11-07-2025
Hay fever symptoms could be prevented with ‘molecular shield' applied to the nose
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A "MOLECULAR shield" placed in the nose could prevent hay fever symptoms, a study suggests.
Scientists have engineered an antibody that they say "opens the door to a new generation of precision allergy treatments".
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A antibody placed in the lining of the nose could block hay fever symptoms, scientists say
Credit: Getty
The antibody was found to block hay fever symptoms when applied to the noses of mice.
Around one in five people are allergic to pollen, known as hay fever, striking millions with streaming noses, sneezing, itchy eyes and coughing during the spring and summer.
Scientists say more and more people have developed the allergy in the past few decades, with the number likely to continue rising.
Aside from changes to health and genetics, scientists reckon factors like improved hygiene, widespread use of antibiotics and antiseptics, lifestyle changes, diet, pollution, and climate change are behind the massive surge in hay fever sufferers.
Most people try to combat their symptoms with a mix of antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops.
But a new study, published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, suggests "molecular shields" could be used to combat hay fever in the future.
Researchers in Kazakhstan have engineered an antibody, which when applied to the inside of the nose stopped mice developing hay fever and asthma symptoms in response to mugwort pollen.
Mugwort is a type of weed that grows in the UK, which produces large amounts of allergenic wind-borne pollen.
Its pollen season is generally between mid-June to late August.
The plant is the most common cause of pollen allergies in central Asia and parts of Europe, where between 10 and 15 per cent of people with hay fever are allergic to it.
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Study senior author Prof Kaissar Tabynov said: "This is the first time a monoclonal antibody designed to block a specific pollen allergen has been delivered directly into the nose, and been shown to protect against allergy symptoms in the upper and lower airways.
"In the future, similar antibodies could be developed for other major pollen allergens, such as ragweed or grass.
"This opens the door to a new generation of precision allergy treatments that are fast-acting, needle-free, and tailored to individual allergen sensitivities."
The treatment is a type of "allergen-specific monoclonal antibody therapy".
It involves researchers developing antibodies that either specifically recognise the allergen itself and block it, or bind to antibodies released by the immune system against allergies, known as IgE antibodies.
Both stop the allergen - in this case hay fever - from triggering an allergic reaction.
Up until now, researchers have injected antibodies into the bloodstream to achieve this.
Prof Tabynov, of the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU), said: "Our method acts immediately and locally at the lining of the nose, by neutralising the allergen on contact.
"This 'molecular shield' not only prevents IgE antibodies from being activated, but may also reduce inflammation through other mechanisms, such as calming immune cell responses and promoting regulatory pathways."
The research team injected mice with a dose of mugwort pollen, stimulating them to produce antibodies against it.
Hay fever first aid kit
Analyse your symptoms and find the best medication kit for you...
Antihistamines
Antihistamines (cetirizine or loratadine) work by blocking histamine in the body, which is released when the body detects something it thinks is harmful.
Histamine causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, but in people with hay fever, also causes an allergic reaction. That's the watering eyes, blocked nose, rashes and so on.
Max Wiseberg, airborne allergens expert and creator of HayMax, says that many antihistamines are available on prescription, such as Telfast, which you can see your GP for or get through an online doctor, such as LloydsPharmacy.
Telfast, and other prescription-only antihistamine tablets, work in the same way as over-the-counter antihistamines, but are stronger and intended to help with more severe symptoms.
'Get your prescription in advance of the season so you have your medication in time to start taking it at the right time,' he says.
'Some are best taken at least one month before the hay fever season starts."
Nasal sprays
A nasal spray can be effective in controlling congestion and stuffiness.
Pharmacists can advise on nasal sprays (sodium cromoglicate, ipratropium bromide or decongestant), and eye drops, too.
Nasal sprays can also help with other symptoms of hay fever 'because the medicine is targeted directly to the nose, which is where the vast majority of allergens enter the body', Max says.
Independent pharmacist Rita Ghelani says: 'Try Xlear nasal spray, which contains xylitol, and has anti-bacterial properties and keeps the nasal lining moist.
'If symptoms are more severe, then try an anti-inflammatory nasal spray – sometimes referred to as a steroid nasal spray – which can take a few days to work.
'Start with one that contains beclomethasone, which is used twice a day, in the morning and at night.'
Rita also advises cleaning the nose with a saline nasal spray before a steroid spray, saying: 'It will remove sticky mucus from the nasal passage, thus improving the effectiveness of the medication.'
Eye drops
If itchy eyes are your primary concern, Rita says: 'Try using sodium cromoglicate eye drops.
"These make the eyes less sensitive to allergens such as pollen and reduce irritation.
"They need to be used four times a day to keep the levels of the active ingredient high enough to be effective.
"Keep using them even if symptoms improve.
'Using a good eye drop to lubricate the eyes may also help with dry eyes during the summer months.'
The mice were then humanely euthanised and their spleens harvested to isolate white blood cells.
The white blood cells were fused with lab-grown cancer cells from mice with multiple myeloma, to make an antibody against mugwort pollen.
Researchers then placed the antibodies in the noses of five mice, who were allergic to mugwort pollen after being injected with pollen extract.
A further five mice made allergic to pollen weren't given the antibody, while another five weren't injected with pollen or given the antibody.
Three weeks later, all the mice were exposed to mugwort pollen three times.
The results showed that mice given the antibody displayed a "major reduction" in allergy symptoms compared to the other rodents.
They had less swelling in response to the pollen - a common allergic reaction in rodents.
They also rubbed their nose less frequently, indicating less irritation.
They were able to breathe normally when exposed to pollen and they also had less inflammation inside their nostrils.
The researchers concluded that the "molecular shield" was "effective" in blocking allergic reactions against mugwort pollen triggered by IgE, at least in mice.
Prof Tabynov added: "Before this treatment can be tested in people, we need to adapt the antibody to make it suitable for humans - a process called 'humanisation' - and conduct additional preclinical safety and efficacy studies.
"If these are successful and provided we have adequate support, we could begin clinical trials in two to three years, though bringing it to market would likely take five to seven years.
"We are already planning for this transition and working on scaling up production."
