Springer Allergy Prevention and Exacerbation: The Paradox of Microbial Impact on the Immune System (Birkhäuser Advances in Infectious Diseases)

Allergy is developing into one of the most prevalent diseases affecting individuals in the very early days of life. While the cause of this epidemic is still unclear, it appears that the westernized life style is playing an important role, which includes nutrition, possibly air pollution as well as hygienic conditions. While epidemiologic studies were able to narrow down these factors, basic research discovered novel mechanisms that control the organism´s tolerance against allergens. Particularly interesting is the role of microorganisms that colonize or infect a host and thereby cause damage and immunological activation followed by sensitization or exacerbation of already existing sensitizations. However at the same time microbial activation of the immune system can help to generate a protective immunity that prevents allergen sensitization. The current book is collecting these evidences and connects epidemiologic and clinical mechanistic knowledge. Only the synthesis of this knowledge will help to find solutions to the ongoing allergy epidemic in terms of public health activities, prevention and therapy. From the Back Cover Allergy is developing into one of the most prevalent diseases affecting individuals in the very early days of life. While the cause of this epidemic is still unclear, it appears that the westernized life style is playing an important role, which includes nutrition, possibly air pollution as well as hygienic conditions. While epidemiologic studies were able to narrow down these factors, basic research discovered novel mechanisms that control the organism´s tolerance against allergens. Particularly interesting is the role of microorganisms that colonize or infect a host and thereby cause damage and immunological activation followed by sensitization or exacerbation of already existing sensitizations. However at the same time microbial activation of the immune system can help to generate a protective immunity that prevents allergen sensitization. The current book is collecting these evidences and connects epidemiologic and clinical mechanistic knowledge. Only the synthesis of this knowledge will help to find solutions to the ongoing allergy epidemic in terms of public health activities, prevention and therapy. About the Author Prof. Carsten Schmidt-Weber has been the director of the Center for Allergy and Environment (ZAUM) since 2010 and is a steering member of the Allergy and ImmunityCluster. Prof. Schmidt-Weber studied biochemistry and immunology in Darmstadt and Erlangen, Germany. He then attended the Harvard Medical School in Boston as a postdoctoral fellow and worked at the Swiss Institute for Allergy and Asthma in Davos, where he pursued theresearch for his postdoctoral teaching qualification (habilitation). From October 2007 to March 2010 he worked as areader at the Imperial College in London. Since 2010 he has been professor of the newly founded Chair of Molecular Allergology at TUM and Helmholtz Center Munich. He is a member of the Collegium International Allergologicum, the German Society for Immunology (DGFI) and the German Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI). He has published over 50 original works, as well as review and book articles in prestigious professional journals.