The Allergenix Technology: Lung mechanics

We have developed Labview software to measure the physiological changes in the lungs of sheep following exposure to a relevant human allergen, house dust mite. The lung function software allows the measurement of airway hypersensitivity to non-specific stimuli and allergen-specific responses in allergic sheep, as assessed by post-allergen changes in airway resistance and compliance. In addition to assessing acute physiological responses, the long-term decline in lung function associated with chronic exposure to allergen can be measured. These investigations can be carried out in parallel with immunological and morphological studies, and will provide for a more complete understanding of the complexity of airway remodeling in asthma.

Due to the physiological and anatomical similarities between the sheep and human lung, the sheep model is well placed to test therapeutic procedures for asthma control . The procedures used to measure lung physiology responses can be repeatedly performed in conscious animals so that there are no confounding effects of anaesthetic agents. We anticipate that the use of the sheep model will allow for the development of better-targeted drug design and therapeutic intervention strategies for the control of asthma.