Peanuts and pollen, cat fur and dust mites are leading causes of the rising global prevalence of allergy. Increased exposure to barely visible agents and to food ingredients that can trigger life-threatening reactions means that by 2050 an estimated one in two persons will suffer an severe allergic reaction. Why does our immune system mount such extreme reactions? To answer this question, researchers are looking into genetic interactions between environmental and lifestyle factors to discover new ways to prevent and treat allergy.
