Thread by @PhilippStarkl

Very happy (and relieved) that our work on a beneficial function of the #AllergyModule of the #ImmuneSystem (#IgE antibodies and #MastCells) in host defense against #bacteria is out: cell.com/immunity/fullt…
Please check out the paper or the thread below if you want to know more

2/11 First things first: Many thanks to the amazing people and friends involved in this study over the last 6 years, especially my mentors Steve Galli @stanford and @sylviaknapplab as well as all co-authors (on twitter: @lauren_popov, @S_Zahalka, @maryemradhouani, @immceptionl)..

3/11 ...and host institutions @cemm_news, @meduni_wien and @stanfordmed; special thanks to @bobby_network for the superfancy 3D artwork!

4/11 So here we go: given that IgE antibodies and mast cells play such a critical and dangerous role in #allergies, we (as many others before us) wondered what the evolutionary reason for maintaining this #AllergyModule could be.

5/11 Apart from the textbook info that it might contribute to host defense against #parasites, another idea was proposed in 1991 by #MargieProfet, a brilliant evolutionary biologist previously @UCBerkeley: the #ToxinHypothesis.

6/11 In her theoretical review introducing the #ToxinHypothesis (journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/41…), Profet proposed that #AllergicReactions represent a host defense mechanism against noxious substances, such as venoms and toxins. In 2013, the lab of @RMedzhitov (sciencedirect.com/science/articl…)..

7/11 and our lab (sciencedirect.com/science/articl…) published evidence in support of Profet’s ideas, showing that the #AllergyModule can contribute to acquired host defense against #BeeVenom (constituents). We confirmed this function later for #RussellsViper venom sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

8/11 We next wondered whether our findings regarding the Toxin Hypothesis extend from insects and reptile venoms to probably the most widespread and abundant living source of toxins: bacteria. Using #infection models with the bacterium #StaphylococcusAureus, we found...

9/11 ...in the current study that S. aureus skin infection-induced IgE antibodies increase the inflammatory and antibacterial mast cell response to secreted bacterial products. #AdaptiveImmunity to the skin infection granted protection against severe secondary infections and...

10/11 ...we discovered important contributions of IgE antibodies and mast cells in this acquired host defense in our experimental model.

11/11 We think that our findings might indicate that one evolutionary reason for retaining the #AllergyModule might be this discovered function in #ImmuneDefense against toxin-producing pathogenic bacteria, such as S. aureus.
Thanks for reading!
@threadreaderapp unroll

@SylviaKnapp_Lab