Gut bacteria that protect against food allergies identified

A new study in mice shows that he presence of Clostridia, a common class of gut bacteria, protects against food allergies, particularly peanuts. The finding paves the way for probiotic therapies to treat these allergies. By inducing immune responses that prevent food allergens from entering the bloodstream, Clostridia minimise allergen exposure and prevent sensitization – a key step in the development of food allergies. The discovery points toward probiotic therapies for this so-far untreatable condition, report scientists from the University of Chicago, Aug 25 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.