Media Availability: NIH-Funded Researchers Identify Genetic Region Associated with Peanut Allergy

Media Availability: NIH-Funded Researchers Identify Genetic Region Associated with Peanut Allergy

Are Food Allergies Tied to Genes?

NIAID-funded researchers have identified genetic risk factors for peanut allergy in children. They used a genome-wide approach to identify changes to the DNA sequence that are associated with peanut, egg, or milk allergy.

While the research team did not identify risks for egg or milk allergy, they found two areas in the region of the HLA-DR and HLA-DQ genes associated with peanut allergy. However, more work is needed to assess how these genetic changes contribute to the development of peanut allergy.