WE NOW know why a whiff of pollen or a hint of peanut can cause such severe allergic reactions. The discovery should make it possible to design more effective drugs.
Most anti-allergy drugs on the market simply subdue the symptoms. Antihistamines, for example, can fight off red eyes and runny noses, but they can have side effects. Plus, the more you use, the more you need to get the same effect.
Most of the irritating effects are triggered by antibodies called IgEs. These are present in everyone’s immune systems, though a particularly allergy-prone person can have thousands of times more…
