In the United States, allergic disease affects approximately 60 million people and impacts more people every year. While prevalence of allergic disease has steadily increased, there has concurrently been an increase in rates of metabolic syndrome—characterized by increased abdominal girth, decreased sensitivity to insulin, and higher levels of circulating blood...
Intestinal immunity is a critical contributor to host health. The immune system in the intestine maintains both defense against pathogens and homeostasis of intestinal tissue, which is exposed to environmental influences, including microbes and ingested foods. Proper regulation of the immune response is required to prevent damage to the host....