Allergy affects more than one billion people worldwide – and the number is rising. For many, it means mild symptoms such as itching and a runny nose. For others, it can develop into life-threatening reactions.
Now, two new studies bring researchers an important step closer to both understanding and potentially controlling the mechanisms that drive allergic disease. An international research team has mapped how the body’s central allergy antibody, IgE, functions at the molecular level – and at the same time demonstrated a new way to block allergic reactions.
“We now have a much clearer picture of the molecular mechanism behind allergic reactions. This is an important foundation for developing new treatments,” says Professor Gregers Rom Andersen from Aarhus University.
The results have been published in the journals Allergy and Nature Communications .
How allergic reactions are triggered
Allergic reactions occur when the immune system responds to otherwise harmless substances such as pollen, food or insect venom. A key player in this process is the antibody IgE.
In one of the studies, the researchers examined what IgE looks like and how it behaves when bound to its receptor on immune cells – the requirement to set an allergic reaction in motion.
“We can now see how the entire IgE molecule is organized when it sits on the cell surface. This gives us a much better understanding of how allergens actually trigger a reaction,” explains postdoctoral researcher Rasmus K. Jensen.
The study shows that the entire IgE is not simply a flexible “arm” reaching out for an allergen, but has a more defined and organized structure that determines how allergens bind for activation of immune cells.
This provides a more detailed picture of how allergens interact with IgE and trigger immune cells to release histamine and other signaling molecules that cause symptoms.
Antibodies that block the reaction
In the second study, the researchers move from understanding to intervention. Here, they developed small, tailor-made antibodies – known as nanobodies – that can block the key allergen in honeybee venom.
By targeting the dominant allergen with monospecific and bispecific antibodies, the researchers were able to prevent IgE antibodies from allergic patients from recognizing it. As a result, triggering of the allergic reaction was stopped at its earliest stage.
In experiments using blood from allergic patients, the bispecific antibody significantly reduced immune cell activation. In a mouse model, the treatment also blocked the most severe form of allergic reactions, anaphylaxis,
“We can develop antibodies binding to different parts of the allergen at the same time that very precisely block the allergic reaction,” says postdoctoral researcher Josephine Aagaard.
A step towards more targeted treatment
Today, the most effective treatment for severe allergy is long-term allergen immunotherapy, which can take years and may itself carry a risk of side effects.
The new research points to an alternative approach: passive immunotherapy, where patients are given pre-designed antibodies that can provide immediate temporary protection against allergic reactions.
This could be particularly relevant for patients at risk of severe reactions, for example from insect stings, which often occur unpredictably.
“We are working with an approach which could provide targeted protection during periods of highest risk,” explains Professor Edzard Spillner. “The findings also suggest that targeting the most important allergens may be sufficient – rather than broadly affecting the entire immune system”.
From basic research to new solutions
Together, the two studies show how fundamental research and applied science can go hand in hand. By understanding the precise mechanisms behind allergy, it becomes possible to develop new strategies to stop it.
At the same time, the researchers emphasize that there is still a way to go before clinical application. The effect varies between patients, and further studies are needed – including how to target the most important allergens involved.
Still, the studies provide a new starting point for developing more precise treatments for the people living with severe allergy.
Nature Communications
Nanobody-based IgG simultaneously inhibit the allergenic and enzymatic activity of the dominant honeybee venom allergen
17-Feb-2026