Scientists find bacteria that help kids avoid asthma
Researchers have identified specific bacteria found in cow barns that appear to help children develop immunity against asthma. The study suggests that exposure to these microbes in rural environments helps tune the immune system, supporting the 'hygiene hypothesis.'
Why it matters
These findings provide a potential biological mechanism for preventing chronic respiratory conditions in children through environmental exposure.
Hear this story View Comments German scientists identified bacteria present in cow digestion and poop that seem to help children exposed to them avoid developing asthma. The catch is they have to inhale the germs.
As rates of allergies, asthma, eczema and hay fever rose in industrial civilizations, children raised on farms did not seem to be affected. By the 1990s, research suggested that certain childhood infections helped the body tune its immune system, instead of overreacting to dust, pollen and other allergens. It became known as the “hygiene hypothesis” — staying too clean had a cost.
Now, researchers at LMU University Hospital and the Institute of Asthma and Allergy Prevention at Helmholtz Munich in Germany measured the bacteria that children tend to inhale when playing or working in cow barns and traced the mechanism that helps fight inflammation in their lungs.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in