Pollen significantly diminished the epithelial response to rhinovirus infectionand viral mimics, and decreased nuclear translocation of IRFs. In a murine RSV infection model, pollen increased pulmonary viral load in the absence of allergic sensitization. Evidence from different, independent human cohorts suggests that springtime pollen exposure compromises the respiratory antiviral response, not only in allergic, but also in non-allergic individuals.

Abbreviations: HNEC, human nasal epithelial cells; HRV16, human rhinovirus 16; IRF, interferon regulatory factor; MDA5, melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5; PBEC, primary bronchial epithelial cell; RIG-I, retinoic acid inducible gene-I; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; TLR3, toll-like receptor 3

The first worldwide perspective about Allergy/Immunology (A/I) Specialty, as depicted by the young members of the three main scientific societies in the field, has been realized. A great variability among different countries characterizes the specialty in terms of recognition, background formation, job/research/grants opportunities, and involvement of JMs into the societies’ activities. Overall, passion and enthusiasm for the specialty remain the strongest motivation for being active in the A/I field, although many critical aspects cannot be avoided.

In a large cohort study of 39,167 asthma patients, those with AIT had a decreased likelihood for disease progression, measured in symptomatic medication according to GINA. Younger patients benefited most from AIT, which is reflected in prevention or delay of asthma progression. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) monotherapy (GINA stage 2) is rarely prescribed in Germany for asthma patients over 14 years.

This study investigated the role of acid sphingomyelinase (Asm) in allergic bronchial asthma. Asm deficiency resulted in reduced T_H2 cytokine release both in vitro and in vivo. In the ovalbumin model, ASM^−/− mice were protected from bronchial asthma, showed decreased production of T_H2 cytokines and lower number of eosinophils.

Abbreviations: Asm, acid sphingomyelinase; BALF, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; OVA, ovalbumin

This study explores the performance of BAT, sIgE/total IgE, sIgG4 and sIgG4/sIgE ratio in Pru p 3- and Mal d 3-sensitized populations from Antwerp (ANT) and Barcelona (BCN). In BCN, only ratios of sIgG4/sIgE rMal d 3 and BAT rMal d 3 can identify clinically relevant Mal d 3 sensitization, whereas in ANT, only the sIgE/total IgE rPru p 3 ratio shows added value. NsLTP sensitization and diagnostic performance cannot be extrapolated from one population to another. BAT, basophil activation test; nsLTP, nonspecific lipid transfer protein.

Epidemiologic study of NHANES participants (n = 6963) revealed associations between household endotoxin level and sensitization to milk or egg, but not peanut. Complementary experimental study showed attenuated interferon- γ responses from endotoxin stimulation of PBMCs from children with allergy to milk or egg, but not peanut. These complementary findings suggest that endotoxin’s effects on food sensitization/allergy may differ by food allergy type.

Abbreviations: NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Structural modelling aids prediction of the impact of abacavir modifications on the activation of CD8⁺ T-cells. Abacavir analogues that stimulate CD8⁺ T-cells display a perturbation of natural peptides displayed by HLA-B*57:01. Enantiomeric forms of abacavir predicted to adopt different HLA-B*57:01 binding conformations display divergent CD8⁺ response profiles.

This study investigated the potential influence of alum in the tolerogenic properties imprinted by PM. Alum decreased expression of PD-L1 and production of IL-10, IL-6 and lactate, increased IL-23 release and inhibited mTOR activation in PM-activated DCs. Alum suppressed PM-induced functional FOXP3⁺ Treg cells and promoted Th1/Th2/Th17 responses.

We assessed whether the prevalence of allergic respiratory disease has continued to increase in the current millennium among Danish adults. Both specific IgE (sIgE) and skin-prick test (SPT) sensitization showed an increase from 2006 to 2013-2016. These trends were supported by a nationwide increase in annual sales (including over-the-counter drugs) of intranasal corticosteroids and oral antihistamines from 1997-2015.