Abstract
The results obtained by studying the effects of a compatible and a non-compatible schistosome on mice skin indicate that the innate immune system plays a crucial role in establishing compatibility between parasite and host. Skin of both wild type and TNFa knockout mice was both in vitro and in vivo exposed to the schistosomes. The cytokine TNFa appeared to play a crucial role in parasite-host interaction. Data obtained with in vitro infected skin greatly differed from those of in vivo infections. By identifying as yet unknown factors, which are released by either a compatible or a non-compatible parasite in the host's skin, and studying the function of these factors in exerting these effects on the innate immune system, we try to support this view. Interesting data obtained for a 16.78 kDa factor, ASFP, released by S. mansoni in the host's skin are presented.