World Allergy Congress: Superantigens Escalate Asthma

29.06.2005 / 13:38 / Rubriek: Informatief / Organisatie: Welt-allergie-kongress 2005

World Allergy Congress: Superantigens Escalate Asthma

MUNICH, Germany, June 29/PRNewswire/ --
'We've found evidence that superantigens are the cause of very severe allergies', reported Professor Claus Bachert from Ghent, Belgium at the World Allergy Congress in Munich.

Approximately one-third of the population is colonized with the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, harmlessly in most cases. In people with severe respiratory tract disease such as sinusitis or asthma, however, these bacteria may do very great harm by releasing enterotoxins which act as superantigens and activate a huge number of T-cells in the immune system. A massive inflammatory response is the result. In people with asthma, the disease may get wildly out of control and no longer respond to treatment with cortisone.

'Superantigens may be to blame for many of the approximately 2,700 asthma deaths in Germany', Bachert claims. 'We can't address the problem with antibiotics alone. A new vaccine might in future be able to prevent sinusitis or asthma from escalating with fatal consequences.'

Scientists are desperately seeking an effective weapon to combat staphylococcal infections and superantigens. The World Allergy Congress in Munich from June 26 to July 1 gives them an opportunity to share expertise. The World Allergy Congress is the annual conference of the World Allergy Organisation (WAO) and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI).

Press Office June 26 - July 1,
MasterMedia GmbH,
World Allergy Congress,
Munich,

26th June - 1st July 2005,
ICM, Press Office,
Hall C1,
Room C112,
+49-(0)89-949-71401
+49-(0)171-8905745
mastermedia@trans.net

Press Office after July 1,
MasterMedia GmbH,
Bodelschwinghstr. 17,
D-22337 Hamburg,
+49-(0)40-507113-35
loncar@mastermedia.de

Source: Welt-Allergie-Kongress 2005

Press Office June 26 - July 1, MasterMedia GmbH, World Allergy Congress, Munich, 26th June - 1st July 2005, ICM, Press Office, Hall C1, Room C112, +49-(0)89-949-71401 +49-(0)171-8905745 mastermedia@trans.net Press Office after July 1, MasterMedia GmbH, Bodelschwinghstr. 17, D-22337 Hamburg, +49-(0)40-507113-35 loncar@mastermedia.de