Vaccinating Against Allergen Caused Asthma

This article explains the theory of researchers at Monash University in Australia that a 3 dose vaccine can be developed for dust mite allergens. Many people who suffer from asthma symptoms do so because they are allergic to dust mites. These medical costs associated with allergens and asthma are in the billions. A vaccine to dust mite allergens would decrease the need for asthmatics to continually clean the fabrics in their homes and workplaces. The researches are also looking at similarities with peanut allergies, which often cause anaphylaxsis. Unlike other allergies, immunotherapy for peanut allergies is more difficult because of the risk of a severe reaction. The therapy also requires 3-5 years, which is time consuming and has many chances for error. Their research has led them to find a correlation between peanut allergies and dust mite allergies. They believe that there is a predisposition to develop more allergies if you already have one type, and are examining this in rats to see the very first response of the rat to the allergen. They intend to combine this knowledge to aid not only in a vaccine for dust mite allergies, but for other allergens as well.

This article is very relevant and exciting for me. I did the immunotherapy shots for 5 years so that I could eat peanuts without a major sneezing attack. I also have mild asthma from allergies, mainly environmental and dust allergies. This would make my life much better, and for those whose allergies and asthma give them serious attacks that stop breathing, they could live without such a high level of fear. People who have peanut allergies can never be too careful, and those with serious asthma always have to keep their inhalers handy. The development of a vaccine would also represent a huge decrease in medical costs.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110321134500.htm

Tyler Terrill