Microbial Exposure & Childhood Allergies |
Our research group, in collaboration with European partners, has shown that children who grow up on traditional farms are protected from asthma, hay fever and allergic sensitisation. Early-life contact with livestock, and consumption of unprocessed cow’s milk have been identified as the most effective protective exposures. We currently run the Swiss branch of a European birth cohort of farm and non-farm children (PASTURE/EFRAIM) and analyse data from the large cross-sectional collaborative project GABRIEL, to better understand the specific components of the farming environment that confer protection. The interactions between these components and the innate immune system are of specific interest to the group.