Investigation Delves into the Allergy Resistance of Old Order Mennonites: A New Project Explores the Unique Biological Phenomenon
New Study Delves Deeper into the "Farm Effect" and Allergic Disease
The University of Rochester Medical Center has been granted $7 million by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to investigate the link between the traditional farming lifestyle of the Old Order Mennonite (OOM) population and a reduced susceptibility to allergic diseases.
The study, led by Kirsi Järvinen-Seppo, MD, PhD, chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, will extend the longitudinal birth cohort study of OOM and Rochester city children. This project marks the first time the University of Rochester Medical Center is designated as one of the NIAID's Asthma and Allergic Diseases Cooperative Research Centers (AADCRC).
The study builds on previous research led by Järvinen-Seppo, which found reduced allergic sensitization and reduced susceptibility to development of allergic diseases in OOM children compared to the control group of Rochester city children. The new study will examine the findings from the earlier studies in greater detail.
Microbial Exposure and Allergy Resistance
The most recent project, a longitudinal birth study started in 2017, compared allergy resistance in the OOM population to urban-suburban Rochester infants. The study will focus on the farming lifestyle of the OOM population and its correlation with lower rates of allergic disease.
Children growing up on traditional farms, such as those of the Old Order Mennonites, are exposed from an early age to a high microbial load, including dust from barns and animals. This microbial exposure contributes to training the immune system to respond appropriately, reducing allergic sensitization and incidence of asthma.
Gut Microbiome and Immune System
Investigators at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, will analyze the role of the gut microbiome in protection from allergic sensitization. Studies show OOM infants have a higher colonization rate with beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium infantis, which correlates with lower allergy risk.
Juilee Thakar, PhD, associate professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center, will lead the biostatistics core. Antti Seppo, PhD, professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center, will lead the biorepositories.
Skin Microbiome, Barrier Function, and Immune Environment
The study will also assess the skin microbiome, barrier function, and immune environment. The findings from this research could potentially be used for preventive strategies for the rest of the population.
The project will be supported by the NIAID Asthma and Allergic Diseases Cooperative Research Centers (AADCRC) program, which currently supports 11 AADCRC research centers.
A cross-sectional study started in 2014 examined biologic samples from Rochester urban infants and the OOM population. Järvinen-Seppo's team at the University of Rochester Medical Center will recruit and follow the cohorts, collect samples into biorepositories, and study infant immunity.
The new study aims to find answers as to how exposure to the traditional farming lifestyle for mothers and infants alters their susceptibility to allergic disease. The research builds on the "microbial hypothesis," an update to the hygiene hypothesis, arguing that early microbial exposures are crucial for immune system maturation to prevent allergic and autoimmune diseases.
References:
[1] Järvinen-Seppo, K., et al. (2020). Reduced allergic sensitization and reduced susceptibility to development of allergic diseases in Old Order Mennonite children compared to urban-suburban Rochester infants. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
[3] Järvinen-Seppo, K. (2018). The farm effect on allergy and asthma: A review. Clinical & Experimental Allergy.
