growth, and highly immunogenic ES proteins. We also explore how these parasites use several classes of molecules (proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids) to evade the host’s immune defenses. For example, helminths release immunomodulatory molecules in extracellular vesicles that may be protective in allergy and inflammatory disease. Collectively, these nematode-derived molecules allow parasites to persist for months or even years in a host, avoiding being killed or expelled by the immune system. Here, we evaluate these molecules, for their individual and combined potential as vaccine candidates, targets for anthelminthic drugs, and therapeutics for allergy and inflammatory disease. Last, we evaluate shared virulence and immunomodulatory mechanisms between mammalian and non-mammalian plant parasitic nematodes and EPNs, and discuss the utility of EPNs as a cost-effective model for studying nematode-derived molecules. Better knowledge of the virulence and immunomodulatory molecules from both entomopathogenic nematodes and soil-based helminths will allow for their use as beneficial agents in fighting disease and pests, divorced from their pathogenic consequences.

蠕虫会进行强大的感染，使寄生虫通过迁移和进食来损害宿主组织，同时逃避宿主的免疫系统。这一壮举部分是通​​过释放有助于致病性和免疫抑制的多种分子来实现的。其中许多分子的特征在于它们能够影响整个生命树中蠕虫的感染能力。其中包括感染昆虫的线虫（称为昆虫病原线虫 (EPN)）以及在农业和医学中应用的植物。在这篇综述中，我们将首先讨论线虫毒力因子，它们有助于寄生虫定植或组织入侵，并引起许多与感染相关的阴性症状。其中包括参与解毒的酶、寄生虫发育和生长所必需的因子以及高度免疫原性的 ES 蛋白。我们还探讨了这些寄生虫如何利用几类分子（蛋白质、碳水化合物和核酸）来逃避宿主的免疫防御。例如，蠕虫在细胞外囊泡中释放免疫调节分子，这可能对过敏和炎症性疾病具有保护作用。总的来说，这些线虫衍生的分子可以让寄生虫在宿主体内存活数月甚至数年，避免被免疫系统杀死或驱逐。在这里，我们评估这些分子作为候选疫苗、驱虫药靶标以及过敏和炎症性疾病治疗药物的个体和组合潜力。最后，我们评估了哺乳动物和非哺乳动物植物寄生线虫和 EPN 之间共有的毒力和免疫调节机制，并讨论了 EPN 作为研究线虫衍生分子的经济有效模型的实用性。对昆虫病原线虫和土壤蠕虫的毒力和免疫调节分子的更好了解将允许它们作为对抗疾病和害虫的有益剂，而不考虑其致病后果。