Parasitic worms reduce hay fever symptoms
Researchers are seeking to use the ability of the hookworm, Necator americanus, to suppress immune system responses that occur in conditions including Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, asthma and other allergies. Recently-completed studies suggest giving worms to people with hay fever is safe, and potentially beneficial.
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Scientists have suggested a lack of such intestinal parasites has left those in the developed world more vulnerable to diseases caused an overactive immune system.
Parasite Rex is an excellent book exploring similar ideas and more on the interaction of parasites with hosts. And from Good Germs Bad Germs, page 100:
in 1999 the Dutch biologist Maria Yazdanbakhsh found that eliminating intestinal worms from infected children in African villages immediately predisposed them to allergies.”
Related: Symbiotic relationship between ants and bacteria - Malaria Parasite - Cats Control Rats … With Parasites
June 17th, 2008 at 8:39 am
“Scientists know that both IgE and IgG were present in mammals around 160 million years ago because the corresponding genes are found in the recently published platypus genome…”