Scientists claim allergy breakthrough

SCIENTISTS have found a way that allows the immune system to turn off reactions to allergies.

This came about ahead of World Allergy Week, which is marked this week until Friday.

Scientists from the University of Queensland, Australia, were able to manipulate responses that trigger allergy symptoms.

Head of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at UCT, associate professor Jonny Peter said researchers essentially found a way to silence the allergic inflammation in mice with a form of immune transfer and gene therapy.

“Experiments like these give a glimpse of what may be possible for the human immune system. The ability to re-programme the immune system of allergy sufferers to be tolerant is the holy grail.”

He added that human trails are set to start in about five to six years.

In South Africa alone, around 30% of the population suffer from allergic rhinitis, inflammation in the nose, which occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air, while 40% suffer from asthma.

Dr Ahmed Ismail Manjra, a paediatrician and allergologist, said: “Symptoms of those suffering from dust mite allergies are usually worse in humid coastal areas where the house dust mite levels are high, with symptoms also becoming worse indoors and at night because the dust mites are more likely to live in warm mattresses and bedding.”