ND researchers develop peanut allergy inhibitor

By EMMA DUFFY news Writer

Peanut allergies are some of the most common in the world. scientists have some knowledge on these allergies and how they function, but do not know how to truly stop their symptoms. now, notre dame professor basar bilgicer is working with a team to research peanut allergy inhibitors.

The commonality and knowledge of peanut allergies is what pushed this condition to the forefront of their research, bilgicer said.

“it’s the most pervasive form. You know, the one that you hear the most about, because a number of people would have this condition,” he added. “it is the most studied, so we already knew the most about this specific allergy condition.” bilgicer noted that the goal of this study is to find a way to stop allergy symptoms before they start. Unlike an epipen, their new treatment does not stop symptoms after eating the allergen, rather it addresses the chemical makeup to stop the symptoms from occurring upon exposure. bilgicer said another a goal is to accomplish inhibition with the smallest impact possible on the immune system. so far, most allergy medicine attacks the immune system in the process of dealing with an allergen. bilgicer’s research would have the ability to change the way people deal with their allergies.

“a lot of these allergy treatments or medications, they are immunosuppressants, one way or another they block your immune system partially or you know, pretty broadly, which makes your exposure to pathogens becoming more dangerous for you,” he explained. “so this eliminates that concern, because it only blocks