Farm exposure in infancy is associated with elevated systemic IgG4, mucosal IgA responses, and lower incidence of food allergy

Editor’s summary Seminal studies have demonstrated that a farming lifestyle, such as that of the Old Order Mennonite (OOM) community, is associated with reduced incidence of allergies; however, the cellular mechanisms behind this association remain unclear. Here, Jackson et al. compared B cell and antibody responses in the blood, saliva, and stools of infants born in an OOM community or in urban and suburban Rochester, NY, USA.