Vaccination with the DNA of substances that trigger allergies, using a “gene gun,” can prevent the over-production of the type of antibodies that cause allergic symptoms, experiments in mice show. The gene gun is a helium-powered device that bombards the skin with DNA-coated gold particles. Because the DNA carrier is introduced directly into the skin cells, much less DNA is needed to induce an immune reaction than with standard injection methods, according to a report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
