It disclosed the secret origin of allergies

A group of researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine were able to explain the origin of allergies. Biologists have identified the molecular similarities between proteins cause allergic reactions from food proteins and multicellular parasites. The findings are published in the scientific journal PLOS Computational Biology.

As it turned out, allergic reactions are the wrong response of the immune system to harmless substances from the environment. As we know, the human immune system has been formed in the course of evolution, and its main goal - to counteract diseases carried by parasitic organisms. However, the great strides in medicine, we were able to win the majority of these parasites, the immune system is now mistakenly thinks they are allergic to food or air.

The researchers, led by Nicholas Fernhemom used computational biology techniques to calculate exactly which proteins from organisms parasitic worms can cause similar allergic reactions. It was found that one of these proteins is a part of pollen, which, in turn, is a very common allergen.

"Allergies - is the price humanity pays for the salvation of parasites," - said Dr. Fernhem.

Conclusions Fernhema and his colleagues indirectly confirmed by other studies: for example, the study of leading a primitive way of life of the peoples has shown that living in their bodies bacteria and parasites protect them from many diseases characteristic of modern developed societies. Thus, the loss of intestinal microbes and parasitic worms is one of the factors contributing to autoimmune diseases.