Abstract
Background: Food allergy now affects 1 in 10 Australian infants, highhghting the need for effective prevention strategies.
Methods: I investigated the effect of egg exposure on infant egg-specific immune responses, both with solid foods Introduction and through breast milk.
Results: Prior to the introduction of solid foods, infants had elevated Th2 cytokine responses to egg that predicted the development of egg allergy. Maternal egg ingestion during in the first 6 weeks of breastfeeding were also shown to beneficially effect egg-specific immune responses in infants.
Conclusions: These findings highlight an important period of egg specific immune development prior to solid food Introduction.
Methods: I investigated the effect of egg exposure on infant egg-specific immune responses, both with solid foods Introduction and through breast milk.
Results: Prior to the introduction of solid foods, infants had elevated Th2 cytokine responses to egg that predicted the development of egg allergy. Maternal egg ingestion during in the first 6 weeks of breastfeeding were also shown to beneficially effect egg-specific immune responses in infants.
Conclusions: These findings highlight an important period of egg specific immune development prior to solid food Introduction.
| Original language | English |
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| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
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| Award date | 30 Mar 2017 |
| Publication status | Unpublished - 2017 |