title: The hygiene hypothesis: an evolutionary perspective.
abstract: The hygiene hypothesis relies on the assumption that humans have adapted to a pathogen-rich environment that no longer exists in industrialized societies. Recent advances in molecular immunology and population genetics allow deeper insight into the evolution and co-evolution of host-pathogen interactions and, therefore, into the foundations of the hygiene hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bioinformatics, Via don L. Monza 20, 23842 Bosisio Parini (LC), Italy. manuela.sironi@bp.lnf.it
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sironi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D005828:Genetics, Population; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D012641:Selection, Genetic