Understanding The Immune Mechanisms Leading To Resolution Of Peanut Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$602,472.00
Summary
Food allergy affects up to 10% of children and rates are rising. The greatest rise has been in peanut allergy which is the commonest cause of life threatening reactions. Currently, there is no cure for food allergy. Management relies on food avoidance which is impossible to achieve. Recent deaths in children from food allergy highlight the need for an effective treatment. This project will examine what happens when you grow out of peanut allergy. New information will lead to possible cures.
Probiotic Prawn Oral Immunotherapy (ProPIT) For Treatment Of Prawn Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,865,369.00
Summary
A ‘curative’ food allergy treatment is needed to prevent deaths and improve care. We recently showed that probiotic peanut oral immunotherapy (PPOIT) was highly effective for treating peanut allergy. 82% of PPOIT treated children gained tolerance compared to 4% of the placebo group. We will now test the combined probiotic-food OIT approach for treating prawn allergy. If successful, we will have identified the first treatment for prawn allergy and a platform treatment for other food allergies.
Many approaches to the prevention and treatment of allergy and associated asthma are dependent on the identification of the allergens producing the inflammation. This applies to new methods of determining the exposure to allergens and measuring the effectiveness of procedures which minimise allergen exposure. Diagnostic and immunotherapeutic measures require reliable preparations of allergens. The presence of important allergens in extracts however can be variable and often low so it important t ....Many approaches to the prevention and treatment of allergy and associated asthma are dependent on the identification of the allergens producing the inflammation. This applies to new methods of determining the exposure to allergens and measuring the effectiveness of procedures which minimise allergen exposure. Diagnostic and immunotherapeutic measures require reliable preparations of allergens. The presence of important allergens in extracts however can be variable and often low so it important that the allergens be identified and monitored. It is also important that new forms of immunotherapy being developed consider the responses to all allergens. Allergy to the cat is, behind house dust mite, the second most frequent allergy associated with asthma in most developed countries and brief exposure to a cat frequently induces life-threatening attacks. Almost all of the study of cat allergens have concentrated on a single allergen called Fel d 1. Although it importance is undisputed critical reading of the literature show it is only responsible for 50% of the IgE binding in cat extracts and recent work on cross allergy to cat and dogs and experimental therapy based on Fel d 1 point to the importance of other allergens. Experience with other source of allergens has shown that at least several allergens are usually important. It is also apparent from other studies that some allergens which are difficult to detect in extracts, and cannot be readily studied by immunochemistry are important. This project will use both cDNA cloning and immunochemistry to identify and characterize the other cat allergens and determine there relative importance. In particular it intended that they can be used, along with Fel d 1, to develop new types of immunotherapy.Read moreRead less
Mimotopes For The Investigation And Therapy Of Allergic Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$203,296.00
Summary
10% of children now use regular asthma medication. The current treatments dampen allergic inflammation but 25% of asthmatic children, all under high medication, need multiple visits to the doctor, emergency treatment or hospitalisation,. Immunotherapy has, since 1911, used repeated injections of allergens. The end result has often been successful and lasting but the response has been unpredictable and requires years of multi-injection treatment. The challenge is to develop effective, applicable ....10% of children now use regular asthma medication. The current treatments dampen allergic inflammation but 25% of asthmatic children, all under high medication, need multiple visits to the doctor, emergency treatment or hospitalisation,. Immunotherapy has, since 1911, used repeated injections of allergens. The end result has often been successful and lasting but the response has been unpredictable and requires years of multi-injection treatment. The challenge is to develop effective, applicable immunotherapy which, like vaccines use few injections. Mimotopes provide a new opportunity. Studying the parts of the allergens recognized by the immune system (epitopes) can reveal important phenomena undetectable with whole allergens; and single epitopes may be a powerful avenue to effective immunotherapy. The therapy can be targeted to a selected arm of the immune system for maximal effect and the immediate side effects induced by cross linking antibodies with two epitopes can be avoided. Allergens interact with two types of lymphocyte, the T and B cells. T-cell epitopes can be easily studied because they comprise short regions of proteins which can be synthesized. B-cell (and antibody) epitopes are shapes formed by the interaction of several parts of a protein which cannot be represented by a simple sequence. The mimotope technology uses random peptides to obtain a shape which mimics the B-cell epitope. Here mimotopes will be produced and used to study the common specificities recognized in allergic responses to house dust mite allergens to develop new types of therapy. Importantly recent information shows that B-cell epitopes can be used to modify both T and B-cell function.Read moreRead less
A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial Of Probiotic And Peanut Oral Immunotherapy For The Treatment Of Peanut Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,887,302.00
Summary
A curative treatment for food allergy is required to prevent deaths and improve management. We recently trialed a new treatment for peanut allergy that was highly effective. Over 80% of children treated with Probiotic and Peanut Oral ImmunoTherapy (PPOIT) tolerated peanut as compared to 4% of children who received placebo. We now plan a larger multicentre trial to confirm these findings. If successful, we will have established a new treatment for peanut allergy and possibly all food allergies.
A Novel Strategy For The Early Diagnosis Of Cows Milk Protein Allergy In Infants.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$607,764.00
Summary
Infantile Cow's Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) is becoming increasingly more common. Symptoms due to CMPA (feeding difficulties, feed refusal, vomiting, crying and irritability) are clinically indistinguishable from reflux disease, leading to unnecessary anti-reflux treatments and delaying appropriate therapy. By using a state-of-the art system which more easily differentiates symptoms due to reflux disease from those due to CMPA, this project will improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis.
Anaphylaxis To Australian Native Ant Venoms; Major Allergens, Cross-reactivity, Diagnosis And Risk Assessment.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,813.00
Summary
Insect venom allergy is a major cause of life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) in this country, and native ants are the most frequent cause in some regions. For introduced insects (bees and wasps), venom extracts are widely available for diagnostic and therapeutic use, but this is not yet the case for native ants. As many as 50,000 Australians may be affected by allergy to stings from ants in the native genus Myrmecia. This project will provide an in-depth understanding of the ant species respo ....Insect venom allergy is a major cause of life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) in this country, and native ants are the most frequent cause in some regions. For introduced insects (bees and wasps), venom extracts are widely available for diagnostic and therapeutic use, but this is not yet the case for native ants. As many as 50,000 Australians may be affected by allergy to stings from ants in the native genus Myrmecia. This project will provide an in-depth understanding of the ant species responsible for anaphylaxis in Australia. We will develop a range of diagnostic test modules, a detailed national map of causative species, and a panel of reference venoms and allergic sera, so that accurate diagnostic tests can be assured, and so that high quality venom extracts can be provided for human use (immunotherapy). We will also study allergic volunteers for up to five years, so as to determine which people are at the highest risk of repeated stings and reactions and thus most likely to benefit from desensitisation. Current evidence suggests that the commonest cause of native insect venom allergy may be the jack jumper ant Myrmecia pilosula, for which a desensitising venom extract has been developed and shown to be highly effective in preventing life threatening reactions. The research described in this application will enable doctors to ensure an accurate diagnosis, which is an essential step before desensitising treatment can be offered for jack jumper allergy. Another large group of people are probably allergic to larger Myrmecia known as bull dog ants or inch ants. Our results with regard to cross-reactivity patterns and venom similarities will enable us to determine an optimum therapeutic mixture of bull dog ant venoms and thus enable us to provide treatment for people allergic to these ants as well.Read moreRead less
Prevention And Improved Management Of Paediatric Food Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$479,882.00
Summary
There is an urgent need to prevent food allergy and better manage its consequences. My research will identify: causes of food allergy (primary prevention); factors leading to adverse events in food allergic children (secondary prevention); and the role of food allergy in the ‘atopic march’ i.e. progression to other allergic conditions (tertiary prevention). The results of my research will be used to update policy and practice guidelines to change behaviour and improve clinical care.
The aim of this proposal is to test the safety of a novel immunotherapy based on Helicobacter pylori platform technology to treat childhood allergies. Repeated oral administration of killed H. pylori mimics colonisation in the stomach and assists the development of a balanced immune system without the associated disease risk of live H. pylori. To achieve this goal Professor Barry Marshall has assembled a cross-disciplinary team of experts from Industry, Academia and Clinic.
Population Prevalence And Environmental-genetic Predictors Of Food Allergy In An Infant Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$551,642.00
Summary
This study will measure which children are at greatest risk of food allergy. We plan to recruit 5000 children to test for food allergies, as well as asking a range of questions on different lifestyle factors such as diet and history of allergies . If positive, participants will be invited to a hospital clinic for tests and treatment. This will allow us to describe the epidemiology of food allergy, and assist the development of better services for those with food allergy in the community.