Cited by 429Gut microbiota and healthAsthma and respiratory diseasesAllergic Rhinitis and Sensitization

The biodiversity hypothesis and allergic disease: world allergy organization position statement

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Haahtela, Tari, Holgate, Stephen, Pawankar, Ruby, Akdis, Cezmi A, Benjaponpitak, Suwat, Caraballo, Luis, Demain, Jeffrey, Portnoy, Jay +1 more·2013·World Allergy Organization Journal

Abstract

Biodiversity loss and climate change secondary to human activities are now being associated with various adverse health effects. However, less attention is being paid to the effects of biodiversity loss on environmental and commensal (indigenous) microbiotas. Metagenomic and other studies of healthy and diseased individuals reveal that reduced biodiversity and alterations in the composition of the gut and skin microbiota are associated with various inflammatory conditions, including asthma, allergic and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), type1 diabetes, and obesity. Altered indigenous microbiota and the general microbial deprivation characterizing the lifestyle of urban people in affluent countries appear to be risk factors for immune dysregulation and impaired tolerance. The risk is further enhanced by physical inactivity and a western diet poor in fresh fruit and vegetables, which may act in synergy with dysbiosis of the gut flora. Studies of immigrants moving from non-affluent to affluent regions indicate that tolerance mechanisms can rapidly become impaired in microbe-poor environments. The data on microbial deprivation and immune dysfunction as they relate to biodiversity loss are evaluated in this Statement of World Allergy Organization (WAO). We propose that biodiversity, the variability among living organisms from all sources are closely related, at both the macro- and micro-levels. Loss of the macrodiversity is associated with shrinking of the microdiversity, which is associated with alterations of the indigenous microbiota. Data on behavioural means to induce tolerance are outlined and a proposal made for a Global Allergy Plan to prevent and reduce the global allergy burden for affected individuals and the societies in which they live.

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. von Hertzen L Hanski I Haahtela T Biodiversity loss and rising trends of inflammatory diseases: two global megatrends that may be related EMBO Rep 2011 6 1089 1093 21979814 PMC3207110
  2. Belkaid Y Liesenfeld O Maizels RM Induction and control of regulatory T cells in the gastrointestinal tract: consequences for local and peripheral immune responses Clin Exp Immunol 2010 6 35 41 20415849 PMC2841833
  3. Bienenstock J Collins S Psycho-neuroimmunology and the intestinal microbiota: clinical observations and basic mechanisms Clin Exp Immunol 2010 6 85 91 20415856 PMC2841840
  4. Ahlholm JU Helander ML Savolainen J Genetic and environmental factors affecting the allergenicity of birch pollen Clin Exp Allergy 1998 6 1384 1388 9824411
  5. Mohan JE Ziska LH Schlesinger WH Thomas RB Sicher RC George K Clark JS Biomass and toxicity responses of poison ivy to elevated atmospheric CO2 Proc Natl Acad Sci 2006 6 24 9086 9089 16754866 PMC1474014

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Authors
Haahtela, T., Holgate, S., Pawankar, R., Akdis, C. A., Benjaponpitak, S., Caraballo, L., Demain, J., Portnoy, J., & von Hertzen, L.
Affiliations
  • Helsinki University Hospital (FI)
  • University of Southampton (GB)
  • Nippon Medical School (JP)
  • Mahidol University (TH)
  • Universidad de Cartagena (CO)
  • University of Washington (US)
  • University of Missouri–Kansas City (US)
Corresponding author
Haahtela, Tari
Venue
World Allergy Organization Journal
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
3
ISSN
1939-4551 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2105617257
Cited by
426
References
168
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 1
FWCI
13.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • World Allergy Organization Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NF-SI-0510-10021)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization
Keywords
biodiversity loss, allergic diseases, gut microbiota, skin microbiome, dysbiosis, immune tolerance, immune dysregulation, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes, obesity, climate change, urban lifestyle, immigrant health, allergy prevention

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