Parasitic nematodes, living in the intestinal tract or within tissues of theirs hosts, are
constantly exposed to an array of immune effector mechanisms. One strategy to cope with
the immune response is the release of immunomodulatory components that block effector
mechanisms or interact with the cytokine network. Among the secreted nematode
immunomodulators, cysteine protease inhibitors (cystatins) are shown to be of major
importance. Nematode cystatins inhibit, among others, proteases involved in antigen …