Hypoallergenic cats
Swiss experts have proposed an unexpected strategy to combat allergies to cats
Ksenia Vasilyeva, Vesti
Allergy to animals has been a very acute problem for many years. Researchers from different countries are developing ways to solve it, and Russian experts even promise to get rid of allergies to cats in the very near future.
Unfortunately, until now, people with this kind of intolerance can only avoid contact with fluffy quadrupeds or treat the symptoms with antihistamines.
However, recently Swiss developers seem to have found an effective way to cope with an increased immune response to cats.
As explained by the authors of the trials, the results of which are published in the journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Thoms et al., Immunization of cats to induce neutralizing antibodies against Fel d 1, the major feline allergen in human subjects), in the vast majority of cases, allergy to our smaller brothers is caused by the protein Fel d 1. It it is found in saliva and on the skin of animals.
Based on this knowledge, researchers at HypoPet ("hypoallergenic pet") have proposed a new approach that can make a pet safe for a person with allergies.
This method is fundamentally different from standard immunotherapy. The new vaccine will not be administered to a person and reduce the sensitivity of his immunity to the allergen. On the contrary, the drug is designed for the animals themselves. He will "teach" the immune system of cats to neutralize their own protein Fel d 1.
The substance under the commercial name HypoCat consists of a genetically modified Fel d 1 "attached" to a carrier particle. It, in turn, is derived from the cucumber mosaic virus and is not capable of causing a cat health problems.
During the tests, scientists conducted four experiments involving 54 young animals. In addition to studying the efficacy, tolerability and safety of the substance, specialists needed to find the optimal dose of the vaccine and the frequency of administration of the drug.
The results of an animal blood test showed that under the influence of HypoCat, cats increase the production of antibodies to their own protein Fel d 1. Accordingly, the concentration of this substance in the animal's body, including in saliva, is significantly reduced.
At the next stage of the research, scientists mixed cat saliva samples with blood samples from people with allergies. It turned out that the material of the "treated" tailed test participants does not cause a pronounced immune reaction in the blood.
We hasten to reassure all animal lovers. In the course of research, the vaccine did not cause serious or long-term side effects in cats either. Since the Fel d 1 protein probably does not perform any important functions in their body, exposure to it should not harm pets. Moreover, it is known that some cats have an innately low level of Fel d 1 and at the same time do not experience any health problems.
The company is already negotiating with American and European drug approval agencies. Further clinical trials are also planned (this time with the participation of people), and mass production of the vaccine is not far off, representatives of the company say.
But even so, the drug is likely to appear on the market only in a few years. Let's add that the company is also developing a similar drug called HypoDog for a person's best friends.
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