How monkeys revealed a schistosomiasis vaccine secret

In the rural areas of Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, parasitic flatworms that can burrow into human skin within minutes swim freely in open bodies of fresh water. Those infected by these worms, parasites of the genus Schistosoma, can carry the worms in their bodies for years — even decades. Often unbeknownst to the hosts, the worms lay thousands of eggs, infesting vital organs, and eventually causing enough damage that could lead to death.

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