Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research

23/02/2026

🌿✨ New Publication from the SIAF Immunology Group in Allergy ✨🌿

We are happy to share the latest research from the SIAF Immunology Group (Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research, University of Zurich):

“Postbiotics and Nicotinamide Utilize Distinct Mechanisms to Improve Skin Barrier Integrity, Inflammation, and Keratinocyte Differentiation”

🔗 https://doi.org/10.1111/all.70225

In this study, the team investigated how postbiotics derived from Bifidobacterium breve, Limosilactobacillus reuteri, and Ligilactobacillus salivarius, as well as nicotinamide (vitamin B3), influence human skin barrier integrity using an ex vivo human skin model.

Using electrical impedance spectroscopy, transcriptomics, proteomics, and machine learning, the study shows:
🧪 Postbiotics strengthen the skin barrier in a strain- and dose-dependent manner
🧬 B. breve strongly promotes keratinocyte differentiation and anti-inflammatory pathways
🔥 Nicotinamide improves barrier function mainly through anti-inflammatory mechanisms
🤖 Machine learning identified key genes associated with improved barrier integrity
🛡️ Postbiotics and nicotinamide help protect against surfactant-induced skin damage

These findings provide important mechanistic insight into how skin barrier integrity can be enhanced, highly relevant for inflammatory skin diseases and translational dermatology research.

👏 Congratulations to Yağız Pat, Duygu Yazici, Huseyn Babayev and Cezmi Akdis, together with all co-authors, on this excellent collaborative effort.

Integrating skin barrier measurements with omics and machine learning, we found that postbiotics and NAM regulate skin homeostasis through distinct, strain- and dose-dependent mechanisms. Postbiotics...

16/02/2026

🌿✨ New Research Published in Allergy ✨🌿

We are pleased to share a newly published open-access study in @ Allergy:
“Characterization of Human Group 9 Innate Lymphoid Cells in Response to Allergen Immunotherapy in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis”

🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/all.70202

In this study, the authors identify and characterize a novel innate lymphoid cell subset, ILC9, in patients with allergic rhinitis.

🔬 ILC9s (H1R⁺OX-40L⁻) are increased in allergic rhinitis
🧬 The transcription factor Bach2 may regulate ILC9 differentiation
💉 Successful house dust mite immunotherapy (SCIT) reduces circulating ILC9 levels
🧪 PPARγ plays a role in IL-9 production
These findings provide new insight into IL-9 biology, innate immune cell plasticity, and potential biomarkers for allergen immunotherapy response.

👏 Congratulations to Ya-Qi Peng, Te Zhang, Xiao-Qing Liu, Ismail Ogulur, Qi Sun, Beate Ruckert, Bi-Xin He, De-Hua Chen, Hideaki Morita, Hui-Jing Ye, Qing-Ling Fu, and Cezmi Akdis. Akdis on this important contribution to the field of allergy and immunology.

We aimed to report the existence and profile of group 9 innate lymphoid cells (ILC9s). Overall, ILC9 proportions in AR patients show differences compared to healthy subjects and responder SCIT patien...

12/02/2026

🌍✨ New Publication in Allergy ✨🌍
We are delighted to share a newly published open-access letter in Allergy:

“A Survey on Environmental Protective and Risk Factors and Awareness Related to Epithelial Barrier Integrity, Microbiome and Allergic Diseases”

🔗 https://doi.org/10.1111/all.70190

Allergic diseases continue to rise worldwide, and environmental exposures are increasingly recognized as key contributors to epithelial barrier dysfunction and microbiome imbalance.

In this important work, the authors developed two structured questionnaires (for parents and adolescents) to assess:

• Environmental exposures (air pollution, plastics, detergents, processed foods)
• Lifestyle habits affecting epithelial barrier integrity
• Awareness of the epithelial barrier theory
• Protective and risk factors using a newly developed scoring system

These tools aim to increase awareness, support future validation studies, and help identify modifiable environmental factors that may influence allergic disease development.

👏 Congratulations to Arzu Bakirtas, Ayca Kiykim, A. Kubra Baskin, Hulya Anil, Hayrunnisa Bekis Bozkurt, Sevgi Sipahi Cimen, Zeynep Hizli Demirkale, Saliha Esenboga, Ismail Ogulur, Sena Ardicli, Deniz Cagdas, Walter Kistler, Hasan Yuksel, and Cezmi A. Akdis on this collaborative and meaningful contribution to the field.

Open access and available to read online.

10/12/2025

🚨 Thank you, dear WIRM fans!
Thanks to your incredible interest, registrations and abstract submissions are already up by 25% compared to recent years! 🌟

We are thrilled to see the growing enthusiasm for our 20th WIRM Anniversary and can’t wait to welcome participants from around the world next March in Davos.

This strong momentum shows just how impactful and inspiring next year’s meeting will be. A huge thank you to everyone contributing to this success! 💙

Here are the confirmed 27 international plenary speakers: https://www.wirm.ch/topics-speakers-talk-titles-neu/
and current program:
https://www.wirm.ch/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Preliminary-Programm_WIRM-XX.pdf

Register & submit your abstract here: https://www.wirm.ch/registration-abstracts/
🔗 https://www.wirm.ch/

02/12/2025

We are excited to share the new published article by the Immune Metabolism research group at SIAF in collaboration with Universidad San Pablo CEU and Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia! 🎉

You can read it here: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(25)00539-7

The new article, published in Cell Reports Medicine, reveals that L-Phenylalanine plays a key role in controlling the activity and energetic metabolism use of Th2 immune cells, which are drivers of allergic diseases.

✨ Highlights of the study:
• Phenylalanine reshapes Th2 cells’ energetic metabolism
• It also slows their proliferation and dampens their activation signaling
• Allergic patients show changes in how Th2 cells transport and process Phe

This discovery helps us better understand the impact of metabolism in the development of allergy and opens new possibilities for future therapies.
Congratulations to the whole team (Abhijeet Kulkarni, Juan Rodriguez-Coira, Nino Stocker, Urszula Radzikowska, Antonio J. García-Cívico, María Isabel Delgado-Dolset, Nuria Contreras, Inés Jardón-Parages, Vanessa Sáiz Sánchez, Pilar Serrano, Elena Izquierdo, Cristina Gomez-Casado, Javier Sanchez-Solares, Carmela Pablo-Torres, David Obeso, Carmen Moreno Aguilar, Maria Luisa Espinazo, Andrzej Eljaszewicz, Jana Koch, Katja Bärenfaller, Anja Heider, Ge Tan, Damir Zhakparov, Maria M Escribese, Berta Ruiz-Leon, Cezmi Akdis, Rafael J. Argüello, Domingo Barber, Alma Villaseñor and Milena Sokolowska) for this important achievement! 👏🔬

02/12/2025

🚨 Good news, WIRM fans!

Due to high demand, we’ve extended the Early Bird registration and Abstract Submission deadline to 08 December 2025, midnight!

Submit your abstract now to be eligible for:
• 24 short talks in plenary sessions
• 72 workshop presentations
• 25 Travel Grants up to €500

Don’t miss your chance to showcase your research to the international immunology community!

Let’s make WIRM-XX unforgettable!

Here are the confirmed 27 international plenary speakers: https://www.wirm.ch/topics-speakers-talk-titles-neu/

and current program:
https://www.wirm.ch/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Preliminary-Programm_WIRM-XX.pdf

Register & submit your abstract here: https://www.wirm.ch/registration-abstracts/
🔗 https://www.wirm.ch/



Congress

25/11/2025

Dear WIRM Fans!

The Early Bird registration and Abstract Submission deadlines for WIRM-XX are approaching fast — 01 December 2025!

A timely submission will make you eligible to 24 short talks in the plenary sessions and 72 Workshop presentations.

Secure your spot, submit your abstract, and be part of the scientific program at WIRM-XX to showcase your data to the international immunology community.

Plus: 25 Travel Grants up to €500 — apply only during Early Bird! Don’t miss out!
Let’s make WIRM-XX unforgettable!
Here are the confirmed 27 international plenary speakers: https://www.wirm.ch/topics-speakers-talk-titles-neu/
and current program:
https://www.wirm.ch/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Preliminary-Programm_WIRM-XX.pdf
✨ Present your research
✨ Network with top experts
✨ Gain inspiration from renowned scientists
💸 Win a Travel Grant up to €500!
Register & submit your abstract here: https://www.wirm.ch/registration-abstracts/
🔗 https://www.wirm.ch/

Congress

20/11/2025

Exciting News for WIRM Fans - The preliminary program for WIRM-XX is here!

A huge thank you to all our experts who confirmed their keynote talks – your expertise is ensuring WIRM-XX is the place to be for cutting-edge immunology research.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the program! Register now and submit your abstract to secure your slot in one of the sessions and showcase your data to the international immunology community.

Let’s make WIRM-XX unforgettable!
✨ Present your latest research
✨ Network with top experts
✨ Gain inspiration from renowned scientists
💸 Win a Travel Grant up to €500!
Register & submit your abstract here: https://www.wirm.ch/registration-abstracts/
🔗 https://www.wirm.ch/

Congress

31/10/2025

💥 New Publication from the Immunology Group at SIAF!
Aspartame isn’t so sweet to your gut!
🧠 Published in Allergy (EAACI journal)

📄 “Cellular Stress, Inflammation and Barrier Damage in Gut Epithelial Cells Caused by Aspartame”
👉 https://doi.org/10.1111/all.70095

At daily consumption levels, aspartame triggers:
⚡ Cellular stress & inflammation
🔥 NF-κB and TNF signaling
🧬 DNA repair disruption
🧫 Epithelial barrier damage (gut-on-chip & organoids)

👏 Congrats to the whole team (first author Yağız Pat) for this impactful contribution connecting sweeteners to the Epithelial Barrier Theory.

29/10/2025

🎉 20 Years of WIRM - Be part of the anniversary edition in Davos!

🗓️ Early Bird & Abstracts open: 1 Nov – 1 Dec 2025
🎤 Submit your abstract & qualify for a presentation at WIRM
💰 Early Bird: CHF 550 (regular CHF 650) | Special rates for fellows in training
🌟 Featuring a distinguished lineup of keynote speakers

🔗 https://www.wirm.ch/registration-abstracts/

Akdis, Sokolowska, van de Veen

09/10/2025

The next WIRM – World Immune Regulation Meeting is coming closer!
From March 11–14, 2026, experts in immunology and immune regulation will gather again in Davos.
We’re looking forward to four days full of science, exchange, and new collaborations – all in the unique atmosphere of the Swiss Alps.

👉 www.wirm.ch

25/09/2023

Congratulations to Yagiz Pat, one of our postdocs, for his presentation at the EAACI Summer Symposium on Epithelial Cell Biology at Imperial College, London about the regulation of gut and skin epithelial barrier by microbiome metabolites.

The human body is colonized by a diverse microbial flora that plays an essential role in human health and disease. It is known that a healthy gut microbiota limits pathogen colonization through competition for space and nutrients, and by producing antimicrobial peptides and metabolites that promote epithelial homeostasis. However, the increased exposure to toxic substances such as emulsifiers, detergents and pollutants poses a significant threat to the gastrointestinal epithelial and skin barrier. In this context, the microbiota and their metabolites could be the key to rescuing the damaged gastrointestinal barrier. The researchers screened various gut microbiota-associated metabolites regarding their gut and skin barrier strengthening and anti-inflammatory capacities.

European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology – EAACI