Immunity Health News

Scientists have long known that immune responses differ between men and women, which is why they tend to use male animals in their research (in case female hormones complicate the study data).

But new research has shown in mice exposed to ozone a greater susceptibility to infection among females than males.

“If we could extrapolate what we found to the human population, it would mean women with lung infections may be at higher risk for negative outcomes if they are exposed to high amounts of air pollution, and in particular, ozone,” said Joanna Floros, Ph.D., Penn State College of Medicine professor of cellular and molecular physiology, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology, and the lead investigator on the study.

Read the whole article.

It seems those of us who grew up in dusty homes may have reason to thank our less fastidious parents.

A recent study of 574 infants by the University of Cincinnati concluded what many of us have already known intuitively: that early exposure to indoor microbes may help children develop stronger immune systems and reduce their risk of developing allergies.

Children exposed to high levels of “fungal glucans” and “bacterial endotoxins” were about three times less likely to wheeze than those in more sanitised settings. Read more.