How can Trichinella escape the host immune response

This review deals with the mechanisms used by the nematode of the genus Tri chinella to prevent or "down regulate" host immune response. All these mech anisms are discussed in details. There are antigen-dependent mechanisms som e of which are anatomic seclusion, stage-specificity, molecular mimicry and antigen shedding and renewal. The parasite can affect also directly the ho st immune response by immunomodulation. This can be exerted at central leve l through immune suppression, polyclonal lymphocyte activation and hypereos inophilia induction as well as at peripheral level by modi- fying the host leukocyte functions, inducing the production of blocking antibodies or of i mmune complexes, inhibiting the complement MAC assembly.