House dust promotes allergic responses to inhaled allergens, but it remains unclear what microbial components in dust are required for this activity. Donald N. Cook and his colleagues show that the bacterial protein flagellin stimulates allergic airway responses, and its receptor, Toll-like receptor 5, is required to elicit airway eosinophilia and hyperreactivity in response to dust. Individuals with asthma have higher serum antibody titers to flagellin, suggesting exposure to flagellin is associated with allergic airway disease.
- Rhonda H Wilson
- Shuichiro Maruoka
- Donald N Cook
