Vaccination
Vaccine developed against dust mite allergy
By IANS
Apr 27, 2006 - 1:42:00 PM

A Swiss company has developed a vaccine that it claims could be effective against dust mite allergy.

Cytos, one of a number of firms developing anti-allergen vaccines, carried out a study of the new vaccine and found significant benefits against dust mite allergy.

The vaccine consists of an empty virus filled with DNA designed to trigger a response from the immune system attached to a protein from the dust mite excrement - the allergen - which would usually cause an allergic reaction, reported the online edition of BBC News.

It is designed to boost the activity of the immune system to suppress that allergic reaction, the company said.

The company injected 19 patients to check the safety and efficacy of its vaccine. Of them, 17 were found to be completely tolerant to the mites, with no allergic reactions. They experienced far fewer allergy symptoms such as sneezing while asthmatics did not have attacks.

The dust mites - oval shaped, cream coloured, eight-legged creatures - are so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye.

The mites, which survive on scales of human skin, finger nails, hair, pollen, fungi and bacteria can be found even at clean homes, offices and many other places. They themselves are not allergenic, but the proteins they produce are.

They are one of the most common causes of perennial asthma and allergy symptoms.

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