Bacteria that naturally live inside our digestive system can help prevent allergies and may become a source of treatment for these conditions, say US researchers.
The team at the University of Chicago showed a group of bacteria from the genus Clostridium that live in the intestine could block peanut allergies in mice. The research group conducted experiments with mice bred in perfectly sterile environments and which had no bacteria in their gut. These animals had a strong immune response to peanuts; allergy that in the case of humans can be fatal in some people.
The team then investigated whether the addition of various bacteria in the digestive tract of animals would have any effect.
Lead researcher Dr Cathryn Nagler told the BBC News website: “The first step is for an allergen to gain access to the blood stream, the presence of Clostridia prevents the allergens getting into the bloodstream.”
It is expected that the use of bacteria may assist with desensitization therapy; which involves giving patients small doses of the substance, causing an allergic reaction until the immune system gets used to it.
Commenting on the findings, Prof Colin Hill, a microbiologist at University College Cork, told the BBC: “This is really interesting. […]This paper identifies a group of bacteria which could be important in protecting against these prevalent diseases. […]While we have to be careful not to extrapolate too far from a single study, and we also have to bear in mind that germ-free mice are a long way from humans, it is a very exciting paper and puts this theory on a much sounder scientific basis.”
Through: BBC News website
