Diagnostic markers of clinical allergy versus sensitisation to peanut

花生过敏（PA）是特别成问题的，因为它在婴儿和儿童中越来越常见，可能危及生命，经常持续到成年，并对儿童有重大影响。PA的诊断是基于对花生过敏反应史和阳性过敏试验的结合。然而，这是不可靠的，因为许多患者有积极的过敏试验和容忍花生，而其他人有积极的过敏试验和花生过敏。唯一的方法来澄清这一点是通过给孩子花生在口服食物挑战（OFC）。然而，OFC是昂贵的，费力的和潜在的危险，因为它们可能会引起过敏反应。我们提出的研究项目旨在提供基本的见解过敏和耐受的机制，并区分花生过敏儿童和那些过敏试验阳性但耐受花生而不需要OFC的儿童。该项目将提高过敏诊断，允许更准确地区分过敏儿童和过敏试验阳性的儿童，不仅对花生过敏，而且对其他过敏原过敏。通过了解为什么有些过敏试验阳性的儿童会有反应而有些则没有，我们可能会开发出新的明确的PA治疗方法

Peanut allergy (PA) is particularly problematic since it is increasingly common in infants andchildren, may be life-threatening, frequently persists through adulthood and has a significant impacton children?s quality of life.The diagnosis of PA is based on a combination of a history of allergic reaction(s) to peanut andpositive allergy tests. However, this is not reliable because many patients have positive allergy testsand tolerate peanut whilst others have positive allergy tests and are peanut allergic. The only way toclarify this is by giving the child peanuts in oral food challenges (OFC). However, OFC are expensive,laborious and potentially dangerous, as they may induce allergic reactions.Our proposed research project aims to provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms ofallergy and tolerance and also to distinguish between peanut allergic children and those who havepositive allergy tests but tolerate peanut without the need for OFC.This project will improve allergy diagnosis, allowing for a more accurate distinction of allergicchildren among children with positive allergy tests, not only to peanut but also to other allergens. Byunderstanding why some children with positive allergy tests react and others do not, we maydevelop new definitive treatments for PA