Imagine waking up one day and being allergic to meat. That’s a reality for some people who are unlucky enough to get bitten by a particular tick.

Alpha-gal syndrome, otherwise known as a mammalian meat allergy, is not well known.

However as research advances, a tricky connection between this allergy and heart disease is starting to emerge.

Guest/s

• Abby
• Professor Sheryl van Nunen, the University of Sydney, Macquarie University and the Tick Induced Allergies Research & Awareness group

References

• Tick Induced Allergies Research & Awareness
• Genetic and structural basis of the human anti-α-galactosyl antibody response
• Immunoglobulin E Sensitization to Mammalian Oligosaccharide Galactose-α-1,3 (α-Gal) Is Associated With Noncalcified Plaque, Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease, and ST-Segment–Elevated Myocardial Infarction