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Man has moved rapidly from the hunter-gatherer environment to the living conditions of the rich industrialised countries. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that the resulting changed and reduced pattern of exposure to micro-organisms has led to disordered regulation of the immune system, and hence to increases in certain chronic inflammatory disorders. The concept began with the allergic disorders, but there are now good reasons for extending it to autoimmunity, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, depression associated with raised inflammatory cytokines, some cancers and perhaps neuroinflammatory disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This book discusses the evidence for and against in the context of Darwinian medicine, which uses knowledge of evolution to cast light on human diseases. It is the first book to consider the broader implications of the hygiene hypothesis in areas of medicine where it has not previously been applied. The approach is interdisciplinary, looking at man’s microbiological history, at the biology of the effects of microorganisms on the immune system, and at the implications for chronic inflammatory disorders in multiple organ systems. Finally, the authors describe progress in the exploitation of microorganisms or their components as novel prophylactics and treatments in several branches of medicine.

Autoimmune diseases. --- Clinical immunology. --- Evolution (Biology). --- Hygiene. --- Autoimmune diseases --- Hygiene --- Evolution (Biology) --- Clinical immunology --- Immune System Diseases --- Hemic and Immune Systems --- Therapeutics --- Public Health --- Microbiological Phenomena --- Biological Science Disciplines --- Immune System Phenomena --- Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment --- Environment and Public Health --- Natural Science Disciplines --- Anatomy --- Diseases --- Phenomena and Processes --- Immunity --- Immune System --- Immunity, Innate --- Hypersensitivity --- Autoimmune Diseases --- Bacterial Physiological Phenomena --- Physiology --- Health Care --- Disciplines and Occupations --- Medicine --- Biology --- Health & Biological Sciences --- Clinical Immunology --- Microbiology & Immunology --- Human evolution. --- Philosophy. --- Medicine. --- Immunology. --- Medical microbiology. --- Infectious diseases. --- Cell biology. --- Biomedicine. --- Infectious Diseases. --- Medical Microbiology. --- Cell Biology. --- Physical anthropology --- Evolutionary psychology --- Human beings --- Medical logic --- Origin --- Emerging infectious diseases. --- Microbiology. --- Cytology. --- Cell biology --- Cellular biology --- Cells --- Cytologists --- Microbial biology --- Microorganisms --- Emerging infections --- New infectious diseases --- Re-emerging infectious diseases --- Reemerging infectious diseases --- Communicable diseases --- Immunobiology --- Life sciences --- Serology

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ECO Ecology

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This edited collection of 12 chapters by research workers from a wide range of disciplines resolves the confusion that currently surrounds the "hygiene hypothesis" by considering the human need for exposure to microorganisms from an evolutionary point of view. The book explains why we evolved a requirement for exposure to microbiota from our mothers, from other people, and from the natural environment. It also explains the physiological roles of these exposures, what goes wrong when the exposures are distorted and how human lifestyles and activities, including degradation of the natural environment, are leading to this distortion. Particular attention is given to the range of pathologies associated with inappropriate microbial exposures and inappropriate colonization, including immunoregulatory problems such as allergies and autoimmunity, metabolic problems such as obesity and diabetes, and problems of central nervous system function and neurodegeneration. This book is of profound relevance to most medical disciplines, but also to those concerned with preserving the natural environment and with developing healthier urbanisation.

Immunology. Immunopathology --- Allergy --- immunologie --- allergieën

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