Assignment:
There are many symptoms surrounding allergic reactions and occasionally, some conditions may include an accompanying fever causing one to feel a bit confused or "dazed".
1. How might you go about treating immediate (Type I) hypersensitivity?
2. When a person has hay fever, some common symptoms are runny nose, weeping eyes, difficulties in breathing, etc. (a) Why does this happen? (b)Antihistamines are often given as treatment: what is their mechanism of action? (c) Describe how allergy shots might lessen the effects of type I hypersensitivity?
3. Explain how monoclonal antibodies against IgE might help those that suffer from allergies.
4. How would you test the relative importance of genetic influence on development of allergies compared with environmental influences on the development of allergy?
5. List 3 specific inflammatory mediators (chemicals) involved in Type I hypersensitive reactions and briefly desribe their effect.
6. In the year 1900, the incident of allergy was about 1-2%. Today, it is almost 30%. Why has the prevalence of allergies in the population increased?
7. The hygiene hypothesis poses that there is a connection between environmental conditions and certain inappropriate immune responses. If you were a supporter of the hygiene hypothesis, what recommendations would you make to keep people healthier?