Objective Immune-mediated disorders such as allergy and autoimmunity are major public health problems. In the past 40 years the incidence of these diseases has risen dramatically in developed countries. Epidemiological studies have revealed a clear correlation between disease susceptibility and improvements in hygiene. For example, children with older siblings show a reduced prevalence of asthma, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Type 1 diabetes (T1D), and infants (<1year) that attend daycare centers show reduced incidence of atopic dermatitis and asthma. Whilst there is a clear genetic component to each of these diseases, development is a result of a complex interplay between genes, environment, and the immune system. Therefore, in genetically stable populations changes in the environment, which impact on immune development and regulation, must account for the observed increase in disease susceptibility. The “Hygiene Hypothesis” originally proposed that the increased incidence of allergic disease was due to decreased microbial exposure early in life, particularly during early childhood as the immune system develops. However, the immune mechanisms underlying the hygiene hypothesis remain elusive and our understanding of how hygiene, pathogen exposure, and environmental bacterial diversity might lower the susceptibility to allergy and autoimmunity is extremely limited. This research project will make use of state-of-the-art germ-free and gnotobiotic (controlled microbial status) animal models to elucidate the precise immunological mechanisms that are affected by decreased microbial exposure. Understanding the way in which environmental microbes influence immune development and regulation will lay the groundwork for treatment regimes aimed at reducing the rise in allergic and autoimmune diseases. More importantly, a greater understanding of how hygiene levels impact on disease development should lead to a greater ability to prevent, and not just treat, such diseases. Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthmedical and health sciencesclinical medicinepneumologyasthmamedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologymultiple sclerosismedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyautoimmune diseasesmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineallergology Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-LS6 - ERC Starting Grant - Immunity and infection Call for proposal ERC-2011-StG_20101109 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITAET BERN EU contribution € 1 500 000,00 Address HOCHSCHULSTRASSE 6 3012 Bern Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Espace Mittelland Bern / Berne Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Kathleen Mccoy (Dr.) Administrative Contact Maddalena Tognola (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAET BERN Switzerland EU contribution € 1 500 000,00 Address HOCHSCHULSTRASSE 6 3012 Bern See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Espace Mittelland Bern / Berne Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Kathleen Mccoy (Dr.) Administrative Contact Maddalena Tognola (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
