부산대학교 도서관

An essay is presented on allergies and their possible evolutionary significance. A historical overview of allergy research is provided on topics including the concept of anaphylaxis, the role of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in allergy and immune response to multicellular parasites, and allergy as an immune system response to environmental toxins. The authors argue in favor of the toxin theory, noting that the allergic response could be seen as conditioning to avoid harmful substances.