Experimental human hookworm infection: a narrative historical review.

Abstract in brief

• The history of human hookworm research began with a lab accident in 1896 that showed how hookworms infect people by penetrating the skin, leading to the first experimental infection in 1901 and further studies on immune responses and infection patterns.
• Recent experiments with human hookworm infection have been shown to be safe, with no serious adverse effects reported in over 200 participants, and research is ongoing to explore its potential for treating modern diseases and testing new therapies.
• However, challenges remain in improving the methods for producing, storing, and measuring hookworm larvae, including the need for better in vitro cultivation techniques and reliable markers to accurately assess infection levels.