Mucosal tissue, which lines both the respiratory and digestive tracts, has long been known as an effective barrier against allergens. Recent research shows that Foxp3-directed regulatory T cells (Treg) are produced in the mucosal tissue and remain there to prevent allergic reactions. New ones are tailor-made every time an unknown protein is inhaled or ingested.

Consuming peanuts and peanut products during pregnancy may raise the infant's risk of developing asthma by about 50 per cent, suggests new research from The Netherlands. Over 4,000 women took part in the study, and data was obtained for 2,832 children.

Part time (approx 16 hours per week), six month contract The Allergen Bureau is seeking an experienced Food Technologist to join, as an external contractor, its technical support team for an initial period of six months (approximately 16 hours per week).

A review of the 'hygiene hypothesis' is currently available free to download from www.blackwell-synergy.com. The ‘hygiene hypothesis’ proposes that a lower incidence of infection in early childhood, resulting from too clean an environment, could be a cause of the recent rapid rise in atopic disorders.

A recently published review looks at the advances in understanding egg allergens, primarily ovalbumin, ovomucoid, ovotransferrin and lysozyme. The paper covers the subjects of hypoallergenic egg products, detecting egg allergens and immunotherapeutic approaches to resolving allergies to egg proteins.

A new article reviews possible risk factors and theories for the development of food allergy. It is noted that previous strategies to prevent food allergy through allergen avoidance during pregnancy, breast-feeding, and infancy have more recently been called into question.