Proof of concept study of combined allergen immunotherapy and antibiotics for the treatment of chronic atopic dermatitis

特应性皮炎（湿疹）影响高达20%的英国人口，并与哮喘和花粉热密切相关。我们已经证明，一种常见的皮肤感染，金黄色葡萄球菌，可以显着改变身体对无害的环境蛋白质或过敏原的反应。因此，个体更有可能对过敏原作出反应，如屋尘螨，如果他们在葡萄球菌感染的同时遇到它。我们的发现可能为特应性皮炎以及特应性和其他过敏性疾病，包括哮喘，花粉热和花生过敏提供了一种新的机制。我们将研究是否可以通过联合抗细菌治疗和过敏原脱敏来改善患有严重特应性皮炎的成人患者的症状。我们还将采集研究受试者的血液样本，以检查治疗期间免疫反应的变化。这将使我们对疾病的发生方式以及我们如何在未来的临床试验中改进我们的结果有重要的见解。我们将在科学会议上和通过出版物展示我们的发现，但也将在适当的时候与公众和媒体联系。格雷厄姆·奥格博士参与了向公众介绍科学的活动，例如在皇家学会夏季科学展上，以及通过国家公众理解科学活动，并促进公众参与科学的重要性。

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) affects up to 20% of the UK population and is strongly associated with asthma and hayfever. We have shown that a common skin infection, Staphylococcus aureus, can dramatically alter how the body reacts to harmless environmental proteins or allergens. Therefore individuals are more likely to react to an allergen, such as house dust mite, if they encounter it at the same time as staphylococcal infection. Our findings potentially provide a new mechanism for atopic dermatitis and also for atopic and other allergic diseases, including asthma, hayfever and peanut allergy. We will investigate whether by combining anti-bacterial treatment with allergen desensitisation it is possible to improve symptoms in adult individuals with severe atopic dermatitis. We will also take blood samples from study subjects to examine changes in the immune response during treatment. This will give us important insights into how the disease occurs and how we can improve on our results in future clinical trials.We will present our findings at scientific meetings and through publications, but will also liaise with the public and press whenever appropriate. Dr Graham Ogg has been involved in the presentation of science to the public, for example at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition and through the national Public Understanding of Science events and promotes the importance of public engagement in science.