Fig. 1
A proposed systems-biology approach for diagnosing and characterizing signatures of worm infection in stool. The gut is a complex environment hosting a plethora of micro- and macro-organisms. The application of metabarcoding and metagenomics-metabolomics tools to the identification and characterization of parasite populations (including their genetic variants), as well as of host- and gut microbiome by-products of worm colonization will offer unique opportunities to: (i) better define the diversity of helminth populations; (ii) discover and develop sensitive and specific diagnostic tools; and (iii) dissect the complex relationships between gut function and pathophysiology of helminth disease. Figure elements used license-free courtesy smart.servier.com.