Eating Plants May Protect
Against Asthma

Eating genetically modified plants could one day be used to “immunize” sufferers against asthma, according to Australian scientists who have engineered a new type of lupin. Dr Simon Hogan, a molecular scientist at the Australian National University in Canberra and colleagues report their research in the current issue of the Journal of Immunology. Hogan and team have developed a genetically- modified lupin that they report protects against asthma in laboratory mice. The asthma protection is based on the principle that very low doses of an allergen can be used to induce a protective immune response in the body. This “tolerance” ensures that when the body is exposed to a larger dose of the allergen, it is not triggered into an overactive immune response that can lead to inflamed airways and ultimately an asthma attack. The same principle underlies vaccination by injection. So far, experiments with plant-based vaccines - using plants such as bananas, potatoes and tomatoes - have been for treatment of infectious diseases, and this is the first time that a plant-based vaccine has been used to protect against allergy. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation Online 8/26/03 via Agnet).

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