Parasitic infections lead to an increase in the immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration in the blood of affected individuals in a similar way to type I allergies. A so-called “parasite hypothesis” states that this IgE provides important protection against parasites and that the development of allergen-specific IgE in the context of allergies to environmental allergens (e.g. tree and grass pollen) or food allergies is a misdirected, archetypal anti-parasitic immune response without a recognizable protective function.
In allergy diagnostics, the measurement of specific IgEs in the blood of allergic individuals is already the focus of clinical laboratory diagnostics. However, the IgE response has not yet been used to diagnose parasitic infections or important fungal pathogens (e.g. Aspergillus).
In this GO-Bio initial project Prof. Dr. Falcone and his research group are now developing an innovative, presumably highly sensitive technology based on the IgE response for parasite diagnostics in both human and veterinary medicine.