Allergy News and Research

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The term allergy encompasses a wide range of conditions; it is not a disease in itself. In 1906 Clemens von Pirquet was the first to describe allergies as a changed or altered reaction of the immune system in response to exposure to foreign proteins. These days the term allergy – medically termed hypersensitivity, signifies an exaggerated reaction to foreign substances.

Unilever and FDA recall certain Shedd’s Country Crock chilled side-dish products

Unilever United States, Inc., of Englewood Cliffs, NJ, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is voluntarily recalling certain Shedd’s Country Crock® chilled side-dish products because they may contain undeclared sulfites.

21 Nov 2009

Multi-state electronic tracking program to prevent diversion of common medicines for methamphetamine production

The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) today announced a new initiative in the war on methamphetamine. The National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx) is a multi-state electronic tracking program that enforces purchase limitations on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines containing pseudoephedrine in real-time at the point of sale.

21 Nov 2009

Discovery holds promise in fighting cancer, AIDS and autoimmune disorders

21 Nov 2009

Soligenix receives $9.4M NIAID grant to develop technology for advancing rapidly acting vaccines

Soligenix, Inc., formerly known as DOR BioPharma, Inc., a late-stage biotechnology company, announced today that it has formed a consortium to develop thermostable technology to advance RiVax(TM) and other rapidly acting vaccines. Soligenix received a $9.4 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to support this work.

20 Nov 2009

Discovery of Th22 cells may help in developing effective therapies for chronic skin and respiratory diseases

The newly discovered Th22 cells are a previously unknown subset of T helper cells. T helper cells are white blood cells that help activate other immune cells when the body is infected by viruses or bacteria. At the same time they help the body to tolerate own tissue and to prevent or curb inflammation.

20 Nov 2009

Positive results from recently completed phase II clinical study of ToleroMune therapy announced

Circassia Ltd, a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on allergy, today announced positive results from a recently completed phase II clinical study of its ToleroMune(R) cat allergy therapy, which successfully identified the optimal dosing regimens to progress into late-stage development.

20 Nov 2009

Discoveries on anti-HIV antibodies may help researchers create an effective HIV vaccine

New discoveries about anti-HIV antibodies may bring researchers a step closer to creating an effective HIV vaccine, according to a new paper co-authored by scientists at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.

20 Nov 2009

Detrimental bacterial DNA identification method for use in winemaking developed

In winemaking, grape juice is turned to wine during the fermentation process by the action of a number of essential beneficial microorganisms -namely bacteria. Sometimes, though, harmful bacteria also populate the fermentation vat, spoiling the wine in the process.

20 Nov 2009

Sugar-coated polymer may offer a new solution for allergy and asthma

Scientists at Johns Hopkins and their colleagues have developed sugar-coated polymer strands that selectively kill off cells involved in triggering aggressive allergy and asthma attacks. Their advance is a significant step toward crafting pharmaceuticals to fight these often life-endangering conditions in a new way.

20 Nov 2009

Genetic identity of cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody discovered

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have uncovered the genetic identity of a cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody, a discovery that sheds new light on infection control and immune disorders. The discovery is such a crucial part of immunology that UAB researchers, in conjunction with Japanese researchers, are asking that the gene linked to this antibody receptor be renamed to better describe its role in early immune responses.

19 Nov 2009

People with egg allergy can have H1N1 flu vaccine in graded doses

As flu season got underway this fall, Dr. Catherine Monteleone, an allergist, noticed that her office started to receive an unusually high number of calls from people with egg allergy. They previously had avoided flu vaccines because of their sensitivity to eggs. This year, with all the attention being paid to the novel H1N1 influenza, those patients want to be protected against flu, and they contacted her to find out if they are candidates for inoculation.

19 Nov 2009

Opinions: Fighting TB; currency transaction tax

Though tuberculosis "is one of the world's leading killers … few citizens, scientists and policymakers are demanding more attention to TB research, treatment and prevention. … It's time to bring TB research into the 21st century," Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, writes in an MSNBC opinion piece.

19 Nov 2009

New certification standard for cleaning products aims for reducing allergens and polluting agents

The growing asthma & allergy friendly(TM) Certification Program announced today that it has developed and adopted a certification standard and testing protocol for Non-Disinfecting Hard Surface Spray Cleaning Products. The asthma & allergy friendly(TM) Certification Program - administered by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) in partnership with the international research organization, Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) - is an independent, non-exclusive certification program created to scientifically test and identify consumer products that are more suitable for people with asthma and allergies.

18 Nov 2009

Previous flu infections can reduce the severity of H1N1

Researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology have found that previous influenza infections may provide at least some level of immunity to the H1N1 "swine" flu. "The question we asked was, "Is the swine flu more like the seasonal flu or like a totally new strain of influenza where there would be no immunity?," said Alessandro Sette, Ph.D., an internationally recognized vaccine expert and director of the La Jolla Institute's Center for Infectious Disease.

18 Nov 2009

American Cancer Society partners with ENTA to spread anti-smoking message among teens

The American Cancer Society and ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP (ENTA) are once again teaming up to bring a strong and relevant anti-smoking message to teens and ENTA patients through a strategic partnership that includes outreach to local high schools and patient education.

18 Nov 2009

Th22 cell to control inflammation in body to help fight off infection discovered

A new type of immune cell that can be out of control in certain chronic inflammatory diseases, worsening the symptoms of conditions like psoriasis and asthma, is described for the first time in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

17 Nov 2009

Researchers discover a way to boost levels of palmitoylethanolamide

UC Irvine pharmacology researchers have discovered a way to boost levels of a natural body fat that helps decrease inflammation, pointing to possible new treatments for allergies, illnesses and injuries related to the immune system.

17 Nov 2009

Elsevier to publish official journal of ACAAI

Elsevier is pleased to announce that beginning with Volume 104 (2010) it will assume publication of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the official journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).

17 Nov 2009

Healthy adults may have better immunity to 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, says study

A new study shows that molecular similarities exist between the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus and other strains of seasonal H1N1 virus that have been circulating in the population since 1988. These results suggest that healthy adults may have a level of protective immune memory that can blunt the severity of infection caused by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

17 Nov 2009

FDA approves CSL's seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines for children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the CSL Limited's seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines to include children ages 6 months and older. These vaccine were previously approved for use in adults, ages 18 years and older

17 Nov 2009

Allergy News and Research

Further Reading

Unilever and FDA recall certain Shedd’s Country Crock chilled side-dish products

Multi-state electronic tracking program to prevent diversion of common medicines for methamphetamine production

Discovery holds promise in fighting cancer, AIDS and autoimmune disorders

Soligenix receives $9.4M NIAID grant to develop technology for advancing rapidly acting vaccines

Discovery of Th22 cells may help in developing effective therapies for chronic skin and respiratory diseases

Positive results from recently completed phase II clinical study of ToleroMune therapy announced

Discoveries on anti-HIV antibodies may help researchers create an effective HIV vaccine

Detrimental bacterial DNA identification method for use in winemaking developed

Sugar-coated polymer may offer a new solution for allergy and asthma

Genetic identity of cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody discovered

People with egg allergy can have H1N1 flu vaccine in graded doses

Opinions: Fighting TB; currency transaction tax

New certification standard for cleaning products aims for reducing allergens and polluting agents

Previous flu infections can reduce the severity of H1N1

American Cancer Society partners with ENTA to spread anti-smoking message among teens

Th22 cell to control inflammation in body to help fight off infection discovered

Researchers discover a way to boost levels of palmitoylethanolamide

Elsevier to publish official journal of ACAAI

Healthy adults may have better immunity to 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, says study

FDA approves CSL's seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines for children

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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