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.

LJI receives funding from NIAID to lead the biggest human immunoprofiling effort

A new grant of over $17 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has established La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) as the leading institute for human immunology data curation, analysis, and dissemination. With this funding, LJI has taken the helm of the Human Immunology Project Consortium Data Coordinating Center, a critical tool in the effort to fuel scientific collaboration in immunoprofiling and highlight findings from the overall Human Immunology Project Consortium (HIPC).

16 Feb 2023

Experts demonstrate clear differences in virulence among the major clades of mpox virus

Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have removed a major roadblock to better understanding of mpox (formerly, monkeypox).

15 Feb 2023

Study reveals how two proteins enable drug-resistant MRSA bacterium to secrete toxins

Antimicrobial resistance represents one of the top 10 global public health threats according to the World Health Organization, and scientists have been scrambling to find new tools to cure the most deadly drug-resistant infections.

14 Feb 2023

Two-step screening of aroma compounds reveals a novel and effective modulator of dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are important players of the immune system with important functions such as the identification of infectious pathogens, production of cytokines (chemical signalers of the immune system), presentation of antigens to activate T-cells, and more.

13 Feb 2023

Small fluorescent protein helps researchers to capture deeper, more precise biomedical images

Biomedical and genetic engineers at Duke University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have designed a small fluorescent protein that emits and absorbs light that penetrates deep into biological tissue.

7 Dec 2022

Atypical antibody shows extremely potent zika-resistant activity

A group of researchers led by Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) investigators has discovered an unusual type of antibody that, even at extremely low concentrations, neutralizes the Zika virus and renders the virus infection undetectable in preclinical models.

22 Nov 2022

Treatment using CRISPR alleviates swelling attacks in hereditary angioedema patients

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare, genetic disorder characterized by severe, recurring, and unpredictable swelling attacks in various organs and tissues of the body, which can be painful, debilitating, and life-threatening.

11 Nov 2022

The primary functions of innate immune cells

An inflammation and a rise in mucus production are typical signs of allergies and worm infections. The innate immune cells are involved in this immunological response, although it is still unclear exactly what they do.

4 Nov 2022

Resistance against Epstein-Barr virus from experimental monoclonal antibodies

When tested in a lab setting using human cells, a panel of experimental monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target various Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) sites prevented infection.

1 Nov 2022

New drug to tackle complex cases of UTI

A new drug combination has been shown to be more successful, especially against persistent, drug-resistant infections, according to an international study conducted by a Rutgers Researcher comparing new and older therapies for complex urinary tract infections.

From Rutgers University 28 Oct 2022

Microbiomes can help cure food allergies in mice

Many people with dietary allergies may have minor symptoms when they consume foods that trigger them, but for some, the consequences could be lethal. In lab experiments, a bacterial chemical called butyrate produced by healthy microbiomes has shown promise in preventing allergy reactions, but it is unpleasant to consume.

23 Aug 2022

New method identifies human gut microbes that contribute to inflammatory diseases

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai have created a way to determine the human gut microorganisms that are most likely to cause a variety of inflammatory disorders, including obesity, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and several neurological conditions.

22 Aug 2022

Pollen from ragweed plants in different areas exhibit varied levels of aggressiveness

The different geographic and climatic regions from which ragweed pollen originates, as well as the degree of environmental pollution, may influence the severity of allergic reactions such as hay fever and asthma.

9 Aug 2022

HIV latent cells produce a possible cure investigation

Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center (VRC) and their collaborators gave a presentation recently at AIDS 2022, the 24th International AIDS Conference in Montreal.

1 Aug 2022

Researchers create antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 from hen eggs

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have created antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in hen eggs.

From The University of California, Davis 14 Jul 2022

Dietary modifications can lower symptoms of allergic reactions, a new study reveals

Micronutrient deficits can increase inflammation and make the immune system more susceptible to allergens. Iron deficiency indicates danger to immune cells and causes an excessive immunological response.

8 Jun 2022

Research sheds light on mechanism for skin cell death, likely to help treat cancer

Researchers at Emory University have uncovered a mechanism for skin cell death that might lead to novel therapies for “flesh-eating” infections, alopecia, hives, and possibly even melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer.

18 May 2022

Scientists detect rare genetic signs of drug-resistant tuberculosis with the aim to stop disease progression

Many people believe tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of the past. Nonetheless, it claims over a million lives each year. Furthermore, the problem is escalating as Mycobacterium tuberculosis—the pathogen that causes tuberculosis develops resistance to the antibiotics used to treat the disease.

12 May 2022

SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect a specialized type of kidney cell

The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, can directly infect a specialized type of kidney cell.

22 Apr 2022

Researchers uncover a treasure trove of new data about RNA viruses

Ocean water samples collected around the world have yielded a treasure trove of new data about RNA viruses, expanding ecological research possibilities and reshaping our understanding of how these small but significant submicroscopic particles evolved.

8 Apr 2022