Protection against allergy: study in rural environments

Objective

In animals substantial prevention of allergy can be achieved by inhalation of microbial products. It is unknown whether such findings can be brought forward to humans, but findings in farmers' children raised in environments rich in microbial matter suggest that these children constitute an ideal 'natural' model to study these relations in humans. Recent retrospective surveys clearly indicated that exposures must occur in pregnancy and the 1st Year of life to confer significant protection, resulting in very low prevalence's of asthma (0.8% vs. 11.8%), hay fever (0.8% vs. 16.0%) and atop (8.2% vs. 32.9%) as compared to non-exposed children. The project therefore focuses on early life exposures to indoor microbial matter in a prospective study design. A multidisciplinary approach is taken to study immunological and genetic mechanisms determining the strong protective effects, which will allow the development of novel preventive strategies.

Fields of science

• medical and health sciences › clinical medicine › pneumology › asthma
• medical and health sciences › clinical medicine › obstetrics
• agricultural sciences › agriculture, forestry, and fisheries › agriculture › industrial crops › fodder
• medical and health sciences › clinical medicine › allergology

Programme(s)

• FP5-LIFE QUALITY - Specific Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources", 1998-2002

Topic(s)

• 1.1.1.-4. - Key action Environment and Health

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH

Address

Lindwurmstrasse 4
80337 Muenchen
Germany

Participants (6)

AMT DER SALZBURGER LANDESREGIERUNG

Austria

Address

Muellner Haupstrasse 48
5020 Salzburg

NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE

Finland

Address

4,neulaniementie 4
70210 Kuopio

PHILIPPS UNIVERSITY MARBURG

Germany

Address

Baldingerstrasse 1
35033 Marburg

UNIVERSITAET BASEL

Switzerland

Address

49,steinengraben 49
4051 Basel

UNIVERSITAETSKLINIKUM ULM

Germany

Address

Syrlinstrasse 38
89073 Ulm

UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH

Switzerland

Address

Steinwiesstrasse 75
8032 Zurich