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Allergy and immunology news

Scratching that bug bite might feel good at first but science explains why it's a bad idea

You've likely heard it since childhood: Don't scratch that bug bite or rash, you'll make it worse. But why would something that feels so good be bad?

Researchers discover new driver of asthma-related inflammation

Researchers at National Jewish Health have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that helps drive inflammation in allergic asthma, offering new insight into how the disease develops and potentially revealing new targets ...

What a 'silenced' chromosome can tell us about autoimmunity

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus, is an autoimmune disorder that occurs more frequently in women. Having multiple X chromosomes has been associated with an increased risk of developing lupus; ...

Mapping the hidden rules of a key immune sensor

The immune system depends on molecular alarms that detect danger inside cells. One of these alarms is STING, short for "stimulator of interferon genes." STING helps cells respond to infections, damaged DNA and cancer. When ...

Gut fungi may hold the key to treating asthma worldwide

Two new studies jointly published in Nature Communications reveal that certain species of fungi in the gut play a key role in the development of immune dysregulation and some pediatric allergic diseases—and may be promising ...

Why pollution affects some asthma patients more than others

For many people with asthma, air-quality advisories are harbingers of worsening symptoms. But for reasons science has struggled to explain, the extent to which pollution exacerbates asthma varies widely from person to person.

Teaching the immune system to fight aging

Maybe we shouldn't be surprised that so-called "zombie cells" come with a catch. In response to severe damage, when cells can't recover full function but aren't ready to die, they can become senescent, in a zombie-like state ...

Hay fever, antihistamines and the evidence on dementia risk

For millions of people around the world, pollen season means weeks of sneezing, itchy eyes, and a blocked or runny nose. The timing varies depending on where you live and which plants are in flower, but grass pollen is one ...

Egg allergy rates declining in Australia

Australian guidelines recommending eggs be introduced into a child's diet in the first year of life have seen the number of children with egg allergy drop by 17%, researchers have found.

Can you really drain your lymphatic system, and should you?

Did you know your body has an inbuilt sewerage system? It's called the lymphatic system, and is a crucial part of how your body fights infection and disease. Lately, the lymphatic system is causing a stir online, with some ...