A jab that uses electricity could revolutionise the treatment of asthma and allergies, according to a new study.
The research, presented in the journal Immunology Letters, has taken a step forward in developing a DNA-based vaccine that could be tested in clinical trials for people who are allergic to house dust mites.
The current ‘vaccine' against asthma is immunotherapy, where the patient could receive multiple injections of small amounts of the harmful dust mite protein.
The idea is that the immune system becomes used to the protein, so no longer overreacts.
The research team are confident that the vaccine could work on humans, although clinical trials will be needed to confirm this. Malayka Rahman, research officer at Asthma UK, a patient organisation, said: “Dust is notoriously difficult to avoid. Although this research is an important step forward towards more effective vaccines, it is in its early stages.”