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Review
. 1998 Mar;19(3):113-6.
doi: 10.1016/s0167-5699(97)01204-8.

Give us this day our daily germs

G A Rook  1 , J L Stanford
Affiliations
Review

Give us this day our daily germs

G A Rook et al. Immunol Today. 1998 Mar.

Abstract

Modern vaccinations, fear of germs and obsession with hygiene are depriving the immune system of the information input upon which it is dependent. This fails to maintain the correct cytokine balance and fine-tune T-cell regulation, and may lead to increased incidences of allergies and autoimmune diseases. If humans continue to deprive their immune systems of the input to which evolution has adapted it, it may be necessary to devise ways of replacing it artificially.

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Comment in

  • Microbe exposure, innate immunity and autoimmunity.
    Ristori G, Buttinelli C, Pozzilli C, Fieschi C, Salvetti M. Ristori G, et al. Immunol Today. 1999 Jan;20(1):54. doi: 10.1016/s0167-5699(98)01384-x. Immunol Today. 1999. PMID: 10081232 No abstract available.
  • Soil exposure no protection against atopy.
    Montgomery SM, Twamley SI, Murch SH, Pounder RE, Wakefield AJ. Montgomery SM, et al. Immunol Today. 1999 Jun;20(6):289-90. doi: 10.1016/s0167-5699(98)01412-1. Immunol Today. 1999. PMID: 10354631 No abstract available.

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