Fungus Helps Build the Immune System

Infants may be protected against future allergies by early exposure to indoor fungus molecules, claims a new study.

Scientists at the University of Cincinnati (UC; OH, USA) analyzed the effects of microbial exposures to both fungal glucans and endotoxins (natural compounds secreted from disease-causing agents like bacteria) in 574 infants, enrolled in the Cincinnati childhood allergy and air pollution study (CCAAPS), who were identified as being at greater risk for future allergies because at least one parent had known allergies. The researchers collected dust samples and analyzed them for indoor allergens, fungal glucans, and bacterial endotoxins. They also gathered information about the home, including the presence of any visible mold and water damage. Environmental and food allergy development was monitored through annual skin prick tests.

The results showed that that infants who were exposed to high levels of indoor fungal components--known as fungal glucans--were nearly three times less likely to wheeze compared with infants exposed to low levels. The findings were reported in the May 2007 edition of the journal Allergy.

"Certain microbes can have helpful affects in the body, but antibacterial disinfectants can't discriminate between helpful and harmful microbes--they destroy them all,” said lead author Yulia Iossifova, Ph.D., an environmental health scientist at UC. "This eliminates the natural competition among bacteria and fungi, so the surviving microbes are often the infectious ones that can develop resistance to drugs designed to eliminate them.”

Early-life exposure to common microbial components can stimulate the body's immune system to produce infection- and allergy-fighting substances. Because of this, people should avoid overusing antibacterial sprays and soaps to clean their bodies and homes.


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