While some allergies (过敏症) disappear over time or with treatment, others last a lifetime. For decades, scientists have been searching for the source of these lifetime allergies.

Recently, researchers found that memory B cells may be involved. These cells produce a different class of antibodies known as IgG, which war d off viral infections. But no one had identified exactly which of those cells were recalling allergens or how they switched to making the IgE antibodies responsible for allergies. To uncover the mysterious cells, two research teams took a deep div e into the immune cells of people with allergies and some without.

Joshua Koenig and his team conducted extensive research, analyzing over 90,000 memory B cells from individuals with birch (桦树) and dust mite (尘螨) allergies, as well as those without allergies, using RNA sequencing. This analysis revealed a specific type of memory B cell, termed MBC2, that plays a crucial role in the immune response that leads to allergies. In further studies involving individuals with peanut allergies, the sameMBC2 cells were found to increase in number and produce IgE antibodies during treatment s aimed at desensitizing (脱敏) the body to peanut allergens.

Parallel research by Maria Curotto de Lafaille and her team at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai confirmed these findings, showing an abundance of similar memory B cells in children with peanut allergies compared to those without. These cells were found to be primed to switch from producing protective IgG antibodies to the allergy-causing IgE antibodies. This switch is facilitated by the production of RNA for IgE, which does not translate into the protein until the cells encounter allergens. A protein called JAK, crucial for signaling this transition, has been identified, suggesting that inhibiting JAK could prevent the production of IgE antibodies.

By identifying and targeting the memory cells responsible for allergic reactions, it may be possible to predict the course of an individual’s allergy and potentially eliminate the allergic response altogether. Cecilia Berin from Northwestern University emphasizes the potential of this research to wipe out not just individual allergies but all allergic responses by focusing on the elimination of these specific memory B cells. This promising direction suggests a future where lasting relief from allergies could become a reality.

Diet Myths — Get the facts, or your diet may fail!

Dieting is hard work, and there are plenty of “helpful” diet tricks that can make weight loss even harder. 【小题1】

Carbs(含碳水化合物的食物) are bad for you. Carbohydrates are actually an important source of energy. There are good carbs and bad carbs. Some foods, like white bread or white rice, are example of bad carbs. Good carbs include whole wheat bread and brown rice. They’re rich in fiber and really good for you!

【小题2】 On the contrary, studies show that people who eat breakfast will eat fewer calories throughout the day. And if you know you’re going to be eating a big meal later, don’t starve yourself in order to save you calories. You’ll just eat more during the meal because you’re so hungry! Instead, eat smaller meals a couple days before and after, and exercise more.

You can control where your body loses weight. Bad news—if you want a flatter stomach, just exercising your stomach won’t work. 【小题3】 Cardio(有氧运动) exercises will help burn fat, while weight training helps build muscles. Your “trouble areas” might not be the first to slim down, but keep exercising!

Your weight depends on your genes. 【小题4】 While a “fat gene” does exist, its influence on your size is small. Smart eating and exercise have a much greater effect than your genes. Only 25 percent of your weight is controlled by genes – the rest is up to you.

Say “no” to junk food. Many people think that the key to losing weight is cutting out all bad foods. 【小题5】 To lose weight and keep it off, eat great 80 percent of the time, but allow yourself in a treat or two the other 20 percent.

Lucy was saved in New South Wales, Australia, two years ago. She was suffering from chlamydia, a disease widespread among koalas. Today, she is one of the lucky animals living in tree corridors (走廊) that have been created to protect koalas and other animals by saving their quickly reducing habitats, or natural environment.

The corridors, planted by the local protection group Bangalow Koalas, are made up of large systems of plants. They are a lifeline for koalas and other animals. All of them are at risk of becoming extinct. The corridors provide a safe path across the koala’s increasingly broken home. This permits increased genetic mixing and protection from human threats (威胁).

“Our corridors are actually trying to get them away from humans, from cars, from dogs,” said Linda Sparrow, president of Bangalow Koalas. “They can safely move across the landscape and do not have to put up with us humans.”

The koala is thought to be extinct in the wild in New South Wales by 2050. Some of the biggest threats include wildfires and habitat loss through land clearing for development. Koalas have already been announced endangered in several Australian states.

Founded in 2019, Bangalow Koalas has planted over 336,000 trees, helping with koala protection and improving the local ecosystem. The group, whose members depend on community volunteers, aims to plant 500,000 trees by 2025.

“One neighbor would want to join and then another neighbor will want to join,” Sparrow said, describing the increase in the number of people taking part in the group.

Volunteer Lindy Stacker, who has been planting trees for over five years, said the activity is good for mental health and has brought the community together.

A recent report by the Australian Koala Foundation said the animal was worth about $3.2billion per year to the tourism industry. However, the World Wildlife Fund-Australia reported about drops in koala populations in Australian states, with a 50 percent drop in Queensland and a 62 percent drop in New South Wales since 2001.