Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The hygiene hypothesis revisited.

Jeremy D Bufford1, James E Gern

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, K4/910 CSC, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792-9988, USA. jd.bufford@hosp.wisc.edu

Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America
|May 10, 2005
PubMed
Summary

The hygiene hypothesis suggests fewer childhood infections increase allergies. Evolving research on immune responses offers hope for new preventive strategies against atopic diseases.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cumulative genetic risk for asthma contributes to disease severity in children with asthma.

The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. Global·2026
Same author

Epigenetic gestational age acceleration in cord blood is associated with activated inflammatory gene pathways and childhood asthma.

The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology·2026
Same author

Upper airway microbiome interacts with GSDMB and ORMDL3 asthma risk SNPs to influence early-life wheeze risk.

The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology·2026
Same author

The Michigan Sibling Immunity Birth Study (M-SIBS): Study design protocol for a unique food allergy birth cohort.

The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. Global·2026
Same author

The association of newborn metabolites with early-life wheezing and asthma among US children in the ECHO Program.

Communications medicine·2026
Same author

Multicohort analysis unveils axon guidance pathways linking small for gestational age to spirometric restriction.

Nature communications·2026

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Epidemiology
  • Allergy Research

Background:

  • The original hygiene hypothesis linked reduced family size and childhood infections to increased atopic diseases.
  • This hypothesis has evolved with new findings and concepts in innate immunity and immune regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolution of the hygiene hypothesis.
  • To explore its implications for understanding and preventing atopic diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epidemiologic and longitudinal studies.
  • Synthesis of emerging concepts in immunology.

Main Results:

  • Numerous studies have tested and refined the hygiene hypothesis.
  • Advances highlight the role of immune responses in atopic disease development.

Related Experiment Videos

Conclusions:

  • The evolving hygiene hypothesis provides a framework for understanding atopic diseases.
  • Current understanding may lead to novel preventive approaches for allergic conditions.