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Asthma and Allergies

The incidence and severity of allergic diseases are steadily increasing around the world, particularly in westernised societies, and they represent a major burden on our health system. We are studying the innate immune pathways that predispose to the development of allergies and how these can be prevented through, for example, vaccination.

Allergic asthma is a complex disease, the classical features of which include acute and chronic inflammation of the airways and a decline in airway function. Our research is focused on understanding the key molecular and cellular pathways underlying the progression and exacerbation of the disease and on the development of novel and effective new therapies. Current projects use in vitro and in vivo systems based on a unique sheep asthma model that closely represents many features of the human disease.

Collaborators: Prof Robyn O'Hehir, Dr. Stuart Hirst and Dr Ken Snibson.

Contact: Dr Rob Bischof

Key publications:

  • Bischof RJ, Allen JE, Chang H-Y, Hirota JA, Hirst S, Inman MD, Mitzner W & Sutherland TE (2009). Animal models of airway inflammation and airway smooth muscle remodelling in asthma. Pulm. Pharm. Ther. (In Press).
  • Bischof RJ, Snibson K, Van der Velden, J & Meeusen ENT (2008). Immune response to allergens in sheep sensitized to house dust mite. J Inflammation 5: 16.
  • Sansome GM, Young AR, Meeusen EN & Bischof RJ (2007). Production of monoclonal antibodies reactive with ovine eosinophils. BMC Immunology 8: 23.
  • Koumoundouros E, Bischof RJ, Meeusen EN, Mareels I & Snibson KJ (2006). Chronic airway disease: deteriorating pulmonary function in sheep associated with repeated challenges of house dust mite. Exp. Lung Res. 32: 321-30.
  • Snibson KJ, Bischof RJ, Koumoundouros E, McMurtrie LS, Cock M & Harding R. (2006). Altered airway responsiveness in adult sheep born prematurely: effects of allergen exposure. Exp. Lung Res. 32: 215-28.
  • Snibson, KJ, Bischof, RJ, Slocombe, RF & Meeusen EN (2005). Airway remodeling and inflammation in sheep lungs after chronic airway challenge with house dust mite. Clin. Exp. Allergy 35: 146-152. (selected for Editorial)
  • Bischof RJ, Snibson K & Meeusen ENT (2003). Induction of allergic inflammation in the lungs of sensitized sheep after local challenge with house dust mite. Clin. Exp. Allergy 33: 367-375. (selected for Editorial)
  • Dunphy J, Barcham GJ, Bischof RJ, Young A, Nash A & Meeusen ENT (2002). Isolation and characterisation of a novel eosinophil-specific galectin released into the lungs in response to allergen challenge. J Biol Chem 277: 14916-14924.
  • Bischof RJ & Meeusen ENT (2002). Cellular kinetics of an allergic-type response in a sheep mammary gland model of inflammation. Clin. Exp. Allergy 32: 619-626.