Common bacteria could help prevent food allergies
"Bacteria which naturally live inside our digestive system can help prevent allergies and may become a source of treatment," BBC News reports after new research found evidence that Clostridia bacteria helps prevent peanut allergies in mice.
The study in question showed that mice lacking normal gut bacteria showed increased allergic responses when they were given peanut extracts.
The researchers then tested the effects of recolonising the mice's guts with specific groups of bacteria. They found that giving Clostridia bacteria (a group of bacteria that includes the "superbug" Clostridium difficile) reduced the allergic response.
The researchers hope the findings could one day support the development of new approaches to prevent or treat food allergies using probiotic treatments.
These are promising findings, but they are in the very early stages. Only mice have so far been studied, with a specific focus on peanut allergy and Clostridia bacteria. Further study developments from this animal research are awaited.