March 23, 2012

Researchers from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the University of Melbourne have identified a new way to accurately test for peanut allergy, potentially reducing the number of false diagnoses.

The new test uses the protein Ara h2 and involves a two-step screening process.

March 19, 2012

Australian research presented at the recent American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's Annual Meeting in Florida has confirmed a link between ambient ultraviolet radiation absorbed from sunlight and increased levels of peanut allergy in children.

The researchers identified a "latitude gradient" for peanut and egg food allergies and eczema, but not for asthma, when they examined 10,000 Australian children.

December 1, 2011

Scientists have been puzzled for a while why more people seem to be allergic to peanuts than soybeans, despite the fact that both legumes share similar amino acids.

Doctors at the Mt Sinai School of Medicine in New York theorised that anti-inflammatory compounds found in soybeans known as isoflavones could be the key to this puzzle.

November 3, 2011

Researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at the Mt Sinai School of Medicine in New York are taking another looking at traditional Chinese herbal remedies as possible treatments for peanut allergy.

A paper published on September 30 examines herbal extracts Rubia cordifolia (Qiancao) and Dianthus superbus (Qumai).

September 28, 2011

New Zealand researchers are investigating how children can become allergic to peanuts, without ever tasting them - and it looks like skin lotions could be to blame.

Prof Graham Le Gros, Director of the Malaghan Institute, said parents of allergic children often say their child has never eaten peanuts.

August 18, 2011

Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia is looking for children to enrol in a study to test research that children with one particular nut allergy may gain protection by eating other nuts that they're not allergic to.

A pilot study followed 47 allergic children who ate "non-allergic" nuts (nuts that had been tested as safe for them); they were then reviewed after 6-12 months.

May 31, 2011

Clinical studies have begun for a new "patch" therapy which could prove to be a breakthrough for peanut allergy sufferers.

Viaskin® Peanut has been developed by French company DBV Technologies and is designed to help lower sensitivity in people with peanut allergy.

January 19, 2011

A team of medical experts at King's College London is recruiting mothers who are exclusively breastfeeding their infants to test the theory that the early introduction of certain foods into infants' diets may stop them developing allergies.

December 20, 2010

A team of Melbourne researchers is hopeful it has identified a possible vaccine treatment for peanut allergy.

The scientists, from Monash University, have identified a peptide that targets T-cells specific to a major peanut allergen, the protein Ara h2.

May 17, 2010

The Queensland Government has launched an online course to help teachers and school staff respond to potentially life-threatening severe allergic reactions.

Every Queensland State School will also receive funding to purchase adrenaline auto-injectors (EpiPens) to include in their first aid kits.