Allergy News and Research

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The term allergy encompasses a wide range of conditions; it is not a disease in itself. In 1906 Clemens von Pirquet was the first to describe allergies as a changed or altered reaction of the immune system in response to exposure to foreign proteins. These days the term allergy – medically termed hypersensitivity, signifies an exaggerated reaction to foreign substances.

NIH Researchers Map Vulnerable Sites on Epstein-Barr Virus gp42 Protein

Studies of interactions between two lab-generated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and an essential Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein have uncovered targets that could be exploited in designing treatments and vaccines for this extremely common virus.

13 Mar 2024

Newborn T Cells Excel in Immune Response Compared to Adults

Scientists have long believed that a newborn's immune system was an immature version of an adult's, but new research from Cornell University shows that newborns' T cells – white blood cells that protect from disease – outperform those of adults at fighting off numerous infections.

26 Feb 2024

Newly Found Memory B Cell Remembers Allergies

A new cell that remembers allergies has been discovered by researchers from McMaster University and the Danish pharmaceutical company ALK-Abello A/S.

8 Feb 2024

Gut Bacteria Shape Our Defense Against Respiratory Viral Infections

The composition of microbiota found in the gut influences how susceptible mice are to respiratory virus infections and the severity of these infections, according to researchers from the Center for Translational Antiviral Research in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University.

31 Jan 2024

Human Conjunctiva Model Developed For First Time

The Hubrecht Institute's Organoid group created the first organoid model of the human conjunctiva. The function of these organoids is mimicked by the human conjunctiva, a tissue involved in the formation of tears.

12 Jan 2024

Study Reveals Tissue-Specific Effects of JAK1 Signaling in Inflammation

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have gained a deeper understanding of the nuanced roles of JAK inhibitors, or modulators, in inflammation across various cell types and tissues.

26 Dec 2023

Breakthrough Research in Leishmaniasis Reveals Pain-Suppression Pathways

For the first time, scientists have begun to figure out why the disfiguring skin lesions caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis don't hurt.

1 Dec 2023

Rising Prevalence of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Japan: Causes and Implications

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory condition affecting the nasal cavity and sinuses, which can be categorized into eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic subtypes.

7 Nov 2023

Breakthrough Research Discovers How the Body Controls Itch

It can be a relief to scratch the occasional itch, but when itch gets out of control, it can become a serious health problem. How does the body know when to stop?

16 Oct 2023

Leishmania Parasites Found to Infect Non-Immune Cells

The organisms that cause visceral leishmaniasis, a potentially deadly version of the parasitic disease that most often affects the skin to cause disfiguring disease, appear to have a secret weapon, new research suggests: They can infect non-immune cells and persist in those uncommon environments.

4 Oct 2023

Wildling Mice With High Microbial Exposure can Develop Allergies

The notion that some level of microbial exposure might reduce our risk of developing allergies has arisen over the last few decades and has been termed the hygiene hypothesis.

3 Oct 2023

Case Study Highlights Challenges of Accessing Venom Immunotherapy for Fire Ant Allergies

A recent case study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice highlights the challenges faced by families seeking venom immunotherapy for fire ant allergies.

28 Aug 2023

Study Finds Diverse Set of Immune Cells Linked to Flu Protection

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists, in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) Limited, found that immune cells present in people months before influenza (flu) infection could more accurately predict if an individual would develop symptoms than current methods which primarily rely on antibody levels.

18 Aug 2023

Environmental Factors Linked With AD Children Aged Between 15 – 35 Months Living in Rural Areas

Children raised in rural environments who spend a lot of time outdoors with some exposure to animals grow to have better regulated immune systems than children living in urban environments, a new study has found.

4 Aug 2023

Mast Cells May Help Humans Avoid Harmful Antigens

Mast cells, which are part of the immune system, are still a puzzle. Mast cells function as a sensor that signifies the animals to avert antigens, including harmful allergens, and thus safeguard themselves from health-threatening inflammatory reactions, according to researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The research was published in the journal Nature.

13 Jul 2023

Establishing the Flour Reference Proteome for Five Wheat Species

The protein composition of the five types of wheat—einkorn, emmer, spelt, durum, and common wheat—and their varieties differ widely.

20 Jun 2023

Understanding How Genes Predispose Humans to Allergies

New research is expanding the scientific understanding of why some people are more allergic than others. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine discovered how genetic changes that modify a specific protein called ETS1 can affect our body’s response to allergens.

16 Jun 2023