PARASITIC worms could have an unexpected benefit: they could improve the prospects of people with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).
Parasites are already known to affect the progression of such diseases in animals, so Jorge Correale and Mauricio Farez at the Raúl Carrea Institute for Neurological Research in Buenos Aires, Argentina, wanted to know if they did the same in people. They followed the progression of MS in 24 people, half of whom were recently diagnosed with parasitic infection. For nearly five years, the subjects were checked regularly for any worsening of symptoms, and during the final…
