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STAFF
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Laboratory Head
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A/Prof Imme Penttila
Ph: 08 8161 7072
Email: irmeli.penttila@adelaide.edu.au
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Research Staff
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Adaweyah El-Merhibi |
adaweyah.elmerhibi@adelaide.edu.au |
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Cathryn De Nichilo |
cathryn.denichilo@adelaide.edu.au |
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Kerry Lymn |
kerry.lymn@adelaide.edu.au |
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GOALS
Allergic diseases represent a major cause of morbidity and
disability world wide. Life-threatening anaphylactic reactions
can occur in food-allergic individuals. Children are particularly
at risk of inadvertently ingesting food they are sensitized
to leading to serious consequences such as anaphylaxis and
even death. Our overall goal is to understand the early mechanisms
underlying the development of food allergy in infancy as well
as the development of therapeutic interventions.
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RESEARCH PROJECTS
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1. Understanding the mechanism underlying
food allergy development
Both genetic and environmental factors influence the maintenance
of immune homeostasis and the development of food allergy.
When the immune system in early life encounters food antigens,
genetic environmental and dietary influences lead to an immune
response where either tolerance develops to the antigen or
an immune activation and hypersensitivity results. We are
assessing immune response profiles after introduction of food
antigens in early life. The foods we focus on include egg
and cow's milk proteins, to which resolution of allergy usually
occurs over time, and peanut, which frequently results in
lifelong hypersensitivity and potential anaphylaxis. We are
focusing on the development of oral tolerance, the importance
of breast milk and timing of the introduction of solid food
antigens for programming the developing immune response.
The mechanism(s) by which the normal intestinal immune system
responds to food and the factors involved in subsequent development
of food related allergies remain unclear. The mucosal immune
system in the suckling period requires oral antigen exposure
to learn to develop immuno-regulatory mechanisms. We show
that in early life oral antigen exposure during maternal milk
feeding helps promote appropriate immuno-regulatory mechanisms
toward food antigens, in contrast to oral antigen exposure
during formula fed feeding. Figure 1A and 1B show dual labelled
CD4+ Foxp3+ T Regulatory cells and Foxp3 mRNA respectively
in the mesenteric lymph nodes after early oral exposure to
the milk protein allergen ? lactoglobulin in the presence
of maternal milk (NS+ BLG) or formula (FF). We have highlighted
the importance of maternal milk in regulating the development
of the mucosal immune response when food antigens are introduced
into the infant diet.
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2. Milk bioactives in regulating
infant immune development
Oral antigens, like food are normally processed in a manner
that results in a regulated immune response, which does not
injure the host. After birth the gastrointestinal tract is
exposed to food at a time when the gut immune system has not
fully developed. Therefore the potential for an inappropriate
immune response to food is increased, particularly in formula
fed or allergy prone individuals. Breastfeeding has been shown
to provide protection against infection in infancy as well
as allergy development. Cytokines in the breast milk provide
benefits to the infant, including regulation of the developing
immune system.
The aim of this more strategic industry linked project was
to identify bioactive milk fractions with immuno-regulatory
activity with the potential to prevent inappropriate immune
activation to food antigens. We have achieved our major milestones
for years one to three and have demonstrated immuno-regulatory
activity in a milk bioactive fraction, both in vitro and in
vivo. A preliminary patent application has been submitted
on this work.
Figure 1.
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